While it's been awesome to rest and sight-see in historic and beautiful Santiago, the best part of it all is the reclaiming of my personal space. It's unbelievably wonderful to have a single room to sleep in (for what will be 3 consecutive nights, including tonight) at a great value of 15 euros a night. The second best part is the luxury of sleeping in (till 8:30 am). I'm so thankful for these rest days.
I learned to navigate the labyrinth streets of Santiago after two days (the Cathedral is at the center of it all). I loved taking leisurely strolls along the narrow alleys of Santiago and stopping for drinks, snacks, or tapas whenever I felt like it ~ no plans whatsoever. I've seen many buskers on the streets and a number of them were pretty good, some almost Vegas-like. From an opera singer, to a rock band, to magicians, and a white Gandhi, they all expressed themselves and their art form uniquely, even if they're on the streets. I thought they were gutsy.
I also saw a few beggars in Santiago, who seemed to be Romas (or "gypsies"). They can be found sitting and begging outside the doors of the Santiago Cathedral, or seen walking the streets and begging people for money along the way; a few of them were seen kneeling on the ground, with their heads down and hands outstretched, holding a cup. An old lady stopped to give a young boy a coin and then asked why he's not working; he didn't reply her but he looked sad. *sigh*
Well, tomorrow, I will put my boots back on and start my Camino Fisterra. It should take me about 4 days to walk to the west coast and the lighthouse ~ a fitting end to my Camino. Have a good night, dear readers. Much love to you all.
Above left: 10:30 am English Mass at a chapel in the Santiago Cathedral (where I was lector); Above right: The usual breakfast of hot chocolate and toasts
Above: Colexio de Fonseca cloister
Above: A (free) Franciscan exhibit at the college
Above left: Colexio de Fonseca; Above right: Praza de Fonseca
Above left: City Hall and Praza Do Obradoiro
Above right: A restaurant lane in Santiago ~ seafood is huge here
Above left: Sweets too
Above: A tapas (pinchos) bar
Above left: Tortilla con patata, red pepper stuffed with tuna, and tinto de verano (to drink); Above right: crocanti de brie (fried cheese)
Above left: Smoked salmon ~ my tapas meal came up to 8.20 euros
Above right: Chocolate con churros (2.50 euros)
Above right: Sunset is later in Galicia
Above left: Albergue Seminario Menor Assumption (at sunset); Above right: Breakfast of tea and a Santiago cake
Above: The cloister in the Santiago Cathedral
Above: View of the City Hall and Praza Do Obradoiro from the Cathedral balcony
Above: Portico of Glory in the Santiago Cathedral (under restoration, hence the scaffolding) ~ designed by Maestro Mateo, it is the western entrance to the Cathedral; it displays passages from the Book of Revelations
Above left: The Cathedral's thurible
Above: Monasterio de San Martin Pinario
Above: Pulpo (octopus)
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