Back To Santiago

We caught the bus from Muxia back to Santiago de Compostela. Spain has a great bus system and it is a very economical way to get around. After arriving back in the city, we went to our hotel and dropped our packs off for safe keeping. It was much to early to actually check in but they were more than happy to keep an eye on our gear until it was time. We decided to go out walking in the historic area around the cathedral. We came across a building in the town center near the cathedral that had this beautiful sculputre of St. James dressed as a pilgrim at the top of it.

We wandered into the main plaza in front of the cathedral which was full of people. Some were waiting for mass, some were tourists and many were pilgrims just arriving. Directly across the plaza is a beautiful palace and on top of it is this sculpture of St. James as The Moor Killer. I think I related the legend of how he appeared on a white horse to lead the battle against the moors in a previous post.

Just off the plaza is the Pilgrimage Museum that is dedicated to pilgrimages around the world although their main focus is the Way of St. James or Camino de Santiago. It is filled with artifacts and original art that are centuries old. Savanna and I spent almost three hours looking at the exhibits that are displayed in the large four story building.

The artwork and relics included carvings in wood and stone, paintings on wood, stone and copper and beautiful gold and silver work.

St. James was portrayed as a pilgrim, an apostle of Jesus and as a knight in battle against the moors.

There were also artifacts left behind by the pilgrims of the past.

Another interesting exhibit was a display of photographs of modern pilgrims that included quotes about what walking the Camino meant to them and how it had changed them. They were in every language and the pilgrims came from all parts of the world. I thought the photo below really illustrated the tradition and view that upon reaching the end of the trail, you burn your clothes to symbolize doing away with the old person and start over as a new person.

There was so much to see and read at the museum that there is no way that I can even begin to cover what we saw there. I took tons of photos and what I posted here is only a sampling. If you ever get the chance to visit Santiago, make sure you take the time to visit the museum for yourself. 

The last exhibit was a place where pilgrims could leave behind their thoughts and prayers for others. I cannot think of a better way to end this last post from Spain than to share one I saw there. Tomorrow morning we head back to the states at 6:45 AM. This has been an amazing journey and I hope everyone that has been following us has gotten something out of it also. Of course I will continue to write and post to my blog but this is my last post from this beautiful country.

We wish everyone a Buen Camino! Or in English, Good Way or Good Journey! Texas here we come!