Santiago de Compostela 10.9.25
We technically reach the end of the Camino Way today – we are not walking it and I believe these days it is not compulsory to walk the entire distance at one go.
The city centre is largely far free and so we are dropped a walk away from there. All well and good but one of our number slightly overdoes it and the return journey is a little more fraught.
We arrive in time to join the daily service which marks the end of the journey and the place is packed. Most of our fellow travellers do not stay but we wish to see the experience – a full Catholic Mass plus the swinging of an immense incense burner. It probably looks more dangerous than it actually is and getting photos proves none too easy.
Santiago Cathedral 10.9.25
The incense burner can just be seen in the photograph.
Knowing that this evening we will be eating in a small establishment close to the Parador we visit the Parador just off the square and enjoy a light lunch coming across a somewhat Spanish phenomenon. At an adjacent table an individual takes a seat and orders. He proceeds to read the newspaper whilst having a radio on the table turned up enough to be annoying. The experience repeats later in the week with a sole diner so assume it is socially acceptable – something which in the UK would bring all sorts of frowns and complaints.
In the evening we walk around the back of the Parador and visit a small bar which we just about fill. We are served the local tapas, all very simple and local home cooked food and a different way to spend the evening and very cheap to assist the holiday budget stay in balance.
We largely avoided the rain today but we note that tomorrow is intended to be very wet. We decide that we will stay in the hotel and have a rest day.