A few days in Madrid before returning home

I got into Santiago de compostella on Friday as I recorded in the last post.
Saturday and Sunday were a time of reunions - meeting pilgrims from all stages of the walk who had made it. That in it itself was a great experience.

Many of the pilgrims go to Finisterre as well. Some walk there - another 4 days of walking and others take the bus. The name Finisterre means - the end of the world - because in medieval times it was the end of the known world - just ocean lay beyond. They often would burn their clothes - they would have been smelly rags by this time - as put on new clothes. I decided not to go there as it is not the end of the world for me, and we have better beaches in SA. My camino ended by reaching Santiago, going to the Pilgrims mass - more about that in due course - and getting my compostella.

I wanted to go to Madrid on Monday to discover this city before returning home on the morning of the 30th June. However all the express busses were full - only the slowbus which takes 10hours was available. So I left on Sunday night and took the overnight trip. It was a dreadful journey as it is almost impossible for me to sleep on the bus. I got to Madrid early on Monday morning found the hostal I had booked and lest my bags there as it was too early to check in.

So in a rather tired state I explored some of the centre of Madrdid before I checked in and had a snooze. Madrid lacks the charm of Santiago. It looks like an 18|19th century city - very beautiful but not interesting to me from an antiquity side. Hovere it does have some of the greatest art museums in the world - and that is what I will be exploring tomorrow.

So I return to SA on Thursday morning. I am looking forward to be at home again.

So from Madrid - Adios.