Day 35 - Monday, 26th May, 2014 - 18.1 km
[Galician Eucalyptus forests on the outskirts of Santiago]
[Galician Eucalyptus forests on the outskirts of Santiago]
[Galician Eucalyptus forests on the outskirts of Santiago]
[Michael and Eila on the final straight stretch of road to Monte del Gozo]
So we really do have an end of term feeling. We are making for the outskirts of Santiago, to an Alberguue that seems to be based on a Soviet style holiday camp. The idea is that because it is near Santiago we can set off for our destination from the Soviet holiday camp and be there after just an hour of walking. This is working on the principle that arriving in Santiago late in the day and trying to work out affordable and comfortable accommodation is not always possible. We were also hoping to be one of the first groups of pilgrims in line to get a place at the Semenario San Martin Pinario. This is a multi star hotel that gives over their top floor to pilgrims and allows them as much breakfast material as they want (and they have a very varied breakfast menu).
So although we could make Santiago today, we were just going to stop short and visit the two great pilgrim statues that look out from the hill there over to Santiago where you can just glimpse the Cathedral in the distance. Once again we were the last to leave the Albergue and we walked in threatening rain that never came. Very soon we passed the end of the runway of the Santiago Aiprort, just as a plane landed, this would be a bus ride from Santiago of 20 odd minutes. We reached Monte del Gozo in the afternoon and went over the ridge of the hill to pose by the pilgrim monument before walking back to the route and booking ourselves into the strange Soviet style holiday camp hostel.
Buen Camino.
[The happy pilgrim sculpture at Monte del Gozo overlooking Santiago]
[Monte del Gozo - the Soviet style hostel for 500 if necessary]
