NH Obradoiro Santiago de Compostela

We travelled through thick fog over and through the mountains on typically heroic Spanish roads. They cut through mountains and build viaducts over the valleys. We drove through and around weary looking Pilgrims to our campsite which was on the Camino de Santiago. It was closed. After some interesting encounters with some locals, one old man practically ran away when asked for directions, we found this camp site.

The centre ...

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 ...

... and were able to walk all over the roof and take pictures. After the roof, they took us on a tour of the market of Santiago, where we saw a truly revolting aisle of seafood, mostly still alive, a vegetable aisle, and a cheese aisle. The cheese in Galicia is a special local cheese called "tetilla"-- boob cheese. It comes in the shape of, yes, boobs. The story goes that a bishop commissioned a famous Italian sculptor to make a statue of the Virgin Maria for the entrance to the ...

... last until daylight. We didn´t see them yesterday (or today) and I sincerely hope they made it to Santiago safely!

We arrived in at the Cathedral in Santiago about 11:00 - first thought was how very old the cathedral is. Santiago is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Narrow, cobbled streets wind this way and that way It definitely gives the city character. Building the ...

... test. One person would mutter a comment and the rest of us would just giggle. Oh what it felt like to be one of the kids in our schools who are thrown material that is no where near their level and expected to just get it done! I thought about all the times I have personally told students to just try their best and give it 100% effort. Well, I was trying my best and giving 100% effort and it didn't help a bit. What a ...

... Monte de Gozo to Santiago. At long last we reached the cathedral. The Tree of Jesse, where pilgrims are to first go, was blocked off. Martin tried to reach the finger grooves, but to no avail. Also, the line to hug Santiago was quite rubbishly long. We decided to return the next day - not the most pilgrim like thing to do, but oh well. We located a room and then doner kebap (so delicious) and all was well in the world. 40 + km

... the cafeteria is great! It's a actually restaurant/café on campus and there's a waiter and everything! I sat and did some homework and ate an empanadilla de atún (like tuna in a pastry-like bread) y un coca-lite with full service for 1.8 euros! Oh! And I found a beautiful park to run in. Old people go for walks there and they're all so cute. Today, things finally seem like they're falling into place.

... t find any other bars in the city, but both nights were fun just the same. Saturday morning we rented a car and headed off to Cabo Finisterre (Cabo = cape). The owner of a restaurant we ate at in Santiago recommended it as a 'must-see'. The drive along the Costa de Morte (morte = dead) was worth it - amazing views of the ocean and we saw a crew cleaning the beaches as a result of the oil spill - but the actual cape was nothing special. Although, I can ...

... 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.