Arriving at Santiago

Yesterday was arrival day and by far the wettest arrival in Santiago I have ever experienced.

Checked into the parador and checked out the blisters which are pleasingly symmetrical – 2 per heel. I did notice a pretty rank smell in the room too – I thought about complaining until I realised that it was my boots. They hadn’t dried out from the day before so hot feet walking in damp boots….well pretty ghastly. The boots were banished to the corridor so that other guests can enjoy that true Santiago-pilgrim atmosphere.

I collected by compostela from the smart new Pilgrim Office. Sign of the times that my rucksack had to be emptied by a security guard before I could go in. The cathedral has also massively stepped up security. I read about the situation online and it seems that some of the enrichers think that blowing up a bunch of pilgrims at mass would be a great way of getting the approving nod from their deity.

But to the cathedral I went – the botafumeiro was swung and yet again I was moved to tears despite the glow of camera phones around me.

It is the ascension day fiesta here in Santiago and despite the best efforts of the bands pumping out deafening music at midnight, it is all a bit of a washout…