Day 46, 47, 48 and 49 Xunquiera to ..Santiago!!!!!

Day 46                               Xunqueria to Ourense                                           22kms

I guess we can’t have it perfect everyday. Today the weather was perfect for hiking but it was mostly on asphalt. We are now within the last 100kms of Santiago and there are many, many pilgrims on the road.

 In order to get your pilgrim’s certificate you only need to walk the last 100 kms. July and August are the busiest months, there are now groups of 10 people walking together, entire families, packs of cyclists. It is an entirely different camino than the one we started 7 weeks ago. In many ways I miss the solitude but on the other hand I am looking forward to walking into Santiago with some of the people we have come to know on the camino. 

Our accommodation in Xunquiera

Day 47                     Ourense to Cea                                               24kms

Fortunately the walk today was NOT on asphalt but through forests of oak and bracken fern. 

We left the city of Ourense quite early and chose a route out of town that was a little longer than an alternative but not as steep. Even so it seemed very steep. It makes me wonder what the other route was like. 

Ourense in the background

When we arrived at our destination of Cea, everything was closed due to Cea’s Saint Day. This turned out to be a huge celebration, with a parade, 2 orchestras, 2 rock bands, fireworks and music that continued right outside our door until 5 am.

 I remember reading a statistic once that said “Spain is the noisiest country in the world”. I can believe it!!!!!!!!!!! They love their noise.

Day 48                                   Cea to Laxe                                    33kms

Great walk! The weather is just so nice to walk, so fresh and cool. Galicia reminds me so much of Vancouver Island in vegetation and landscape. 

Day 49                                Laxe to Ponte Ulla                       30kms

We are getting  so close

Day 50                     Ponte Ulla to Santiago                        22kms

Today is our last day of walking before Santiago. We left rather early as we wanted to catch up with all the other folk so we could walk into Santiago together. We caught up with them as they were having coffee in a bar about 8 kms from Santiago. 

walking into Santiago together

It as a bitter sweet moment walking into Santiago, it was a moment I have been thinking about for 12 years but also it means the last 12 years of dreaming has come to an end. Yes…. We will continue on for another 136kms to the sea but the reality of this dream ending is beginning to sink in.

finally in front of the cathedral of Santiago

Nevertheless Santiago is stunning. We attended the pilgrim mass and blessing and received our official compostelas. There are hundreds of pilgrims, from all the different routes, arriving everyday here in Santiago.

  We are in the process of saying goodbye to all our fellow pilgrim friends. Sweet, sad but we are here!! 1200km, We only have another 5 days of walking to Finestere (end of the world) and our camino life will be over.