Santiago de Compostela,Spain

We are in Santiago!! It feels emotional! This Camino took us through the archway where bagpipes play! My eyes tesred up listening as we walked out of the archway into the great cathedral Plaza. Pilgrims were milling around, taking photos of the arrival in front of the cathedral, as one does, or just sitting on the warm stones on this beautiful day leaning on their back packs as we later did to people watch.
People were soaking up the atmosphere, enjoying the plaza, their achievement, reflecting and living the moment. All arriving from different Camino’s.
Examples: Primitivo, Del Norte, Frances, Inglese,etc. All walking for many reasons. Arriving finding the journey wasn’t the journey they thought they started. The Camino allows you to leave the unwanted behind, to let go. The Camino can give, something you didn’t know you needed….
Later, sitting on the warm stones of the Plaza facing the incredible Cathedral, we hear, ‘No way! NO WAY!’ English spoken by a Spanish speaking voice.
This familiar face raced on, “I saw you 2 years ago on the Norte, you met the Estonian gal!”( Meelika) I can’t believe your here!!
Her smile was so big! It was so incredible to run into her!! *Tammy has only just relaid such a story about Natalie, from Belgium ( I got to meet her when we walked the Norte 🩷❤️, Natalie has run into a Pilgrim she has met on a different Camino in this place also! Great memories!!.
2 thoughts 1) if you wait and just let life hold you for a moment in the Plaza you will mostly likely meet someone from another of your Caminos ! 2) There is obviously something to be said for not updating my hiking ‘wardrobe’. 😅😅
The Camino brought us in through a classic section of the old city. Then onto the cathedral!
Photos on the plaza!!!! On to the official building to pick up the Compostela!
We are treating ourselves to our own rooms- bathroom, shower to ourselves, yes!!
The fountain in the tiny plaza out my window. Many Cafes! Restaurants and people watching as I write this.
Santiago is a wonderful city, to walk to food find and enjoy people watching!
****Only 18.8km or 11.3 miles this day, but at the end of 545+km or 339 miles. We felt we’d walked further. 😊Baca lagi