Day 53

Lavacolla to Santiago de Compostela - 12 kms
2 June 2019

Today we walked into Santiago de Compostela. We have finished our Camino. There are no words to describe our mixed feelings as we walked down through the archway and around the corner into Praza Obradoiro and stood in front of the Cathedral de Santiago. Walking the Camino was the most challenging thing we have done but we loved every minute of it. We've seen such beauty and met wonderful people ...but it was much more than that - once again more than words can say.

Although the Cathedral is closed for renovations (will be completed for Holy Year in 2021) we were still able to go in to embrace the statue of St James and view his tomb. Much of the interior of the Cathedral was under the cover of wraps and scaffolding.

We were pleasantly surprised with the walk in to Santiago from Lavacolla as we were expecting to walk on pavements, much like walking into Burgos, instead we walked along pathways and minor roads for much of the way. We were also expecting to walk in with a stream of pilgrims - there were some but at times we were walking on our own. And again, we were expecting a long queue to get our Compostela and Certificate of Distance - we had been told we could expect to have at least a two hour wait but instead we queued for less than a half an hour.

St Jean Pied de Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain - 800 kms

We set off from Lavacolla in the early morning ...on our way to Santiago de Compostela

Everything seemed to be smiling on us today

Pappy's house involves a little magic today. He needs to drink a shrinking potion just as Alice did when she was in Wonderland then he'll be able to climb this ladder to enter his house. He should be perfectly safe and snug once he has built a floor.

Manuka - such a bright colour

7 kilometres to go

Now 6.5 kms

Here we are with a few pilgrims in front of us

The chapel of San Marcos

The monument on Monte de Gozo (Mount of Joy) - St John Paul ll depicted on this side of the monument. He walked into Santiago from here.

...and on into the city we go.

We finally reach Santiago - it doesn't seem real

Chapel of San Lázaro

We took this opportunity to reflect on our journey before walking on to the Cathedral

Walking further in now - where are all the pilgrims that we were told to expect?

Our first glimpse of the Cathedral in the distance

Three pilgrims ahead of us now

Unbelievable - we're walking down to the archway which leads into Praza Obradoiro and the Cathedral. 

Then, almost before we were ready for it, we were in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. It was an overwhelming moment. 

Santiago - St James

We were able walk up some steps to hug the statue of St James 

and to go down to St James' crypt. .

Our Compostelas complete with our names in Latin.

 The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela