Santiago - finished, done!

So now we are finished. Got up at 4am this morning so that we could get to Santiago in time for the noon mass when they swing the big incense burner. Last night´s sleep was interupted for some by a major street party for the Feast of Corpus Christi. I slept through most of it - just love those ear plugs! but the music was still going when we left the Albergue at 5am. It was dark as we started walking so we needed flashlights to see the Camino signs, plus it was raining. Not a great start to the day. We were all hurting and tired so the pace was slow, but we managed to find our way through the woods in the dark. Walked for about 2 hours before coffee and then pushed on to Santiago. Arrived at the Cathedral about 10.30am. It was very exciting because we met all sorts of people who we have seen along the way: among them Lesley the Canadian girl who had so much trouble at the beginning, the 2 Korean girls, an Irish girl who is a surgeon/doctor but looks about 12, and a Belgium man who walked from Belgium about 2000+ km. It was like a great reunion. Got a seat in the church around 11am and waited for the Mass to start at 12. Great to sit down. At the end of the service they lit the censor and it swung right across the church - very exciting although we were a bit far back to fully appreciate it. It´s been quite an emotional day. We checked into the pilgrim office to receive our Compostela - certificate of proof that we did it all! Took a while to find accommodation but are settled into a small hotel near the cathedral. Spent some time exploring the town, shopping and of course eating. So that´s it folks until I get home. Time to relax and sleep. Can´t wait to see you all and be home to my own bed - but that´s not till next