Stage 25: PEDROUZO to SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (13.98 miles)

 We bade farewell to Pedrouzo with an eye to reaching out goal of entering Santiago de Compostela. Along the way we came across both beauty and oddities...

We continue to encounter many pilgrims along the way. Because we wanted to get into Santiago to beat the crowds, we left an hour earlier than normal. It was very nice weather and the trees helped a lot.

This was an odd sight: the person had created an altar filled with religious artifacts.

You find these shrines all along the trail.

Of course, I still can't resist a good Romanesque church!

So we are walking along this walled forest when we notice lounging around amid the trees a small herd of cattle. There were also horse wandering about. It was clearly a private farm of sorts. Nothing like we had ever seen before.

We finally reached the Monte de Gozo. This is the high point from which pilgrims would get their first look at Santiago de Compostela and the Cathedral.

On the Monte de Gozo there are memorials like the one above with panels that honor the pilgrim route.

The most beautiful are these statues that express the joy that the pilgrim feels as he nears his goal.  On this spot we had a brief devotional and then sang "All Creatures of Our God and King." A small group of people gathered around. It was a beautiful moment for all involved.

From the Monte de Gozo we walked another 5 kilometers into the city.

WE MADE IT!!! It feels so unreal to think that we have crossed Spain from the Roncesvalles in the Pyrenees to the Santiago de Compostela in its western reaches.

Later that day we attended a special pilgrim's mass in the Cathedral. The Julián Barrios, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Santiago conducted the mass. He delivered a beautiful sermon. The most dramatic moment (which is not part of the mass) is the swinging of the botafumeiro, a large incense burner moves across the transept of the Cathedral. It weighs about 56 kilos and requires the strength of six men to swing it. Here is a brief moment as it begins to slow down:

After dinner we went to the Plaza in front of the Cathedral where we listened to a "Tuna" which is a musical group associated with the university. They sing traditional songs and are very entertaining, often telling jokes and involving the audience in their activities. 

We finally decided that we needed to get back to our hotel. It was 11pm and the Cathedral was a beautiful sight:

Grateful that we all arrived safely and deeply grateful for the experience. We still have a few days in Santiago de Compostela involving the Cathedral. More to come.