Exploring Santiago and Pilgrim's Mass

Since we did not have to get up at the butt crack of dawn and start walking this morning, Savanna and I both slept in a couple of extra hours. After getting up, we wanted to make sure and make it to the Pilgrim's Mass at the Cathedral, so we grabbed a quick bite and headed to the main plaza. The sun was still playing peek-boo with the clouds but I managed to take a few pictures.

On top of an official looking building across the plaza from the cathedral was this depiction of St. James, the Moor slayer. According to the legend, during a battle with the Moors, that the Christians were on the verge of losing, St. James suddenly appeared astride of a white horse and with his sword in hand he led the Christians to victory. The scene below the statue shows the battle.

Below is a picture of an awesome fountain we found. The detail and artistry in the sculptures and fountains is truly something to see. Pictures do not really do them justice.

We joined the pilgrims in line for the Pilgrim's Mass and were soon let into the cathedral. It is really something to see.

This huge organ put out such beautiful music during the service. The sound was as impressive as the organ itself looks. 

The service was about an hour long and most of it was in Latin and Spanish but there were a couple of parts in English also. No cameras were permitted during the service which is understandable. An older nun also sang throughout the ceremony and her voice touched everyone's hearts. The final part of the ceremony involved this huge Botafumeiro or censer which was lifted and swung by 6 men with ropes. It was filled with incense and lit. When it was in full swing it's arc covered the cathedral and almost touched the ceiling each time at the peak of the arc. 

If you want to see what the Pilgrim's Mass was like then watch the movie "The Way" that stars Martin Sheen. It was exactly the same.

Savanna found a street performer in the plaza after the service inside. I think he is supposed to be a floating ghost holding a censer. 

We started to get hungry and found this coll place to have lunch. We are both missing TexMex food so we had to stop. It was really good. 

Since we are talking about food, here are a few of the local delicacies we ran across being displayed in the cafe windows. Don't they just make your mouth water?

We met our fellow pilgrims and hiking partners for a final farewell dinner. We had a good meal and a lot of fun sharing our stories and reminding each other of the places that we had seen.

There was Mary and Melissa from Tucson, Arizona. Nancy and Wayne from Vancouver, British Columbia. Tim from Ireland. And of course Savanna and I from the country of Texas.

It is always hard to have to say goodbye to good people who have become friends and hiking partners but that is the way of the Camino. It seems to bring people together for a time and sometimes for a reason then sends us on our way. Hopefully we are all the better for the experience and will carry the memories, friendships and lessons learned back home with us.  

To our friends we say safe travels and God Bless. And to everyone following us, we will check in tomorrow from down the trail to the coast. Until then Buen Camino.