#Santiago in Galicia#Via de la Plata#Pineiro#TheSoutheastWay
Thursday morning we left a little later than normal because we had a shorter distance for our final walking day.
We walked from near Pineiro to Sanitago ... It was only just under seven kilometers.
The walk seemed to go quickly in the beginning (even with the ascent) until we reached the suburbs of Santiago and the walk into the city with another climb up the cobble stoned street...
I had a somber moment as we walked on the overpass on the railway tracks where the horrific accident happened last year.
The fence was covered with flowers, stuffed animals, pieces of clothing and various other personal memories for the victims.
Finally the Cathedral was in sight but still so far away...
Madame M. at the top of the last steep climb ... ( my photos don't show you how steep it was, but we could have used some oxygen as we walked up...)
Okay now which way ... we started to walk in the direction of the Cathedral and just to be sure Madame M. asked a local gentleman ... who kindly guided us.
As we entered the streets leading to the Square, more and more people appeared.
Finally we arrived ...
While waiting for our support team we purchased our souvenir clam shells and I watched in awe as the many pilgrims arrived.
It was a long afternoon ... Lunch, a visit to the Catherdal and a long wait in line at the Pilgrims Office to obtain our final stamps and Certificates of Completion and Distance.
Check in at Hotel Pombal ... with surprising views from our windows.
All creatures great and small ... find their "Way" to Santiago.
People / pilgrims from every walk of life with their own personal reasons for completing the pilgrimage to Santiago arrived in the Cathedral square.
This dutiful "best man's friend" accompanied his pilgrim friend on the Camino to Santiago!
For me it was an enlightening experience walking in the foot steps of so many pilgrims from the past centuries.
It was a time to reflect and rejoice all the wonderful things in my life and in the world!
