Praza da Inmaculada

We're here! We've arrived! No more walking... (well🙄😂) Time to celebrate 🥳 🎉 🎊

We left our little casa this morning at about 0915 after finishing off the bread that first Ray, then Julie, had carried, as well as the peach jam that I'd had in my backpack for a few days, plus a coke or a coffee - and we were ready for the last push of 14km 😀👏.
We were a little off track, so rather than backtrack a km or so, we worked out how to rejoin the camino by moving forward and cutting off a few hundred metres. This worked, and we soon joined a steady stream of pilgrims making their final day's pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela 😀. (I've done this a few times - I think this is my 7th time arriving in Santiago and so 7th certificate 😱🙄😂).
The path led us through small villages and woods until we reached O Milladoiro, just 8.5km from the cathedral, where we enjoyed a refreshing drink before heading off along the main road and under a motorway junction.
If you look at picture 3, you'll see a long-distance view of the cathedral - our first sighting!
Our walk took us through some more woodland, and all of a sudden, we were on the outskirts of the city. We followed the arrows until we reached the city centre, then bimbled slowly up the main street to the cathedral square. It was raining, of course!!!😂
After taking the obligatory photo in front of the cathedral, we padded on down to the Pilgrim's Office where we collected our Credencials - our certificates to verify we'd walked from Porto/Vigo to Santiago, plus a distance certificate which stated that Julie and I had walked 280km (174 miles).
Then it was time for food! The boys hadn't experienced a Menu del Dia yet (Pilgrim menus seem to have disappeared), so we all enjoyed a plate of 'sausage' (chorizo etc) then something with either rice or chips, followed by a Tiramisu and accompanied, of course, by a celebratory vino tinto, all for €15! The boys were impressed!
We were able to make our way to our night's accommodation by then, so bimbled over to it. It was an apartment just 2 minutes or so from the cathedral and very reasonably priced. We should have known 🙄😂😂. The photos on Airbnb did it far too much justice! But the beds were clean, the shower was okaaayyyy, and it was only for one night.
Whilst Julie and I showered, changed and rested, Ray and Luke foraged for a celebratory bottle of Cava, which we enjoyed before heading out for a glass of wine and something to eat. Then it was back for a good, long sleep.
Although we weren't walking any more, we were still tired and aching!

Fast forward to Friday and we made sure we were up and out to the English Pilgrim's Mass at the Passport Office at 1030. It was a really lovely service and Father Manny (who I think we've seen before!) spoke beautifully about 'life's camino', linking our shared experiences over the past couple of weeks (preparation, excitement, regret, love, hate etc) with what we experience through life. Julie was asked to read the Responsorial Psalm (Luke wanted to, but they already had a bloke reading 🙄), and we were invited to share our names, where we lived, and where we'd started walking, as well as any prayers we had. So, a great end to a fabulous camino. 🤗🤗🤗

The boys are now on their way home, and Julie and I are in Monteforte de Lemos for a couple of days. We're walking again tomorrow, to where Nigel (Julie's brother) used to live. It'll be a bitter-sweet day, but hopefully one with lots of happy memories and a few good laughs.

God speed, Nigel. We miss you!🧡🧡🧡Leer más