Day 9, 10 and 11 (in reverse order!)

Day 11 (Monday September 26th) Santiago de Compostela to home

Up early this morning, organise a taxi for the airport with Susan. To my surprise Erin came with Susan. Erin had planned to make the coach trip to Finisterre with Alcia that day and so I just had to get a snap of the two ladies I had met at the very start and who were here the very end of my Camino trip. It was great to travel back with Susan as she's such an intresting character. The homeward flight to Stansted passed with out a hitch and I made sure that Susan got to the right bus to get her back to Heathrow for her onward flight to Seatle (via Iceland) the next day. I caught a bus to Stevenage and the Peterbourogh train Sandy, ariving home at just after 2:00pm UK time.

From Camino day11

the last of the CAFOD questions:
What have been the highlights and low points of this journey for you?
As I sart to think about returning home, what will I take with me from this journey. Will anything change in your life?

The lowlight will be with me for some time to come. I just hope I can understand why such things happen to people I make an effort to care about.

The highlights were the first day getting to Ruitelan and meeting some very special people that day, people who would be with me at various times during the pilgrimage and who would lift my spirits when they fell low. Good companions who I hope I will meet again. One of whom - Susan Gregory - has become a very close friend and I hope (ney know) will be life long friend too.
And finally some thoughts not mine - but that ring true with the whole experince... Enjoy.

Day 10 (Sun September 25th) - Santiago de Compostela

I had a great night sleep and rose early in the morning and went to an early mass where I saw Chris and Roger. The Botafumeiro didn't swing, but after the mass I took the oportunity to investigate a little more of the Cathedral. It's a facinating structuure and I really just managed to visit the various chapples and one of the displays rooms that offers the history of the buildings and a much closer look at the Portico de Gloria (Doors of Glory) and the wonderful carving that tells the story of the history of Jesus line and His Glory in heaven. Central to this door is the tree of Jesse - see the photo - the whole thing is a masterpiece of stonework, that has been eroded by the touch of so many pilgrims over the years that it's now been blocked off. A good thing really, but unfortunately the lighting there doesn't allow you to see and appreciate the inricacies of the stonework - whereas the display brings the story nicekly into focus.
I decided to have a little breakfast at the Rúa de San Paio in the sunshine and take a few photgraphs of the eastern side of the exteria of the cathedal. The rest of the day spent restfully enjoying Santiago's sites without the need for meeting up with others.

Day 9 (Sat September 24th)- Santiago de Compostela

I moved to the center of the city today - very close to the Cathedral and well away from the rather smelly fish market where the others had chosen to stay. On my way I took a tour of the Seminario Mentor which was a very impressive building, and was tempted to book in there for the day too. But I knew I needed to check to see if my parcel from France had arrived at the Post Office - alas no luck today. As the Post office is closed Sunday and I'd be travelling before it opened Monday meant the parcel would be returned to France (if it ever arrived); and that idea was a complete and utter wast of time, effort and money for both Ross and me - sorry Ross...

Anyway that done I met the CAFOD group for the Pelegrinos mass before 11:30 so that we might find a seat together - as it turned we sat close to each other, but not together (seems to be the almost story of my Camino with this group). The mass was a very moving experince for us all, not withstanding the Botafumereio didn't swing that day.

We sat on the left hand wing of the of the Cathedral facing the people in the right-hand wing during the Service. It was strange that as the service went on I saw more and more people that I had met on the walk - some of whom I knew their names, others (and there were a lot more of these) that I had passed and exchanged greetings. And quite a few that I han't spotted spotted me too as I was wearing my CAFOD running vest - bright/florecent green and they told me as I met them on my walks later on that day or the next. After the service the CAFOD group met to take the official group photograph. And then we spent the rest of the day relaxing and exploring this wonderful city.

The thing that became very apprant to me was that the city is always full of people throughout the day. Especially the times when the doors of the Cathedral open. And of course the Cathedral was never empty and generally packed. There was always a hive of activity and the deacons kept protrolling with the intent of keeping conversations down to a respectful level and so I'd frequently hear a loud "SSHHHHHHHhhhh......" being expelled as the noise levels rose every 5 - 10 minutes. It was as if people needed to be close and were drawn to this holy place.

I traversed the city a number of times this day each time spotting something new and interesting. There are so many churches, monuments, and musems I doubt you'd be bored. I storlled into a Picaso exhibition that spanned three large floors of his works. I met Chris and Roger - what a great pair of friends they are - always full of fun and happiness. Then I happened to be walking by the Post Office with the intent of poping in to check the parcel and who should I almost trip over sitting a table outside a bar sipping a beer, but Erin and Susan (E&S) the very two ladies that were ther first people to greet me on the Camino. I sat down and discovered that they had just arived in the city and had yet to find ther hotel. Those who know me well know that I very quickly become oriented in new cities and so I offered to direct them to their hotel - returning te favor so-to-speak... little did I realise that the hotel was right at the far end of a very long street.... Anyway we enjoyed a drink together and chatted about all of the people we had met that first day, including Isabelle who had crossed my path so many times. We spoke of Maria and it seemed E&S had met Maria before Isabelle but never together, we chatted about Alicia and a few others who S&E. I had spotted most of these people at the pilgrims mass earlier and said they wein Santiago. After they finished their meal, I got up and started on the route to take them to the hotel, and almost imeadiately became dioriented, I checked the map and realised we had come one street (10 yards) to far but rather than going back we should walk up Rua de Franco, and as we walked up the street as if by majic most of those we had been chatting about earlier were on that street - it was amazing as if everyone knew E&S.
After directing E&S to their hotel I had a quick snack at a Cafe. After that went for anothr strol and spotted a Galacian dancing band with drums and bag pipes in trin, walking through the streets. I followed them to a plaza where a wedding was taking place in the church of St Agustin. A rather plain looking church from the outside but when I looked inside I was astounded at the beautiful acrchitecture and how the church had been decorated for the wedding. The pictures tell part of the story, but the wedding was a spectacular affair with a string quartet, vocal soloists who sang Avey Maria as well as I've heard it sung. And with about three wedding planners - as far as I could tell - in train. They had even brought along their own trees to stand in the plaza for the photographs taken outside the church. Unfortunately I missed the Galacian dancing band as I suddenly felt quite cold and feverish and made my way quickly back to my hotel to sleep. Boy do these Galcians know how to throw a celebration...