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July 2nd
Sobredo to Santiago After the large crowds at the albergue last night it was a very quiet morning out of Sobredo. The ride was very easy and scenic this morning with lots of relaxing trails, we intended to do two stages today.
The stage came and went, pretty soon we were close to Santiago; memories came from Jessica's ride as we took the harder route and I did not want to make the ride hard for Carmen, I was very focused on the arrows and made sure I did not follow any of the white arrows for the cyclist on the main road instead of the Camino. We were very tired as we reached the tunnel that marks the entrance into the Cathedral. First thing we needed to do was get our Compostela, I felt like we had to get things done right away, Carmen was feeling the stress of the large crowd, the noise out of the bars the vendors and the musicians. It was hard to stay calm focused and enjoying actually arriving in Santiago with so much demanding your attention. We got some help from a fellow cyclist who had gotten his Compostela a couple of days earlier, he told us exactly where to go. The building were we needed to go had change from the prior years , they now had a new building but it was just as crowded. We walked into the building and got in line, my eyes were burning from riding all day and not having a chance to clean my face and now waiting in line to be seen, one pilgrim at a time. |
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Now at the desk, the lady that was to do our Compostela is new and not able to match a name to Rogina to write on our Compostela. I ask her to just put down my name, that I will be the only one to see this document, she reacted with surprise, I was ready to get out of this office after waiting over 30 minutes just to get to this point.
We headed to the albergue, the last Stamp, same place Jessica and I had stayed at years before, for now all went well, we got a floor up on the fifth floor, it was hot, she showered and headed out to the mass, the heat made me think about how hot it would still be tonight, with the hot day and the heat rising to the top of the building.
At the cathedral we had to wait a bit before going in, they were only allowing people in that were to go to mass, not tourist, Carmen very smartly crossed herself and said we were there for the mass. The mass was welcoming 3 new priest, I could see the Botafumiero hanging, I thought we would be luck to see it , but had read that it was not taking place any more except during Holidays, but with the event of the new priest and how the place was standing room only that something special was about to take place. Finally at the end of the long two hour mass a group of eight priest moved over to the Botafumiero and untied it, brought it over to the center and the priest slowly gave it a push. Slowly it began to move and with every pull of the priest as the Botafumiero swung towards them it went higher and higher. I had to admit that emotions overcame me finally seeing this event after 3 times on the Camino, I filmed it all with my arms up high for over 5 minutes. I was able to find a mass program after everyone left for Carmen, after a few photos we headed out to dinner and back to our "last Stamp" It was so hot in our albergue, we were not able to sleep, I went downstairs at about the heat. The guy told me they did not have AC, I threaten to leave, he did not care, he even offered to give us our money back. But where to find an albergue at this time ? Im sure Carmen would not have been happy, Carmen ended up sleeping on the floor because it was cooler with the fan the clerk brought us.
We headed to the albergue, the last Stamp, same place Jessica and I had stayed at years before, for now all went well, we got a floor up on the fifth floor, it was hot, she showered and headed out to the mass, the heat made me think about how hot it would still be tonight, with the hot day and the heat rising to the top of the building.
At the cathedral we had to wait a bit before going in, they were only allowing people in that were to go to mass, not tourist, Carmen very smartly crossed herself and said we were there for the mass. The mass was welcoming 3 new priest, I could see the Botafumiero hanging, I thought we would be luck to see it , but had read that it was not taking place any more except during Holidays, but with the event of the new priest and how the place was standing room only that something special was about to take place. Finally at the end of the long two hour mass a group of eight priest moved over to the Botafumiero and untied it, brought it over to the center and the priest slowly gave it a push. Slowly it began to move and with every pull of the priest as the Botafumiero swung towards them it went higher and higher. I had to admit that emotions overcame me finally seeing this event after 3 times on the Camino, I filmed it all with my arms up high for over 5 minutes. I was able to find a mass program after everyone left for Carmen, after a few photos we headed out to dinner and back to our "last Stamp" It was so hot in our albergue, we were not able to sleep, I went downstairs at about the heat. The guy told me they did not have AC, I threaten to leave, he did not care, he even offered to give us our money back. But where to find an albergue at this time ? Im sure Carmen would not have been happy, Carmen ended up sleeping on the floor because it was cooler with the fan the clerk brought us.
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