We did think about trying to rush to the Cathedral for the midday Pilgrims Mass, but we're not going to now, for 2 reasons:
a) this will be the end of over 960 miles of walking and we feel we need to savour those final few clicks and not hurry them.
b) at the midday mass, the names of those registering for their compostella the previous day are read out, so it is the Friday mass we really want to be at.
Today has been quite a relaxed day and nobody has been hurrying. This is because there is a sudden gap in the supply of the pilgrim albergue accommodation, with none now until the one on top of a hill looking down on Santiago, just 5 km away. As we're staying in rooms, rather than albergues, we are now 4.5 km ahead of the rest of the pack, although we know a nice Norwegian couple are also here, and I'm sure other pilgrims will be too (P.S. they are).
Before breakfast we walked with a nice American man who lives in South Africa. Time passed very quickly while we were chatting about all the caminos he has done. It seems that camino walking can be quite addictive. We are already talking about where to go next.
As we neered the small town of Arca we came across an information booth staffed by a very helpful young man who would book you any accommodation you wanted particularly in Santiago. He was operating a booking service on behalf of the Santiago hoteliers.
You told him what you wanted, where you wanted it, and in what price bracket and he sorted it all for you. And so, we, very usefully, got our accommodation for tonight booked and also for Thursday night and Saturday night in Santiago. He has booked us a 2* pension, very close to the cathedral, and it certainly looks very nice and cheaper than an English B&B.
Rather than spend 3 days in Santiago we think we will take the train to La Coruna on Friday afternoon, overnight there, then come back on Saturday. It will be good to get some sea air after the dust of the Camino. We already have the train times thanks to the man in the information office.
At one time we did think about trying to make up a 2nd extra day so we could continue to Finisterra, but it seems it requires some hard additional walking and, to make up an extra day in this extreme heat when paws are sore, just seemed too much, so we will save Finisterre for a separate mini break.
We have only one small growl at the moment. Our accommodation, which is out of town, closed it's bar and restaurant at 5.30 until 8.00 pm. We were just in time to get some beer in bottles to take out but other pilgrims are wandering round hungry and thirsty. This is actually a hotel and it is now full (of pilgrims) so we are a little surprised.
After a growl, we've also had a laugh at the following translation on the reception desk ...
... yes, it is supposed to be English. Spanish Pedro is a little ashamed of his countrymens' linguistic skills.
When 8.00 pm came round we had a very good meal taken with, none other than 4.5 Norwegians.* The half was a half Austrian man. Only on the Camino could this happen. You have to prepare to expect the unexpected!
Lots of love, the Camino bears xxx
* the coincidence was that this was not a single party of Nowegians, but 3 separate groups, who did not know each other and had completely independently chosen this accommodation.
1 comment:
You must be very excited! The culmination of a long trip and months of hard walking draws near! Suffolk Branch applaud your decision to head for the coast and have a relaxing day - you have earned it. Enjoy!
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