Whaaaat?? Pilgrim's Office count 3013 today.

[BethC]

I'd heard that 1500 was an absolute disaster for them. Then in the last month, I've seen a count in the 1600's and another in the 1700's. Could today's be accurate? at 2:30 pm in Spain they had over 1,000 processed through. It's hard to imagine that there is even half the infrastructure needed to support that many pilgrims. One person said here that he'd gone home without a compostela because he had a flight to catch and the lines were so long - anyone in Santiago who can respond about what the situation is there?

 

[anniethenurse]

It must be all time high- celebrating St James tomorrow.

 

[BethC]

It must be all time high- celebrating St James tomorrow.

Ahhh, OK. Thanks, Annie. I knew there was a big Fete coming up, but had no idea it would double the highest count they had in the last 5 years! At least there's a good reason for it and it's not that intermittently the Camino just gets completely slammed inexplicably!

 

[grayland]

I just left Santiago a couple of days ago. The lines were very reasonable. I did not see a line outside the arch to the street and most were much shorter. I was also in Santiago two weeks earlier after completing th Primitivo and was surprised then be quiet streets and lines.
The street and square seem quieter than previous years.
There is a rock concert every night in the square behind the Cathedral.
My impression was that it was actually less active (except for concert) than other times and years.
I was surprised at this as I had also heard reports of expected crowds.
Maybe it suddenly picked up after I left two days ago.

 

[AJ]

It is very busy right now. Santiago is really buzzing with lots of visitors for the festival. Yesterday evening and today backpacks are banned from the Praza as well as the cathedral and there is a very strong police presence.

 

[mikevasey]

I arrived on the 22 July last year it was very quiet in the centre that evening, over the next few days it became packed with pilgrims.

 

[Maureen O'Donoghue]

I received my Compostela late afternoon yesterday. The line extended out into the street but the time passed pleasantly enough, chatting to other pilgrims and the volunteers. The office was coping fine. They may have been busier earlier in the day. The really epic lines are for masses in the Cathedral. You need to be very early.

 

[Jools]

the city is totally heaving - its a shock after the peace of the camino, there are ques for everything - Compostella, Cathedral, Mass etc but if you are patient it will be fine

 

[BethC]

the city is totally heaving - its a shock after the peace of the camino, there are ques for everything - Compostella, Cathedral, Mass etc but if you are patient it will be fine

Thank you, Jools! I'm so glad to hear that although it's bursting at the seams, you are all able to get the basics of what you need. Maybe it's kind of fun in a way to be there at a record-setting celebration time. Congratulations, best wishes to you and have a safe trip home!

 

[BethC]

I received my Compostela late afternoon yesterday. The line extended out into the street but the time passed pleasantly enough, chatting to other pilgrims and the volunteers. The office was coping fine. They may have been busier earlier in the day. The really epic lines are for masses in the Cathedral. You need to be very early.

Thanks for the information about being extra-early for the masses! I don't know how they are prepared for such an unprecedented onslaught, but it's impressive that they are. Best wishes, congratulations, and safe trip home!

 

[BethC]

It is very busy right now. Santiago is really buzzing with lots of visitors for the festival. Yesterday evening and today backpacks are banned from the Praza as well as the cathedral and there is a very strong police presence.

It sounds like quite a time to be there! Glad everyone is safe and that people were able to get basic needs met during that last 5-day section. That 3013 pilgrim count was such an incredible 200% upsurge over and above anything I've heard of that it's amazing to me that they are as prepared as they are. Congratulations on finishing your Camino, best wishes, thanks, and have a safe trip home!

 

[Jools]

I think they are used to it as it happens every year like this on the 25th as its such a huge public holiday for the whole of Galicia but especially on the special years when the 25th falls on a sunday as this is when th camino numbers swell even more

 

[fraluchi]

It's amazing how the number of pilgrims, registering at the Pilgrims' Office, can change from hour to hour and day to day. As if pilgrims move in waves
In the mean time works are going ahead in and around the new Pilgrims' Office at Rúa das Carretas.

 

[Jools]

ahh so that is why thst steet is such a mess

 

[Scott Sweeney]

Repeat ten times...It's not becoming a fad, "that movie" had nothing to do with it !!

It will only become worse, more crowded. I remember when flyfishing in Virginia was enjoyable..then people from the states discoveref it....thanks to another of those " that movie'd)

 

[Kanga]

When I lined up to get mine this year there were only a few people waiting. An hour later the queue was out the door and down the street. No idea why.

 

[Alan Pearce]

I got mine while the midday mass was on. No long lines then.

Alan

Be brave. Life is joyous.

 

[annakappa]

I got mine while the midday mass was on. No long lines then.

Alan

Be brave. Life is joyous.

That's exactly what we did the first time we arrived in Santiago !
In fact, I can say from experience, from having worked in the Pilgrim's office, that there is definitely a lull in the crowds, at the time of the midday Mass. Also at the very end of the day there aren't so many Pilgrims lining up. Sometimes only one or two!