Wow. Finally. Day 45 of walking. Could have been faster but I'm glad to have learned the lesson of the Frances which is to slow down and enjoy the journey. This last day would be about 14km.
Stopped at the wonderfully named A Susanna for coffee and treated myself to a "No Pain, No Glory" bracelet in honour of the amount of skin I had shed walking this camino.
And then into Santiago. This is the first view one gets of the Cathedral as one ploughs through the suburbs and it's a good one.
And then straight to the Pilgrim office and then to Praza do Obradoiro for the obligatory pose in front of the cathedral.
Arriving at the time of the Ascension fiesta again, Santiago was full of music and bands. The Galician pipes of Susana Seivane were sensational; what really struck me was, when she dived into the crowd and led some communal singing, just how the crowd knew the words. There was a real connection being made through a shared cultural heritage. Coming from a country without a shared culture, it made a strong impression on me.
And later it was fun to hear a crowd singing "Black is black" - which I had never realised until then was first recorded by. Spanish band in the 1960's.
And after all the great music and singing; it's then time to sit in the deserted Praza da Quintana square next to the mighty cathedral. 1007 km walked. Another certificate for the wall back home. What else will I take him from this one?
And then in the corner of the cathedral, a shadow.
I know this is just pareidolia but I can still take it as a sign. It's a pilgrim. So does my shadow look like a pilgrim or does it look like someone who still needs to work at being a pilgrim?
I think my shadow still needs some work. I will walk again.
Love,
Nick. A pilgrim.
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