3. Santiago de Compostela

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July 5th 2023

Published: July 10th 2023

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Pilgrims Backpacks

Santiago de Compostela

When we got off the ferry, we had no idea what specific direction we would go. We knew we were going through Spain, Portugal and France, had a couple of firm destinations like Seville and Granada in our minds, but hadn’t a route or had anything else in our minds. After staying in the Picos and having bit of time to study the maps and guidebooks. It seemed the next destination must be Santiago de Compostela, in the Northwest of Spain. Since the 9^th Century pilgrims have been travelling many miles to visit the shrine of the Apostle St James, where tradition holds that the remains of the apostle are buried. There are several routes including from France, Portugal and from within Spain itself, with the French Way, or Camino Frances, being the most popular.

The full length is over 900 Kilometres. Though to receive a pilgrim certificate you must walk 100km. Luckily our campsite was located very near the Camino trail so we actually followed the trail into the city, to feel part of it and complete the last…er.. 6 kilometres.

Many take the trail as groups or organisations; some prefer to do it

Camino route markers

for friendship, solitude or as a challenge. The reasons can be religious, spiritual or wellness.

When the pilgrims end their journey, they are piped into the square where there is jubilation or maybe just a cause for reflection.

Visiting the Cathedral, you enter and are met with what is a fairly drab interior. We are led through a very small entrance for one person, to view the silver casket of St James. Disappointedly we are then sent outside, not realising we can go back in another entrance which is where the full magnificent of the high altar faces you.

It was getting hot, it was time have a drink before wandering the city. We went in the Pilgrims Museum of Santiago a lovely new building explaining the history of the Camino trail.

They eat late in Spain, so while we waited for the restaurants to open we laid down in the park and listened to a great solo instrument guitarist playing songs like Parisian Walkway, Careless Whisper, and Hallelujah.

We hopped on the bus back to campsite where we had a few drinks, and a lovely evening entertained by a great group. The drummer happened

Portico de la Gloria

to be the campsite manager -a great guy called Ton, who incidentally must be a bit of an Anglophile as he has decorated his reception to look like the interior of a London tube station.

We head now to a different country and a different time zone – Portugal.

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