Camino Ingles day 6 - Santiago, Saturday 15th April

I find that never mind which route I walk or how long I have been walking for the day I arrive in Santiago I am both in a rush to arrive and dreading when I finally do get there - the walk has been hard and as much as I wish to stop walking I do not wish my Camino to end.

All impressions and memories of this arrival day are taken up with the city as well so that there seems to be little space for remembering the walk.

We were the first ones up in the albergue and were off by half seven walking again in the dark but this time accompanied also by chill mists.

The route today had more hills than yesterday but was gentler than earlier days had been.

After a 5km walk we stopped at a bar tostadas breakfast and then walked on stopping again on the outskirts of Santiago after another 6km for a drink.

This route into Santiago spends a lot more time in Santiago's outskirts and takes you through a lot of housing before you arrive in the square where we all congratulated each other and called Mum at home to let her know that we had arrived!

We went to our hotel and dropped bags off there before making our way over to the Pilgrims' Office and getting our Compostellas but we didn't make it into the Cathedral to hug the Apostle until 8:15 when the day's crowds had left.

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Route Napoleon closures: November-March

For anyone thinking of setting off on the Camino anytime soon just a reminder that the Navarrese Govenmnet closes the Route Napoleon over the Pyrenees from November 1st - March 31st each year (and longer if need be). Roncenvalles in the snow The official notification for this (from last year) is below.

The Camino Primitivo

The Camino Primitivo (or the Original Way) is reportedly the very first Camino Way to Santiago in the 9 th century when most of Spain was under the control of the Moors and it runs from near the city of Ovideo in Asturias as it starts in Villavicosa (which also lies on the Camino Norte so many people follow this Way from Basque city of San Sebastian (Donosti in Basque) or in from the French border at Irun ( this route then hugs the Bay of Biscay passing through Guernica, Bilbao, Santander, Llanes before going under the Picos de Europa and then heads along the coast to Ovideo) before branching off onto the Primitivo which goes across the mountains and through the city of Lugo before joining the Frances at Melide. The route is 320km long. Image taken from https://viaalpina2013.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/camino-del-norte-camino-primitivo/

Pilgrim Prayer - Columba

Columba was an Irish monk (who founded several monasteries in Ireland) who sailed with 12 others to the island of Iona just off the west coast of Scotland. The Abbey he funded became one of the powerhouses of Mediaeval Christendom. He lived from 7th December 521 until 9th June 597. Alone with none but thee, my God, I journey on my way. What need I fear, when thou art near O king of night and day? More safe am I within thy hand Than if a host did round me stand. Be thou a bright flame before me, Be thou a guiding star above me, Be thou a smooth path below me, Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me, Today, tonight and forever.

On the Camino

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