Still in Santiago.....October 12/11

Parador sitting room

Dining area at Moure Hotel

View from our room Moure Hotel

We have moved to another hotel close to the Cathedral as well......we have moved from a very grand old historical hotel to a brand new ultra modern one....this one all black, white, grey with the odd touch of lime green....and even our bath has a view.  Breakfast at the Parador was unbelievable.....great bowls of fresh mango, papaya, strawberries, orange, grapefruit as well as kiwi, pineapple & melon.....variety of cold meats including serrano ham and specialty sausage, cheeses, smoked salmon and hot dishes of eggs, peppers, bacon, sausages, cereals, yogurts, juices, breads, muffins, croissants, sweet breads & cakes......it was hard to know what to have!  There was even champagne though we didn't partake......and breakfast here at the modern place was great too.......fruit, fresh squeezed orange juice ....you should see the machine....whole oranges in one end, juice out the other......pates, jams, croissants, cheese, toast etc.....and never ending coffee/tea/hot chocolate.

Yesterday we went to the pilgrim's mass....this is a first... at the cathedral which was very impressive with about 1000 people in attendance.....a nun sang beautifully, the botafumeiro swung from side to side nearly touching the ceiling.  It spread incense throughout the cathedral killing all other smells......luckily as the pilgrim next to Derek hadn't washed his shirt in a while!

It is a public holiday in Spain today......lots is closed but Santiago being a tourist city like Victoria has a lot of bars, cafes, restaurants open.....and the weather is still fantastic in the higher 20's.  The streets have been hosed down after parties last night.....just like in Leon & Burgos .....so everything is fresh and clean in the am.

Thought we would write a few thoughts about the experience of walking the Camino:

Spanish hospitality workers work long hours and work hard.
People are generally friendly with a nod, a smile, an hola, or a buen camino.
Early mornings are fresh and lovely.
One can get by comfortably without a lot of clothing/shoes.
The more one has the more one has to worry about.
Communal living is as successful as the participants are respectful of others.
Walking uphill is easier than walking downhill.
Walking the Camino requires perseverance.
Walk with your head up but don't look too far ahead or you could miss your step or trip on a raised rock.
800 kms seems like a lot but others we have met have walked from Holland, Geneva, or Austria ....distances greater than 2000 kms.
Walking the Camino puts everyone on the same level.
Walking 20 kms allows one to eat/drink without gaining weight.

Botafumeiro in Cathedral