August 29, 2018
Today was a wrap up day for me. I would be sitting on a train more than almost anything else.
One thing on my list was to visit the Portico of Glory of the Cathedral. (Note: You can read about it on Wikipedia.) There is typically a 2-hour wait to get in, and if you know me, I don’t wait two hours for very many things. Therefore, I got in line around 7:00 AM to, hopefully, be in the first or second group to gain admittance beginning at 8:00 AM. The good news is that I was in the first group.
While waiting in line I saw Tonnie walk by. It had been several days since I had seen him so it was nice to catchup briefly. It turns out that he was flying home later in the day.
Well, I got into the Portico and it was beautiful. Wow, words cannot describe the beauty of the sculptures in stone. So I hoped to take a few photos, but an angry security guard rushed to my side and started talking in Spanish. I didn’t understand a word he said and tried to tell him as much. It turns out that photos are not allowed. I’m not sure why since photos are in brochures and on the web. You will have to take my word for it that it was beautiful. I am sure you will find photos if you google “Portico of Glory Santiago.”
At that point, I knew there was little I could do except have breakfast, pack my backpack, and checkout even though my train didn’t leave for Madrid until 3:00 PM.
However, instead of walking to the train station I decided to take a taxi. The reason for the taxi was so I could go back to the Monument to the Pilgrim. Since yesterday was overcast I thought I would try to get a photo in the middle of the day so the Cathedral would be more visible. This is that photo. This is their—those pilgrims—first glimpse of the Cathedral.
So after that photo the driver took me to the train station. I read and waited for my train. And I am currently on the train to Madrid. I figured I wouldn’t have anything to report about arriving in Madrid and going to my hotel so I decided to post this earlier than normal.
However, I will confess I miss the people, I miss the Camino, and I miss walking. Nothing can be done about the Camino or my friends, but I can go walking on Saturday. Anyone want to join me for around an 18 mile walk beginning at 6:30 AM on Saturday?
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See additional photos from August 29th below:
Brief descriptions of the photos:
This is the entrance into the Pórtico de la Gloria in the Cathedral. Unfortunately, one is not allowed to take photos inside the Pórtico de la Gloria. But I still loved the symbolism above the door, especially the two scallop shells and the Santiago Cross above and between the doors.
In the previous photo I mentioned the scallop shells and the Santiago Cross above the doors to the Pórtico de la Gloria. Here is a close-up view of it.
This is a marker in the plaza next to the Cathedral.
This is a marker in the plaza next to the Cathedral.
This is the Hostal de los Reyes Católicas next to the Cathedral. It was originally a hostel, infirmary, and orphanage but has been converted and restored into a luxury hotel. I spent each night here when I returned to Santiago de Compostela from Finisterre.
This is a photo of Saint James the Pilgrim figurine. I loved seeing sculptures and everything pilgrim on the Camino.
Before going to the train station to catch a train to Madrid I returned to the Monument to the Pilgrim to get some additional photos since it was so overcast earlier.
Before going to the train station to catch a train to Madrid I returned to the Monument to the Pilgrim to get some additional photos since it was so overcast earlier.
Before going to the train station to catch a train to Madrid I returned to the Monument to the Pilgrim to get some additional photos since it was so overcast earlier. You can still see the Cathedral in the distance and slightly to the left of the front pilgrim.
Before going to the train station to catch a train to Madrid I returned to the Monument to the Pilgrim to get some additional photos since it was so overcast earlier. You can still see the Cathedral in the distance and slightly to the left of the front pilgrim.