Santiago Highlights

Attending the Pilgrims´ mass at the enormous Cathedral de Santiago along with 1200-1500 others and experiencing the welcoming energy of the presiding Bishop, seeing the botafumeiro, and hearing the role call of pilgrims who had arrived the day before ... which included 2 Canadians!

Visiting the Museo de Peregrinacion (Museum of Pilgrimage) and seeing beautiful black and white photos of "Pure Christianity" of pilgrims in Eritrea and Ethiopia (where Allison visited in 1997)

Talking and laughing with the young woman in the Panideria & Dulces who wanted to practice her English while we practiced our Spanish trying to buy donuts

The still warm, sugary, oily Donuts!

Talking and laughing with the woman in the Galegos Productos store about buying and how to cook "Ortegas" (stinging nettles) which we bought and will eat when we get home (see Allison´s post below about landing in a ditch full of nettles).

Meeting and talking with Esteban (who took great joy in practicing his English) in the Celtic Rugy Shop that sold kilts, where Allison bought a New Zealand Rugby shirt made in Espana!

Finding non-smoking restaurants, including enjoying our first tapas lunch, and our first bocadillo (sandwich) that included mayonasa (with pollo, tomate and lechuga) yummy

Watching two 8-9 year old boys play hide and seek in the Recantos Bar at beer o´clock
Seeing generations, families out walking, eating, laughing together

Seeing a photo exhibit and video "Regresso a Orixe" portraying pilgrimage in Jerusalem, Rome & Santiago by Manuel Valcarcel commisioned by Galicia for this 2010 Holy Year on the Camino - inspiring, beautiful, moved to tears

Pouring rain, flowing off rooftops and out of the mouths of gargoyles

Seeing, recognizing and embracing fellow walkers, pilgrims, amongst the throngs of thousands of tourists in this holy medieval city

Thinking that I had accidentally erased the more than 1000 photos that we had taken, crying my eyes out, and then discovering I hadn´t ... (It´s a long story)

Witnessing the excitment of the German priest, a fellow pilgrim, who spoke at the mass we attended, when the 60 kg incense-burning botafumeiro was lit and swung like a pendulum by 8 attendants more than 60 feet in the air ...

Sunshine and cafes con leche at outdoor cafes on this our final day in Spain!

We´ll be home late tomorrow night.

With love,
Diane and Allison