So , there we were in Santiago, end of the walk, but with a major flaw in the plan. We had no where to stay. For the past almost 5 weeks, we had stayed in Albergues, or Pilgrim Hostels, which are set up on the Camino for pilgrim walkers with the Pilgrim Credential for one night stays, unless you are ill or injured. We had arrived in Santiago with no place to stay, and no real idea of what we were going to do. Fortunately, Annette suggested the Hospedaje San Martino Pinario, which is a huge building next to the cathedral and we had walked past it on our way down to the main square in front of the cathedral. It was a huge seminary, but now part of it is set up as a hotel and pilgrim hostel.
After the Pilgrim Mass, and making arrangements to all meet up later of a celebratory meal, the boys and I strapped on our backpacks and went back up the stairs we had walked down 2 hours earlier, and turned left in to the Hospedaje. There were 3 pilgrim beds at 23 euros each for 3 nights, and that included breakfast. We took them and were then handed individual keys. This was strange. We were used to sharing a dormitory, or at least a hotel room. We were each given a key to individual rooms on the top floor of the building, and each room had its own individual shower/toilet room. No matter how basic the room, to have a room to ourselves, with own toilet and washing facilities, after weeks of sharing, waiting for others to shower etc, or listening to snoring, an individual room is luxury. We washed quickly, as we were hungry, and went out to find lunch, knowing that we could sleep later, without being disturbed. We also had a view of the rooftops of Santiago.
We walked up to a small square and ordered drinks. They came with a rather cool tapa - a fried egg, chips and a piece of bread. I could have had another drink with tapa for my meal, but we had ordered bocadillos, so made our drinks last. After lunch, we went back to the Hospedaje and took a siesta in the privacy of our own individual rooms.
After a refreshing sleep, we went down to the Pilgrim Office with our stamped Credentials and got our Compostelas, or Certificates of Completion. In order to get a Compostela, you have to have walked at least 100 km or cycled 200 km of the route, the Credential is stamped at every albergue you stay in, and also most bars on the Camino have a stamp, and this is proof that you have done the walking. It also makes a great souvenir!
We then went back to the main square in front of the cathedral and sat. We met other walkers there and congratulated them, and then met Annette, Rune, Mark, Michelle, Laura and a couple of others and went for a celebratory meal.
However, there is still more to tell, and more pictures to share, as we still have 3 days in Santiago ...
Basic room and the view, interesting tapa and the celebratory meal of roast lamb and saffron potatoes with red pepper.
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