Up early, packed and taxi to the station to catch 9am train to Madrid. This took five and a half hours; scenery went from mountains with forests to vineyards and flat arable farmland. Upon arrival in Madrid we walked to our hotel, approximately 10 minutes. The hotel is very comfortable. After something to eat we are having an early night.
Attended English Mass at 10.30am, last day after 6 months. After mass we renewed our marriage vows in front of the alter. Father Gerard then blessed us. It was very emotional for us both. The Camino was a celebration for the love we have for each other; it got us through the tough days. We then attend the Noon mass for pilgrims in the cathedral. Someone had paid €300 for the choir, it was beautiful. Lunch with Christina from Argentina , tabouleh, wine and coffee; she is a beautiful person, we spent two hours chatting. Hopefully one day our paths will cross again. Back to our pension, organized our bags for departure to Madrid by train tomorrow. Ian visited Saint Dominics monastery. Having a wine and gin fizz before last minute shopping and dinner.
Ian would like to thank his work colleagues and friends for their good wishes on his birthday, he will personally thank everyone in person when we return home.
Wake up call at 7am, stored backpacks at hostel, walked to bus station to catch 9am bus to Finisterre. We surprisingly met Stephen who we hadn't seen since Burgos. We both liked him very much and it was a real pleasure to see him again. The bus journey along the coast was beautiful. Passed through fishing villages, very rocky terrain. Arrived at Finisterre at 11.15am, had coffee with Jim and Sharlene from Canada. Walked the 3kms to the lighthouse. We felt that being at the Romans "end of the world" put a closure to our Camino. Beautiful lentil soup for lunch; bus back to Santiago at 3pm. Checked into new hotel , unpacked suitcases for the first time in 5 weeks. Shopping, then birthday dinner at 'Casino', a very popular place of pilgrims/pelogrinos.
Woke this morning to pouring rain. Stayed in bed till 9am, what a treat. Crossed the road to have coffee and toast. Load of washing, postcards and relaxed.
Had a bowl of Galacian soup for lunch; then a few hours shopping. Gin and tonic with local cheese then back to hostel for a rest. Dinner at 8pm, fish and tabouleh salad. Saw Te, a girl we met on the Camino who is from Alaska, she flies to Greece tomorrow; she is suffering quite badly from bedbugs.
Packed our backpacks for the last time. Loma disposed of her walking boots; Ian had done a few repair jobs so they just lasted. Arrived at Perigrino off early just before 9am, no queue. We stored our backpacks for the day. Cathedral for 10.30am mass in English in one of the small chapels, Irish priest Gerald Postlethwaite. Before starting he got all the pilgrims, approximately 50, to introduce themselves and their reason for walking the Camino. Later we went for lunch, paella. Found new accommodation in hostel close to town; booked train to Madrid on Sunday. Checked into hostel, rested, then booked hotel for 2 nights in Madrid. We are feeling nostalgic about the experience of our pilgrimage, consequently we have been in a bit of a daze today. We wandered around this holy and historic city, even though it was raining.
Left O Pedrouzo at 8am in the dark. First coffee break at 9am and the heaven's opened for the next three and a half hours. Seemed like we were walking in a queue, there were so many pilgrims. Saw our first and only donkey on the Camino. Got to albergue Mont del Gozo and the rain stopped. We were relieved to find our luggage there, which we had sent from Pamplona on 4th September. Dry clothes and bused downtown. Visited cathedral, lot of scaffolding inside and outside, pity, but that's the draw. We saw lots of pilgrims we had met at various stages on the walk. We had a cup of hot chocolate with Teri and Will from San Francisco, a very nice couple. Collected our saint Francis compostela, 800 year anniversary. Caught bus back to Mont del Gozo, bowl of Galatia soup before going to bed. All the young pilgrims were celebrating till well after midnight.
Walked in the rain for a few hours arriving at this town. Stopped at café for our first hamburger on the Camino. Actually, it was delicious. We got very cold and decided to call it a day. Just around the corner was an albergue so we checked in, private room €30. A nice hot chocolate, hot shower and a rest. The rain got harder as the afternoon wore on, so a good decision was made. Sitting in pizza parlour having a beer; quite a lot of other pilgrims with the same idea.
Rain predicted for tomorrow but only 20kms to Santiago. We are both feeling good, very seren and happy.
