Padron to Santiago de Compostela
Since we started today’s walk from our accommodation 5 kilometres past Padron we had a walk of about 18 kilometres to our final destination, Santiago de Compostela. We would soon be joining hundreds of pilgrims walking from Porto like us (or perhaps from Seville or France or Germany or elsewhere) at the finish of the pilgrimage in the heart of Santiago. As we started the walk the weather was fine and there were large numbers of pilgrims walking quietly along the track.
Unfortunately half way through our walk today there was continual heavy rain which made visibility difficult. Some pilgrims huddled under trees or in cafes for a time but we ended up walking on into Santiago and heading straight to our hotel. This was somewhat of an anticlimax compared to two years ago when we headed straight to the Cathedral with thousands of pilgrims to see the amazing spectacle of the botafumeiro swinging during the celebration the Pilgrims Mass. Today the Cathedral was shrouded in cloud.
We are thrilled to have arrived in Santiago and we are looking forward to resting our legs. It is also great fun to chat with other pilgrims who have done different caminos and different distances. While some have walked 100 kilometres others many have walked more than 1000 kilometres and have started a Camino to Santiago from a different country.
A great achievement by all pilgrims.
Food and Footsteps 
What a wonderful walk. Elizabeth Moran
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Congratulations to you both. Every day when I get up and go to the computer I find your joyful account of your progress. A wonderfully written travelogue!
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Congratulations. Another significant achievement, and hopefully, a thoughtful one full of many memories. Buen camino. Mel
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Thank you Mel
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Congratulations!!!!!
You are champions
Now, relax and enjoy to Santiago
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Thanks Belen. Santiago is very wet today!!!
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Congratulations on getting to Santiago! Very intrepid pilgrims you both are. I admire your perseverance and stamina!!
Susanna
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I think you will enjoy your comforts on your trip. Be prepared for weather extremes
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ooooooo 🙂 I just discovered you blog today!! I’m walking the Portuguese Coastal Route in September from Porto and have booked to stay my last night in Padron before my final walk to Santiago. Reading this and seeing the photo gave me goosebumps. I’m so excited to be walking this route and counting the days. Shame about the weather, it’s been pretty grim in Ireland too which is where I am currently. I’m hoping for better in September. I’m seriously impressed that you did this route in 10 days!!! I’ve set aside 12 days LOL. I’m just about to go back and read your previous posts!! Buen Camino
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It must be an amazing experience, Anne-Marie, and this is your second time? 🙂 🙂
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Wow thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience
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Thanks Becky for reading the posts. My husband is crazy about doing long walks and I try to keep up!
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My pleasure, I so enjoyed reading them all. My husband and I also enjoy walking but what with me and my camera and him and his binoculars we can never manage more than about 9/10miles in a day. So we would never keep up with your husband!!
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