Off Gallivanting: Day 50. Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrims Mass and our Compostela

We loved the Parador dos Reis Catolicos, with a lovely 4 poster twin beds and the large bath tub. However, it was too expensive to stay for more than a night, so we moved to Altair Hotel, a boutique hotel also very nice with an incredible staff. The Parador room came with breakfast so we had to get up earlier than Dick would have wanted to have breakfast, check out, store our luggage at the hotel and make the 12 pm pilgrims mass.

The church was crowded and we were lucky to squeeze in a pew and sit down. I had my stick and still walking very stiff so people let me sit. It was emotional at mass, mostly said in Spanish but the lord's prayer was said in Latin which I could still recite. The buteifero, the large incense vessel was not swang. I was told it cost 300 euros to swing it and so only swung at special occasions unless someone sponsored it. We saw the Canadian group sitting behind us and hugged them after mass. We also saw Val after mass and took photos.

We walked to get our Compostela but the line was long so decided to return in the evening. We picked up our luggage and walked to our new hotel. It was lovely with a private patio. They gave us a room on the first floor because of my difficulty with my leg. There was a music festival in town and getting a hotel was tough. I had booked the hotel Costa Vello back home but learned a few days before arriving in Santiago from reading the trip advisor reviews that the hotel had stairs and no lifts and I was in the 4th floor. I called them and they offered me their sister hotel which was more expensive for the same rate.

We went to the pilgrims office at 8 pm and it was just us. I was a little worried whether I would get a Compostela. In the olden days a Compostela was a plenary indulgence which you earned for walking the camino. These days you earn a Compostela or a certificate for walking at least 100km. Some say you earn it by walking at least the last 100 km however, as I read more about it, it doesn't say it has to be the last 100 km. but it says you must walk at least 100 km. and I have done 500 km. I showed them my credentials and they checked both my passports and stamped them that I had completed and issued my Compostela printed in Latin including my name in Latin! Alleluia!, Dick and I both did it!