Friday - 15 June 2018

This was to be our culture day, so, after a leisurely start, we took the half hour train journey to Santiago de la Compostela. It is the main regional city of Galicia, a university city and a UNESCO world heritage site because of the ancient walled old town with cathedral, build around 1200.

The Cathedral is thought to house the tomb of St James, whose body, according to legend, was taken by boat from Jerusalem to Northern Spain. A thousand people a day visit the cathedral, having walked or cycled any of the routes of the Camino de Santiago.

The way of St James was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during the Middle Ages, together with Rome and Jerusalem. The Way can take one of dozens of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela., although the absolute end is at Cabo Finisterre. Traditionally, as with most pilgrimages, the Way of Saint James began at one's home and ended at the pilgrimage site. However, a few of the routes are considered main ones. During the Middle Ages, the route was highly travelled. The Black Death, the Protestant Reformation, and political unrest in 16th century Europe led to its decline. By the 1980s, only a few hundred pilgrims per year registered in the pilgrim's office in Santiago. In October 1987, the route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe; it was also named one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. Since the 1980s the route has attracted a growing number of modern-day international pilgrims. Although some do it for religious uplifting, many do it a trekking or cycling challenge.

The scallop shell, often found on the shores in Galicia, has long been the symbol of the Camino de Santiago. Over the centuries the scallop shell has taken on a variety of meanings, metaphorical, practical, and mythical meanings, even if its relevance may have actually derived from the desire of pilgrims to take home a souvenir. Lots of the walkers we saw had scallop shells around their necks or attached to their ruck sacks.

The city is inland, set in rolling hills reminiscent of Tuscany but very green. The streets in the old town are narrow but the shops are for the residents, with few purely for the tourist.

The Cathedral is pretty grand, with a lot of gold around the alter area. There was a big queue of the religious souls, waiting patiently to embrace and kiss the shine, required to give you enlightenment.

Late afternoon we returned to A Coruna and decided we should try to shift our evening meal later, nearer to the time the locals eat. We chose a busy bar and asked about the local appetitive. There were lots of posters up advertising Vermouth. The only Vermouth they had, though,was sweet, so Steve and Gerry opted for Aperol. We had by luck sat in a prime spot, when they put up the outside screen for the football, so we were well entertained watching the Spain v Portugal match. We moved on the a small family run restaurant, where Gerry kindly bought us a lovely dinner of a selection of tasty starters, followed by paella. We were all replete after an ice cream to finish and walked through the area on the sea front, where there was a food festival over the weekend. There was a really great jazz band playing, the singer almost as good as Harry Conick Jr.

Distance covered today	0	nautical miles
Trip distance covered	622	nautical miles
Distance covered 2018	1342	nautical miles

Tricia (and Steve, and Gerry)