Another night on the town

Martyn on the tin whistle gave way to choirs in the squares.

Martyn receives some Gandhi wisdom

"Glory lies in the attempt to reach one's goal and not in reaching it."

Finisterre

The 'End of the World'

 Old tradition of discarding and burning redundant boots and clothing is commemorated.

The Kilometre '0' mark at Finisterre

St James on his way

Monument to those who have emigrated from Finisterre

The lighthouse at the end of the world

Muxia

Drove to Muxia - for the sights of the Atlantic and the strange rock formations.

Trevor finally is tempted to try the Pulpo (octopus)

More relaxation

Atmospheric Galician bars and out-door concerts continue. The guitarist, singer and violinist were quite exceptional, and made the cold worth enduring.

Praza Obradoiro

Arriving pilgrims sit and gaze at the scenes in the square. Emotions are obvious as people complete their journey. A couple with their wheelchair-bound companion were heart-breakingly overjoyed, while two tired teenagers wept as they walked the last few yards.

Collecting the Compostella

A relaxed start to the day before going to the Pilgrim Office to claim our Compostella Certificates. Pilgrim Mass in the Cathedral was more moving and spectacular than we had imagined, with the huge Botafumeiro swung high above the congregation. The nationalities and starting points of the day's arriving pilgrims are read out, so we were the 'tres Irlandés de Astorga'.

Santiago

We arrived on the Feast of the Ascension. Bands playing, concerts, street parades.

A German pilgrim we had met often on the way told us about the grand San Martin Pinaria hotel, right beside the cathedral, which also has pilgrim rooms. So here we are, paying a tenth of the price of proper rooms for our civilised monastery cell.

Happy to have arrived

Three happy pilgrims

R & R

Pottering about Santiago is proving to be fun - good of them to stage such extravagant parties to welcome us.

O Pedrouso to Santiago

The last stage was more if a slog than anticipated. 21 km through eucalyptus plantations and then dreary suburbs made it seem longer than any other leg. However the three pairs of feet made it to the Cathedral, and the first of many reunions with other pilgrims met along the way.

Arzua to O Pedrouso

Found a lovely confiteria and bar in Arzua. We had a Desert Island Discs dinner with Cristina from Washington.

The strange sight of washing hanging outside the windows of our albergue might look well organised. However the rain didn't cooperate.

Breakfast this morning included a brandy toast for Jimmy Todd's 89th birthday.

The path is becoming more crowded as people join for the final stages. Wet and busy as we reached O Pedrouso along a busy road. We are in danger of reaching Santiago tomorrow - with very mixed feelings.