Heavy showers today and heavy thundery showers for the rest of the week. It had to come.
I enjoyed my final Albergue last night, a really lovely place. I’m booked into the grim sounding Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos in Santiago. It was built in the 15th century as a Royal Hospital for pilgrims by Ferdinand and Isabella and adjoins the cathedral. I will write more about it tomorrow.
Today I’m in a pension about 18km away. I arrived at 2pm so wet that the owner skipped the formalities and showed me straight to my room. After a hot shower and a change of clothing (into my originally white shirt last washed some weeks ago) I went to check in. A new S had just arrived. She is from Vermont and finished the Camino a few days ago so is going to the airport tomorrow. S speaks Spanish so the owner immediately produced a fine bottle of red wine and 3 glasses and a conversation started during which S threw me the occasional translations. It transpires the owner of the Pension also owns large plantations of eucalyptus trees nearby. A perfect job requiring minimal input but substantial profits.
S and I went out for what is loosely termed lunch after that. Quite a nice soup to start.
Good luck on your last day. Don’t trip up!
Thanks Mike, I appreciate all the support
Did the pilgrims have to walk home in the olden days. Good luck for the last bit. I remember a big, big hill before going down to Santiago.
I guess so. I arrived at the Cathedral as the clock struck eleven. Now I have to kneel down and ask for my Compostela. Did you get one?
No, it was just a cycling holiday for Tom, Martyn and me.