Rua to Santiago – 31kms

Today started out like any other day. We got up, we walked, we stopped for breakfast, we met some “friends” we met weeks ago but keep bumping into them.

We saw Climate Change guy. I don’t think I’ve mentioned him, but we met him a week or so ago when he was sitting with Close Talker.

Climate Change guy goes around picking up people’s rubbish, kinda like a womble. We asked him what his climate change group does and he told us how they protested in London.

“Did that change anything,’ I asked.

“Yes, we stopped traffic in central London.”

“But… did it change anything?”

“Yes, they declared a climate emergency.”

Meanwhile the govt are like, “we need to get traffic moving, let’s tell them we’ll think about it.”

Still, good on the guy for doing something.

With all the masses heading to Santiago, I googled what all the fuss is about.

It’s all about St James (also known as St Jacque in France and St Iago in Spain. Sant Iago… get it?)

Anyway the story goes: St James was a disciple of Jesus, and he came to Spain to spread the word. When he went back home, King Herod chopped off his head.

So, his followers carted his remains back to Spain. Not knowing where to bury him, they let the Ox that was carting him decide. When the Ox lay down to rest the decision was made. Now a big cathedral sits there.

Anyway, you’re probably itching to hear about our last day.

We’d booked a hotel by the airport as it was a lot cheaper, so we checked in, had a shower and dropped off our bags. They had a free shuttle to take us into Santiago centre, but we thought we should walk it.

We arrived at the cathedral, had the obligatory photo shot, then wandered for a bit. As we wandered passed a bar, all this cheering came at us. It was some Germans we’ve been meeting on and off. So we stopped for a drink with them.

Then we went for some gelato, then we walked back to the hotel.

That’s it.

Tomorrow morning we walk to the airport.