In Santiago

And it seems a it surreal. We left Pedrouzo after our usual breakfast.....

Four of us walking, not together, but within sight of one another for the most part, knowing we'd all meet up for coffee and later a bowl of soup. As for me, as usual on the last day, there was a bit of a melancholy feeling. Perhaps the slight drizzle as we headed off was a part of this feeling. But the walking quickly turns melancholy to meditative and pure enjoyment of nature. The first 15km is absolutely beautiful, through eucalyptus forests, birds twittering and cocks crowing. Cows in the fields, farmers herding cows along the path. I finally reached this famous signpost but there was no one about and I'm terrible at selfies. 

Naoko and Andreu reached Monte de Gozo ahead of Nick and I. We sat and admired the view and wondered if a stop for red painkiller was in order. It wasn't so we carried on. 

The trudge through the outskirts is like through any of the larger cities on the Camino......just another trudge. But we reached the cathedral and took pics. 

There was no one else about except a TV crew so they interviewed Andreu. Apparently he was on the news last night. 

And then five others, with whom we had shared some albergues, showed up.....exhausted, emotional, and relieved. Our little band of four headed to the pilgrim office for our Credencial. 36 pilgrims registered today as compared with 2-3,000  on a summer's day. Nick booked into the Hostal Suso, Andreu and Naoko decided on an albergue, and then we went to Do Bispo, a fabulous tapas bar, to celebrate. 

I'm now staying with my friends, Lanzada and Victor, enjoying clean clothes (sent ahead), a room to myself, and a hot shower that could have gone on forever. And now for a few days in Santiago before the Encuentro begins on Saturday.