Allison Cowie

O Pedrouzo to Santiago de Compostela / 13.5 miles

• A general feeling of excitement on the trail as everyone soaked in their last day
• Taking sunrise photos for a cute American couple who hadn’t gotten a picture together since St Jean
• Seeing the “10,000km” sign… just two more hours to go
• Finding moments of quiet among the crowds, especially when veering off route to take a photo with the pilgrim sculptures at Monte de Gozo
• Stopping at the supermarket for a protein drink and cookies before finishing the last half km to the Cathedral
• Walking through the tonnel into the Plaza del Obradoiro as a bagpiper played us a welcoming tune
• Seeing hundreds of pilgrims staring up at the Cathedral, some laughing, some crying, all soaking in the moment
• Getting my Compostela certificate at the Pilgrim’s Office, where the line was only 15 minutes long!
• Grabbing the hamburger I should have eaten the night before at an Argentine restaurant, where I ran into a Canadian pilgrim I hadn’t seen since outside Burgos
• A much-needed foot massage that made the upcoming walking days much less painful
• Learning that the Cathedral bells ring every fifteen minutes 24/7, a lesson that came in the middle of the night while lying awake at my hostel 150 meters from the bell tower
• Feeling a little underwhelmed upon arrival, knowing I had a few more days to walk while others were celebrating the end of their caminos