Hi everyone,
Just arrived in Santiago de Compostela! And here´s the lastest update. We started in Sarria (night train from Madrid), very crowded with pilgrims everywhere so we started to the first albergue for the first night. Most albergues are filling up within 1 hour, and they open at 1pm. So plan your walking by starting very early in the morning about 5 to 530am to allow time to arrive. The Sellos (stamps) are everywhere: bars, restaurants and albergues. When we arrived last tuesday it was raining, now its hot and sunny, bring a good light jacket for the morning and afternoon good shade hat. All the public albergues had good kitchens, showers, bathrooms, laundry tub/line, were clean and cheap 5 euros. Be mentally prepared for some of the walks were up hard hills and thru muddy/watery paths (look for paths that go around), and allow for rest time/lunch and extra weight for carrying drinking water. We only took 1 extra shirt and shorts, and every night washed them at the albergue. The albergue gave us sheets/pillowcase everynight, so we only used a light fleece sleeping blanket, big pillows are included on the bed. There are light cafe´s along the route thru towns for sandwiches and coffee.
Youre going to make friends with all the Pilgrims and walkers along the route, so bring some business cards with your email and contact info if you want to keep in touch, You´ve gone thru so much with them you share a bond!
When we arrived in Santiago, it´s very crowded with pilgrims all around the church. Get to the pilgrims office (opens at 9, we waited only 20 minutes) first, then try for the noon Mass (get in around 1030 and wait), there are tons of buses tour groups invading the church everywhere, so plan to get in early! The entry for the mass is the first entrance on the right of the church.
Hugging the Saint was especially moving after the Pilgrimage for me!
We´re in a internet cafe 2 blocks aways, pilgrim watching!
Have a Buen Camino!
Mario