Day 13 &14 - The Pilgrimage Concludes

A step back to yesterday....

Because we had far to go (27.3 km, ~18 miles) and some chronic weariness was evident, we sprang from our beds (figuratively) and began walking before dawn (literally). One gentleman ahead of us had a headlamp, which helped us also.

Things went well and the early start was cool, but without rain. We made good progress and had much enjoyable hiking.

Our most fun part was when we stopped for lunch with 10km (6.2 miles) to go. We made grocery store sandwiches and ate them on a little bridge wall. We noticed an older man walking toward us, in the opposite direction of the Camino. We both looked up to greet him, and simultaneously had to supress laughter! It was a farmer with a scythe on his shoulder. His knowing grin naturally suggested that Death would greet us on the Camino, or having him come to us. 

This caused a needed moment of levity...and we started to walk again.

As you might guess, the Camino kept offering us hills to climb, all the way until the end. It was pleasant rural walking most of the way into the city, which was nice. We finally got our first glimpse of the cathedral of Santiago from Mount do Gozo, 5 km away from the shrine.

At the end, after footsore city walking, we came to the Cathedral itself.

The next day, we returned to the Cathedral for the Noon Pilgrim's Mass. We had some nice quiet time in the adoration chapel before Mass. Msgr. Schlesselmann was asked to take a portion of the Eucharistic prayer in English, so he was one of two principal concelebrants!

At the end of Mass, they sometimes fill a huge thurible, named the botafumeiro with incense and swing it literally to the rafters!

Usually this happens on feasts or once a week on Fridays. However, a pilgrimage group from Los Angeles requested it in Thanksgiving for something, and we got to experience it. Even more, Msgr. S. got to impose the incense with the other priest. We had clouds, for he imposed much incense (yes - a full spoon 😀)! The thurible swung mightily, and you can see from the haze around the concelebrating priests at the altar, it worked very well.  

After Mass, we venerated the statue of St. James and prayed at his tomb. (Note the botafumeiro at the center of the picture below)  This was a glorious conclusion for our pilgrimage.

Tomorrow we travel to Madrid, and we fly back to Fargo on Friday.