Last night we had an excellent meal with our friends Tony and Johan, another two Australians from NSW and a woman from Missouri. The meal consisted of several very Spanish seafood paellas.
Today was our first non walking day in nearly 2 weeks and obviously we slept in until nearly 8:30. We then wandered out to a cafe/bar just outside of the tourist area for our usual Spanish breakfast.
After breakfast we visited the Cathedral office and obtained our Compostela's (photo attached).
The remainder of the day was spent watching the pilgrims walking in, wandering around the city, visiting the Cathedral (where I lit a candle for my friend Terry), the market, various souvenir shops and obtaining the usual late Spanish lunch at a bar adjacent to the market. From our room we can hear bagpipes playing. A piper stands under the entrance into Praza Obradoiro and welcomes in all the pilgrims arriving on the Caminos Frances.
Not very exciting, but it was a very pleasant way to spend a day.
Well done to Joannes Mapleson and Paulus Barker for having completed the pilgrimage "pietatis causa"!
Meaning, you both received what John had described yesterday as the "more colourful" certificate. I was hoping to see that one, its beauty does not disappoint. Love the Latin, too.
Saint James on his pedestal is looking properly tired and pious, but you real-life pilgrims round the table look as properly proud, happy, and relaxed.
A very lively blog, with beauteous illustrations.
Slightly more explanation of what we were looking at would not have gone amiss, but the entirety worked in an impressionistic way.
Descriptions of the hostels were very useful for future travellers… also for those who plan to stay put at home.
I…