The Plaza del Obradoiro (or the Praza do Obradoiro if you’re feeling Galician) seems more like a carnival than an end to a spiritual pilgrimage — blaring bagpipes, tour groups wearing matching hats, and souvenir hawkers all compete with the pilgrim for floor space. But it seems somehow a fitting & joyful end to the long Camino journey and I’m guessing that even in the Middle Ages pilgrims were greeted by vendors of all sorts and mimes dressed as St James. 

 

 

Even with the great cathedral hiding under renovation scaffolding, Santiago de Compostella is still a very special place. 

It’s good to be back.

 

 

It’s a lovely city and it was fun to have the time to explore its winding streets and interesting market.

       

 

 

 

 

And for a grand finale in this wonderful city we lucked out and saw el botafumeiro fly at the cathedral.  (Nelson knocked over a few Spaniards to get this video.)

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