This morning I returned to the cathedral when everything was quiet and the tourists were still asleep. I met a couple of pilgrims who had just arrived – I took their photo in front of the cathedral and they took mine.
Then I went inside the cathedral, when there was almost no-one there and there was space for prayer. Behind the altar is a crypt with a silver casket, supposedly containing St James’ remains. I wasn’t expecting to feel anything there and was surprised to feel that it was in fact a holy place.
The tradition is that when you arrive in Santiago, after finishing the Camino, you randomly meet people you had walked with. So who should I randomly bump into in the cathedral this afternoon but first Cristina and then Johanna and Cem who had just arrived. I was happy to find that the Camino magic was still alive. And then this morning I met up with Giulio and Martina – but for that I had to go to the bus station!
Santiago at night (the top two photos are of the square by my room and the bottom photos are of the lighted cathedral and the troubadours performing under the arches of the cathedral plaza.)
Fatijah's Camino Portugués 2016 