Travel day to and Saturday in Santiago de Compostela

On Friday we flew from Seville to Santiago de Compostela (Santiago).  One of the domestic airlines in Spain is Vueling - god jesus save us from Vueling.  While rated one of the best domestic airline in Spain, the flights are really crowded, and the seat pitch is about 30 inches.  30 INCHES!!!  That's insane - especially for over-sized Americans.   And they are rigorous about carry on size and charge you unbelievable fees for check-in luggage.  Translate that: it's hard to travel for as long as we have and not get pinched on baggage fees.  Sigh.  I'm taking the train next time.

Saturday we had a guided walking tour around the city centre, and then we wandered around on our own.  Hot chocolate in the park, tapas y cerveza on one of the medieval street cafes,

then a delightful snack back at the hotel bar before returning to our room for a siesta.

The city was founded basically in the first century when the bones of St. James were discovered in a crypt.  Ever since then, pilgrims have made the walk to Santiago to the cathedral which now houses his tomb.

You may have heard of this pilgrimage, it's called El Camino (the way).  There are several paths from all over Europe, but they all lead to the plaza just outside our hotel.

Pilgrims are guided by yellow arrows along the trail, and by a seashell once they are in town, towards the plaza and cathedral.

Pilgrims do it because it's there, because the walk gives them time to think and to shed their sins or problems.  By the time they reach the cathedral, they are ready to discharge the old and start with a clean slate.  It's a very daunting, but rewarding thing to do.  I applaud them.

Me?  I take pictures of the sunset.

Tomorrow is Sunday, and for the first time since New Years Eve, we do not have a tour - or anything for that matter - on our calendar.  I totally plan to sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast, take a walk, drink some beer, take a nap...just relax.  I am certain that, even in this beautiful city with so many things to do, I will be able to do nothing.