The exclamation mark for Santiago de Compostela is self explanatory. The exclamation mark for August 2nd 2016 is because that is Kenneth’s and my 35th wedding anniversary! It had been my aim to arrive on August 2nd – but till today, I didn’t think I would make it.
I must confess that when I arrived in Santiago I was almost in tears. I didn’t know where I was going to stay, I didn’t know where the pilgrim office was and was too tired to find out and the cathedral was too full of tourists to provide any solace. I was rescued by a kind lady serving at the souvenir shop – who gave me an address and phone number, drew on my map how to get there – and told me that I would find a place that was happy and clean – and would cost 15 euros for a single room. If it was a happy place I was on board! I found the place, was let in by the friendly landlady, and was back to my routine – collapse on the bed for an hour and a half, take a shower and then venture out to find a cafe and explore the town – my world was set to rights again!
I tried one more time to go back in the cathedral but couldn’t fight my way through the crowds and decided to return early next morning when it would be quiet (which turned out to be a perfect decision). I was too tired even to take a photo in front of the cathedral – and decided to do that in the morning also. In fact I didn’t tell anyone, except Kenneth, that I had arrived – I wasn’t quite ready.
The streets of Santiago de Compostela
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, from front and back and showing close up of two of the entrances. (The front loses something in translation because of the scaffolding)
To be continued —
Fatijah's Camino Portugués 2016 