Hostal Residencia Alameda Santiago de Compostela

... the city which contains all the old buildings and churches is pedestrianised and huddles round the grand cathedral. The Cathedral is vast and very ornate. The guide books say that is best seen in the rain so that all the lichens and mosses are highlighted. The weather duly obliged!

The car has decided to have a sick day and has gone to the Ford dealer to recuperate! We collect it tonight and move on to Portugal in the morning.

Liz decided she wanted to hike some of the camino, but Maureen and I were pretty tired from the past few days of traveling, so after Liz left, we went back to sleep for a while. By the time we left the hostel, it was around 1 in the afternoon, so we walked to Plaza Quintana to find a crepe place Maureen had read about. We sat at an outdoor table at this restaurant and ordered, including cafe con leche and cava, because hey, why not. After a salad, we of course needed ...

... As a side note, despite the interesting shape, tetilla cheese tastes like your standard, semi-soft, mild cow's milk cheese.

After the roof tour, we were given free time for lunch, and then met up again with the group. About half the program headed back to Madrid with Nuria and Eva, but my friends and I had dediced to stay the weekend, so we got our stuff off the bus and headed to the hostel. When we got there, we found out that, though we thought we had booked 2 triple ...

Dit was echt zo waan-zin-nig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eypg1pBY 3nk, het WOW moment begint bij 0:40...

This was really a-ma-zing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eypg1pBY 3nk, the WOW moment starts at 0:40...

... the cathedral a hymn echoed against the vaults as the angels gently gazed down at the crowd,... I stood there no more than two three feet away, I closed my eyes and started to pray... not now.... not now.... not now with so much love that blanketed the cathedral.... as the hymn came to an end.... the man on the floor seemed to relax... the helpers gave him some space and he was able to rise and ...

... but I think we'll meet again..... do'nt know were...do'nt know when (Vera Lynn) - maybe in Norway some day? Siste etappe - kun 12 km (last stage)...easy and quiet...came to the cathedral 1130 and went to mess. Very happy all of us - we did it - and with ...

... We go to whichever place our friends are bartending or playing their music. Then to discotecas. The next day we do it all over again! It's really nice to just play all day. This weekend is a holiday (4 day) weekend and on Sundays and holidays, nothing, and I mean nothing is open. So we have no option but to play everyday! Check out the pictures, I'll attach some videos too!

... but the bus does a stop at the regional bus depot, so we jump off, and DP goes upstairs to find the ALSA ticket office, and comes down with tickets for tomorrow's 9 am bus to Pedrafita de O'Cebreiro, for 14E each. The bus station is off our map, but not off the map outside the terminal at the top level, so we plot a course to the Hotel Real, which we have booked on the internet for 68 E. At the end of the first street, we think we have made a mistake, but there is ...

... everywhere. There's a very strong Celtic influence here, so lots of bagpipes and drums. These little bands of musicians and costumed people have been making lots of little parades through the town all day, and I spent a good while just following them around. (Or was I following the men? I think I like the Spanish ones the best.) Every now and then one little band would bump into another on the street, and then they'd play together. There's just a really good celebratory vibe in this place.