Glory Alleluia - I am in Santiago de Compostella

784km and 35 days ago I set out from Roncesvalles and today I reached the Field of Stars - Santiago de Compostella.

Last night in the albergue there was a palpable sense of excitement. The local village was also excited as there were all sorts of feasts happening - local saint and also the summer solstice (I think). It seems there were celebrations across Spain and a lot of it involved building bonfires and jumping over them. As pilgrims we were excluded from the festivities because we had to be back in the albergue by 10.30pm and festivities were only starting then. But our excitement was due to the wonderful sensation of knowing that we had only 20km left to walk.

I have arrived!

Others set off early as usual, but I leisurely only set off about 7.30am. Pedrouzo is a little village in an eucalyptus forest and it was lovely going down the fragrant (no cows) leafy lanes through the forest. 10km from Santiago the urban sprawl began, and it was just a slog into the city. I reached the cathedral at 12.30pm - and my walk was over. I immediately started meeting pilgrims, and took fotos to record it. Mass was on in the cathedral, so the next order of business was to find a bed. Pat from Ireland pointed  to a buiding and siad they were staying there. I went across, found a room in the Residencia la Estella and 15 euros a night - a real bargain. As I come out of the front door, I go up some steps and I am in the Plaza of the cathedral. The cathedral is to my right, The Hotel Reyes Catolicos is across the plaza and the Municiple Offices to the left - all magnificent ancient buildings. My humble little residensia suits me fine.

Pilgrim's Mass in the Cathedral 

So after settling in, I went to the cathedral and prayed at the tomb of St James the Apostle, and went around to behind his statue and gave him a hug. This what pilgrims do, by the way. Came out, and had a long reunion lunch spanish style, and then got my compostella - a certificate to say that I completed the camino.

Later went out again and met the whole bunch of people, some of whom I last saw in Pamplona. Now I have returned to my residensia, written up this happy blog and suddenly feel rather tired.
Tomorrow will be very strange indeed - waking up and not starting to walk. I almost feel lost already!
But now  I will soon be in bed, and so I can joyfully say:
Adios from Santiago.