Santiago

Santiago is fully alive !! Many people are in the streets. Easter in Santiago, a destination for many Spanish families and Spanish piligrims that have a few days to walk or continue their pilgrimages.

I booked a little pension very close to the cathedral, in a street called "Las Campañas de San Juan " The Bells of Saint John" every hour and every half an hour, the cathedral bells were ringing, until midnight and starting at 7 am again.

The room is very small and has a tiny bathtub.The wooden bedframe reminds me of being in an impressionist painting. There is a small window facing the little street. At midnight we woke up to a great surprise!

The sound of drums. Opened the window. Going by our 5 m wide street, there is a midnight Easter procession. 

Wow ! Very powerful. 

Iluminated by their candle light the "Nazarenos" walking one by one, to the sounds of the walking sticks, firmly in harmony touching the ground.

Some Nazarenos are carrying a large wooden crosses in their shoulders, bare feet with chains attaching their feet together. Their heads are covered, to be kept anonymous, maybe from a promise or praying for a specific cause.

The street around the little square is filled with people, old and young admiring the devotees' promises. As the procession ends, the people around all join in and follow walking behind, many with the candle light in their hand.

Yesterday afternoon in Santiago was exciting. The cafes were filled with delicious tapas and wines. The pastry shops with colourful cakes and chocolates, that tempted my tasting.

The Santiago almond tarts every where.

I went to the piligrims office to ask for a Finisterre and Muxia route map, as I had not planned to be walking this route and was unprepared.

I ate at Manolo's, a piligrims menu for 9€ that was large enough for feeding three piligrims.

After the procession, the street becomes very empty and quiet. We fell asleep awaiting for this next camino to Finisterre to start tomorrow morning.