Last Walking Day 34

I was up two times in the night to soak my feet in cold water. It is a very effective treatment for my toasted feet. So I was a little slow in getting packed up and down for breakfast and a little uncertain how this last day would go. At 8 o'clock we stepped out the front door of the Hotel and realized that it was raining and really windy. Stepped back inside and I put on shorts and we both slipped into our ponchos and off we went. It only took about 15 mins for my " Burnt toast feet" to feel almost great and I got to have my portable cold foot bath with me all day.

We only had about 9.5km to go so we were in very good cheer. Up one last big hill to Monte del Gozo or Mount Joy, where medieval pilgrims first spied the cathedral towers. Now that view is blocked but you can still see Santiago suburbs from there.

At 10:44 we spotted the Cathedral towers and Al says if we hurry we can make the 12:00 pilgrims mass. We arrived at 11:30 in great Pilgrim style, ponchos dripping wet and blowing in the wind. The realization that we really did it , we were really standing there in front of the Cathedral hugging each other in celebration of the long "Way" we completed together. Even though a bit overwhelmed we first had to find the Pilgrim office register , get our official Compostella , then find a place to lock up our backpacks and then get in line to enter the Cathedral. We just made it. Must have been 3,000 people in the Cathedral. Al would do a better job describing the Mass but even though it was long...standing in wet sandals, all in Spanish and only understanding a little bit of what the Priests were saying, it was still very moving. We looked around and saw several people we had met along the way. Just before the communion there is a greeting to those around you...peace be with you..not many dry eyes...hand shakes often replaced with hugs. The coolest part was the swinging of a giant incense burner. Originally this was used to fumigate the sweaty and possibly diseased pilgrims. It took six monks to swing it with a pulley system and ropes and the had it going so high it almost hit the ceiling. Absolutely amazing. Everyone was gasping and taking pictures, even the Priests were enjoying it. When they finished everyone applauded. A nice fun way to end an otherwise solemn service.

Too much to write. Stood in line in rain for an hour or more to tour the Cathedral. Then knew we better find a place to stay. By this time we were cold and getting wet inside our ponchos and hadn't had lunch yet. On the square behind the Cathedral is Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos, which is the oldest hotel in the world in constant use for that purpose. It was built around 1486. Ferdinand and Isabella built it as a pilgrim hospital but now it is a 5 star Paradores where we are staying tonight enjoying the luxury. Nice to find a little box of chocolates on my pillow tonight. Thinking of taking a bus to Finisterre tomorrow.

The Camino de Santiago is officially completed. St. Jean to Santiago 798.6 Km or 496.2 miles in a total of 36 days which included 2 rest days.
"A purpose of pilgrimage is to allow time for old belief systems and outworn "truths" to fall away so that new and higher perspectives can arise." Quote by John Brierley who wrote the pilgrims guide that we used.