We are now in the huge municipal aubergue (500 places) on Monto do Gozo (Mount Joy) overlooking Santiago. This is the place where the pilgrims of old would break down in tears of joy at their first sight of Santiago. We just looked shell-shocked.
It was a demanding trek today up over the hill then down to cross the river and up over the next hill and so on. Still this walk through Galicia has been lovely - and great mild temperatures and no rain.
We had a nice pilgrim's menu meal last night at the aubergue. And we enjoyed the luxury of sheets and there just being the two of us though we got no key for the room and so never locked the door.
We set off after a picnic breakfast in the room at around 7. We managed to get Santa Irena stamps in the village of Santa Irena for our credentials which pleased us. We stopped for a bowl of Galician soup at lunchtime and watched all the pilgrims go by. It did get a bit crazy for a while with Americans swinging beer bottles, Italians with selfie sticks, big groups of Spanish parents and kids including infants in prams with special pilgrim shouts.
Now we are waiting for our clothes to finish washing. Irena is in her swimming costume as she wants to wash all her clothes. Then I hope we will find a beer.
I can't believe we have walked so far! I look at the map and the distances seem so huge. Tomorrow my pilgrim life will end and I'll become a tourist - buying souvenirs and walking about without my pack. Yipee!
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