Walking towards Santiago this morning I had mixed emotions. Our journey was coming to an end and I didn’t really want it to.

After leaving our lovely little pub the Andaina I wondered at the significance of the Collingwood scarf hung on the tree. Had this pilgrim finally given up on his team or were they giving the scarf as an offering in the hope of heavenly intervention.

Today a roadside village of mushrooms

and grapevines growing inside and over an old house

The tide of pilgrims seemed to have swollen this morning. It is very difficult to be alone. There is feeling of excitement knowing that the Cathedral is within the days walk.

From Monte de Gozo there is an inspiring view of Santiago.

Along the road over a cracked pathway down a long series of steps and we were suddenly at the bridge that crossed us into suburbia.

A Templar Peregrino stands watch over the constant stream of passing pilgrims.

The sign letting everyone know they had at least arrived in Santiago.

But we still had a long walk to reach the Cathedral. The signs were easy to follow. And suddenly our first glimpse of the beautiful lady that had been our destination for the past five weeks.

On the way in several languages carved into the footpath. Europe was made on the Pilgrim road to Compostela.

And then Divine Dave and I arrived at the plaza in front of the Cathedral. Divine Dave turned to me and kissed me. Surprised I asked him what that was for. Divine Dave replied. We made it.

The Cathedral was stunning. After a five year restoration of the face of the Cathedral it looked immaculate. It has to be one of the most amazing places. There is still a lot of restoration work being done which I am happy to see and one day I hope to return to a fully restored Cathedral.

We found our way to the pilgrims information office from where the Compostellas are issued. After a confusing..what is happening here..we were directed outside down the steps to the waiting room from where the ticket numbers were issued. We were issued with ticket numbers 1030 and 1031. Then we were told there would be about a four hour wait before our number would be called. We looked at our watch. That should make it about 7 o’clock. Big sigh.

We walked back from the cathedral looking for somewhere to have a wine and dinner while we waited out our four hours. David bumped into Heidi. Now this would have to be the perfect way to end our journey, with friends that we have met along the way. David, Heidi and Kelly and Kelly’s husband who had joined her in Santiago were having a beer or two at the bar across lane. It was a wonderful end to our walk into Santiago. I now no longer regretted the end of our incredible journey.

Yesterday we had also heard from Casey and Jurie who had already walked on to Finisterre and were now in Muxia. After a heartfelt goodbye to our Camino friends we sat down at the terrace of a bar and had our wine. We met a couple of women from Devon, England who had walked from Porto, Portugal. We also met a young man from St. Petersburg, Russia. The Camino is a real coming together of people of all ages and nationalities. Sara from Boston who we had met several times along the way but had not seen for the past three weeks walked out of the bar we were sitting at. She had just had dinner there. So lovely to catch up again. Can Santiago get any better.

After we had our dinner we walked back and waited in the waiting room of the pilgrims office. We watched the numbers on the board, 950 seemed to stay forever. Suddenly it ran through to 1000. Thirty or more people, us included, rose and made our way back up the stairs. We arrived excitedly to find they were calling…980. Several minutes later a loud cheer went up from the waiting group as 1000 was flashed up on the screen. By 8:45 we were finally out the door, Compostelas in hand.

By the lights of the night we wandered around the Cathedral.

and the plaza, before finally heading home.