20/10 salceda to Santiago de Compostela!! (27) rainy

WC blocked + rain = risk of grumpiness. But found a cafe in Sal serving fresh croissants, coffee with hot water! Rock on.

 Long walking day. I was expecting 27k but the last third or so dragged on and on. I walked right passed my Albo, so I dropped my pack & walked another 2k or so to the cathedral. It was massive, archaic & solemn. I walked down below the main altar & then up around the top rear of the altar where all the artefacts & remains are stored. Obviously one of them was Saint James!? 

 Meeting Pilgrims is a thing apparently you sit there & wait for known Pilgrims to come along & celebrate. I saw only one Pilgrim, the Fellow & Cranky Dog Lilly who rode in a trailer. I congratulated him by shaking hands. He smiled, for the first time Lilly did not bark! But, she did give me a curious look. May be she recalled seeing me at dawn earlier when they were camping in a shelter by The Way? 

I navigated to the Pilgrims Office & received my Credential. They have a chapel there & as I visited there, Credential in hand I choked up a bit. I did it! I walked the Camino Frances. The American guy that issued my Credential asked I walked all the way & then said I had "done very well". It felt like I was in the movie. A brief but very affecting moment indeed. 

There is a 7:30pm mass on the Cathedral. I might shower & return. Just now I am shouting myself Indian " Curry of the day". The barman said they (_he & his dad) are winding down for winter, & will close next Sunday for four months. He reckons Pilgrim numbers have already reduced markedly "& most of the albergues & businesses close for winter too". 

Gives me pause to consider returning home early.

16:47 just devoured Indian curry chicken & rice dish. No rice spilt or left uneaten. :)

Back to albo to have a think, rest & plan.
OPTION 1: Book a bus to Porto for Wed. grad a Credential & walk 10 days back to SdeC.
OPTION 2: Wed. begin walking to Finisterre, 5 days, bus back here & organise bus to Madrid & flight home.
OPTION 3: Organise flight, transfer to Madrid Wednesday, fly home. 
 Wednesday

Got lost, heard a church bell just as I approached. Attended novena before mass which reminded me of going to novena with dad at Mayfield on Saturday nights.

Çontinued to walk in circles in the rain until a €6 taxi ride saved my life. Wet boots off, showered = beautiful.

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