Day 30: Pedrouza to Santiago de Compostela 21kms

We arrive. Another super early start before dawn and I mistakenly think we can get into Santiago before noon to attend the Pilgrim's Mass. We have both been emotional in different ways over the last two days. We are done, physically and mentally. And we are thankful. We waited in a long line to get our Compostela, in Latin so I don't know if I am pious enough, and having missed the mass will wait to attend on Sunday when they will swing the enormous Botafumeiro once used to dull the aroma of hundreds of filthy pilgrims! Although a Pilgrim's Mass is held every day they don't always swing the Botafumeiro as in days gone by. It was a real joy to come across a girl who we have walked with, or rather seen along the way, since we started in Pamplona. That made our day as we haven't seen familiar faces for awhile. Later we saw a Kiwi girl and four Germans we have constantly seen along the way.

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” ― Ernest Hemingway