After arriving in Santiago there was one last thing needed to complete our journey: visit the end of the world, Finisterre.

Before heading out, we needed to complete our stay in Santiago and enjoy the treat that is the Paradores Hotel. This is touted as the longest running hotel in the world as it catered to pilgrims since the 1500’s. The courtyards were beautiful, the bar was great even though it did not have Makers Mark, and the dining was over the top. I will always be grateful to Depak from California for insisting I splurge once we arrived.

So after our first luxurious night we finally got going around 9:00, a luxury in itself. We had planned to attend the noon mass but when we walked by the side entryway to the church at 9:10, there was not much of a line, so we decided the 9:30 made sense. In line we meet a couple on vacation from Holland and the conversation made the 20 minute wait enjoyable. The cathedral was just as impressive inside and the mass was simple but beautiful. But near the end of mass something was out of the ordinary. A priest moved off the lecture toward a pillar, then others appeared in red robes, and finally lit incense appeared. We were about to witness the Botafumeria ceremony. The pipe organ began to play, the eight men began to pull on ropes, and the Botafumeria swung higher with each pull. The sights, sounds, and emotions were sensory overload. It was one of those “I can’t believe we are here” moments. The effect on us must have been obvious as our new friends from Holland came up to us after the mass and again congratulated us on completing the Camino “as they could see how emotional it was for us”. We did not take pictures but Becky found this link to someone who did:

After mass we were able to view the tomb of St James and met up with friends and spent the rest of the day wondering around and sightseeing.

The next day it was time to complete the journey to the end of the world, or so it was thought to be until late 15th century. We were done walking so we took the 2 1/2 hour bus ride to the fishing village of Finisterre. With rain on the way we headed directly to the end of the peninsula as soon as we got there. It truly looks like the end of the world.

We decided to have lunch there and were seated at a window that overlooked the Atlantic. Everything continues to go our way. Best of all we were able to reunite with one of the closest friends for one last dinner

So with this one last marker, our journey ends.