March 10 2023  Teo to Santiago De Compostella

After a very nice breakfast in the hotel we were on our way about 9:15 am, with 13.5 kms to go.  The trail ran right between the two buildings of the hotel so we didn't have far to go to get on the trail and it was a steep down hill for quite a way.  When you are walking down steep slopes it puts quite a strain on your quads and you risk sliding out in loose gravel.  The sky was quite overcast and foreboding but at least it wasn't raining and the wind which was howling down at us was at our backs.  I could not have imagined hiking into it. 

When we were about 6 kms out we were at the outskirts of Santiago de Compostella.  Ken was still one stamp short for his passport as he had forgotten to get a stamp at one of the hotels.  It was time for a coffee and so we stopped in an Irish Pub where Ken got his final stamp.  Maybe it was too early in the season but all the churches have been closed so finding stamps has been pretty much restricted to hotels and restaurants.

The last couple of kilometers were though downtown Santiago de Compstella and the signage pretty much disappeared.  Fortunately Ken had his AllTrails maps and he lead through the tiny lanes which is downtown and the huge interconnecting plazas which form the area around the Cathedral of Santiago. 

We checked into the hotel and headed off to the pilgrim's office to get our certificates of completion. It was pretty slick you entered your name address and  where you started on a computer terminal, a clerk printed your certificate out and then you paid at the check out till 5 euros for the certificate and 2 euros for the mailing tube. Done in a matter of a few minutes.  

As it was about 2:00 we needed to find a place to eat before everything closed for siesta.  Luckily there was a place right at hand where we sat down to eat our celebratory lunch.  The menu of the day was a lamb dish which the waitress highly recommended and it was great.  

After lunch Judy wanted to head straight back to the hotel as her ankle is totally done. Ken and I went off to the market to pick up some stuff for our evening picnic.  On the way we noticed that the main cathedral was open so we went in.  Wow is it ever something.  It is really a marvel.  Huge arched ceiling with a unbelievably elaborate gold leaf alter in the center.  

It has been quite an experience hiking the Camino.  The blustery weather has been a real challenge but the walking has been very stimulating.  Out of the 100 kms that we walked I don't think there was more than 5 or 6 which was down busy roads.  All of the rest was down either dedicated hiking trails or back alleys and tiny lanes.  

I have a couple of days here in Santiago before flying home on Monday morning so it will be interesting to see the city. 

Terry