Day 40 – Pedrouza to Santiago de Compostela

The end of the Camino. 850kms from Irun. This was the last day of this Camino. 6 weeks ago this looked far away. It took 12 months of planning and waiting for this Camino and in the blink of an eye it’s over. 

The walk today was uneventful, lots of pilgrims, big, colourful, noisy, excited groups. Lots of people I had seen before, some even recognised me. I have gotten stronger as each day passes. What would have taken 6 hours 6 weeks ago took 4 hours. Sometimes we could not have walked the distance today. 

I started the day early and got up before sunrise for a coffee and croissant. Because of the business of the Camino cafes open at 6am here. 

The path was mainly a dedicated Camino path, but as I got closer to Santiago there was more road walking. Once I got past the big groups the walk was more enjoyable.

I wanted to start early as I had heard about long queues at the pilgrims office and some people being told to come back the next day. There is no next day for me as I start the trip home then.

I arrived into Praza de Obradoiro in front of the Cathedral at around 11am. It wasn’t too busy, I managed to get a couple to take my photo. Then went to the pilgrims office, I had pre registered the night before and basically went to the front of the queue. For the first time ever, they thoroughly checked my stamps, counting them and checking the dates.  I received my Compostela and Certificate of distance and was out of there in 10 minutes. So much for all the hype on the internet about queuing for hours. (Life lesson: If it’s on the internet it’s probably false) For the first time I saw someone rejected for the Compostela but were given a certificate of distanced instead.

The queue to enter the Cathedral is another matter. It snakes around the plaza and they are making people leave backpacks and hiking sticks outside. I went back later and walked straight in.

I got through this Camino without a blister, which is a first. My feet hurt from road walking, but that will be gone in a while. 

I am conflicted about how I feel. It’s a great sense of accomplishment to complete a Camino and I feel that I learn and grow each time. I feel a sadness that’s it’s over and I have to leave. I like it here (in Spain). I’ll be back.

23km today