Resting in Santiago

 

It was quite lovely today not to have to think about walking.  We slept in a bit, then ventured out for coffee and to try a pastry or two, as we have heard they are delicious!  (But you knew that)

We then wandered a bit through the old city, and visited the fish and meat market.  It was incredible! I don’t like fish or seafood, but Dick was entranced.  So fresh, the crabs and prawns were still quivering.  (Cockles and mussels, alive, alive- o). And don’t even start on the barnacles!  A Dutch visitor told Dick they were delicious and he should try them.  He should.

Then we headed to the Cathedral for the noon pilgrims mass.  We heard that about 1200 pilgrims arrived in Santiago yesterday, and most of them appeared to be at the mass.  It was very crowded.  Although the mass was in Spanish and Latin, it was very moving and beautiful.  I was able to pick up a few words, but Ron understood more, the homily was from Peter where Jesus  said feed my sheep.  The cardinal also (I think) was saying if people still had questions after their pilgrimage they could find answers in the church.  He also talked about the Camino journey, but I didn’t understand his point there.  Nevertheless, it was a beautiful service.  It was a fitting ending to the Camino.  

While the outside of the cathedral is Romanesque, the inside is very baroque with gold leaf everywhere, cherubs cavorting over the organ pipes, and the Four Virtues supporting three different depictions of St James.  One is riding a white horse as the Moor-Slayer,  then there is St. James the Pilgrim, dressed in traditional pilgrim garb, and peeking out of a box of sorts  is St James the apostle.  Too many figures to describe or even see!

The remainder of the day was spent eating, wandering in the many souvenir shops, and catching up on naps!

Our dinner experience was again a little confusing.  First Lu got the wrong tortilla, which was actually mine.  Then Ron and Barb got their soup.  Then Lu got her tortilla.  Then Barb and Jim got their fish and prawns.  Then Dick got a mixed salad.  Then Lu got another tortilla.  Then Dick got another mixed salad.  Then Ron got his roast meat and Dick got his fish which turned out to be the wrong one but was hot and delicious any way.  Unfortunately there was about a 10 minute delay between each dish.  And it started to rain and they forgot dessert.  But it was all delicious!  And the wine was great.  We found out earlier that Mama, who was the main cook, had been in the hospital after a nasty fall and was still recovering, so the staff was on their own.  Perhaps that was the reason for the crazy!

We are packing up and leaving for Porto in the morning, so we took one last picture of our shoes.  They have served us well, and we are grateful! (And bits of bling hung in there the whole time!)