Day 32 Santiago !!!!

This morning was our LAST early 6 am wake up!  We have 18 km to freedom from socks, vaseline, bandaids and boots!
We had breakfast at the pensione next door, toasted wonder bread, jam coffee and orange juice.  It was really dark and we were down to one headlight between the 4 of us.  The walk was pleasant but got less so as we got closer - we were very close to the airport which was exciting as Jan and I thought a major airline was going to come through the trees just 50 feet away! Fortunately it was turning at the end of the runway!  We think the route used to go where the airport now is, and it has changed the mileage.....it is a little bit further than the old days.  Eventually we reached the outskirts , there was an amazing monument honouring all pilgrims, it was HUGE. I would say over 50 feet tall and easily 15ft square.
We met many pilgrims along the way - ones we knew and new ones also.  We couldn´t see the cathedral until we were almost upon it. What an incredible sight - more impressive than any I have seen.  As we approached a piper was playing which made it all more emotional.  There were crowds of people, tourists as well as pilgrims.  You could tell who had just arrived off the camino by their feet, limping, and walking sticks of all kinds.  We headed into the church feeling we wanted to complete our walk by entering the cathedral with packs, poles and boots before finding our hotel.
I sat in a pew and in my head said all the names of the people I love and an thankful for in my life.....the other girls did their own special messages also.
Afterwards coming out of the cathedral we met up with Hannika, agreed to meet her for lunch - first we were off to the pilgrims office to receive our compestellas - proof that we had walked the camino!
Next it was showers and a last removal of the bandaids!
Sandy and I then set off to find our boxes that we had posted from France.  This proved to be a very hard task - without the help of our hotel reception I don´t think we would have found them.
We walked out a short way to a small sidewalk cafe and shared a bunch of small plates for dinner and two  very good bottles of Spanish cabernet.  A lovely celebration of our accomplishment.

FYI......Next post will be Santiago the Day after, possibly within a few hours. .  If you would like to keep checking the blog.....Each of the pilgrims, Jan, Sandy and Joanie and Muriel are going to post their own reflections on their camino.  I (Muriel) will also post some photos (with the help of my technologically brilliant children) I expect this all to be completed no later than November 15th.