Camino Francés

Post Camino

Santiago de Compostela, Fisterra and Muxia
3rd - 9th June 2019

We spent three days in Santiago just quietly taking everything in: the end of our Camino, the people around us, and simply walking around the city. We watched other pilgrims arriving - all showing a mix of emotions just as we must have shown on our arrival.
A special time for us was the Pilgrims' Mass. It was held at the Church of San Francisco not that far from the Cathedral. The Mass was said by five priests and a young nun sang throughout - her voice so pure and clear. Being with so many other pilgrims, so many that the church was full to overflowing, and the Mass ending with a pilgrim's blessing - first in Spanish then in English - was very moving. It was quite fitting for the pilgrim Mass to be held in the Church of San Francisco while the Cathedral is being renovated as St Francis of Assisi himself was a pilgrim to Santiago - he walked in 1214 and founded the Franciscan Order in Santiago. The present day church was built in the 1700s. We also went to the English Mass in a small chapel in the Pilgrim Office which was followed by a cup of tea and chat, then we went back to the Church of San Francisco to receive a Franciscan pilgrim blessing certificate.

After our three days in Sanitago we went by bus to Fisterra, on the Cape of Finisterre. The names of both the town and the Cape come from the Latin finis terre - the end of the land. We spent four days in Fisterra, simply walking around the small colourful fishing port, giving ourselves time to adjust to not walking, of having reached Santiago de Compostela - which for so long was our goal - and to what our Camino meant to us.
On one of the days we walked out to the lighthouse at Cape Finisterre - to the end of the world. This was the only time we had to retrace our steps. Before, on the Camino Francés, we walked westward every day, never having to turn back. Another day we bathed our feet in the Atlantic Ocean - a post-Camino teat for our feet that had served us so well.
We visited Muxia on our return to Santiago from Fisterra.

Pilgrims gathering in front of the Cathedral in Prada Obradoiro on their arrival...

...and us silently watching as they arrive.

Iglesia de San Francisco - the Church of St Francis

In the Iglesia de San Francisco - waiting for the pilgrims' Mass to start.

In the Iglesia de San Francisco

The Galician piper who was playing in the archway leading to Praza Obradoiro. He spoke of the importance of keeping family traditions going.

These men were playing Galician music in the plaza - one on the guitar and the other playing an instrument called a hammer dulcimer - very beautiful music.