Camino days four and five- we finished!

I'm safe in Santiago! We made it today in time for the 12:00 pilgrim's mass at the St. James cathedral. We left at 6:00 am rather than our regular 9:00 time so walked one hour in the complete dark. The moon and two stars were all we could see. 9 of our group decided to leave early so that we could get there in time for mass. I have to tell you folks, it was absolutely brutal today. I was limping becaus of tired muscles in the back of my legs and just had no energy. Bob, the 82 year old father of the tour leader, walked with me today and we kept each other moving. He kept helping me pace myself slower during the steep uphill inclines, which are the hardest part for me. I do have a walking stick and that helps a lot, but I made it today out of sheer stubbornness and the fact that Peter the tour leader carried my backpack for the second half of the morning. I didn't think it would make that much differnce but it really did. Stumbled into the church just in time for mass but just couldn't stand so sat by a confessional for the duration. Others in the group told me they were so happy when they saw me and knew I ad made it. Got to hear the organ and see the humongous incense jar get swung (google it- it is crazy!) Ate lunch in the basement of an old, old pilgrim hospital that is now a 5 star hotel and then checked into the hotel and fell down to sleep. 7:30 dinner with the group, then walked up to the cathedral and heard Tuna! Yup, I finally found a kind of tuna I like! Cute law school students dressed in black graduation gowns with colorful ribbons and badges on them, singing and playing traditional Spanish music. Very charming! Going to finish the blog and then go soak my legs in the bathtub so that I have at least a chance of feeling ok tomorrow. Yesterday was also a very long, hard walk for me. 13 miles, some rain, lots of hills and mountains, and fatigue. Stayed last night in Padron and walked from there to Santiago this morning. Padron has two famous writers hailing from there, and is famous for its pulperias, or octopus restaurants! We went to one but I ordered carne(meat. In this case fried pork). Beautiful botanical gardens, old bridges, and religious buildings. Mom was sick yesterday, but she soldiered on. I'm sure that won't surprise any of you that know her! But it did mean a lot of stopping and starting, which is actually really hard on our muscles. But, we made it. Tomorrow to -Finisterre (believed to be the end of the search in medieval times) and then the last day in Porto, Portugal. Am excited to be heading home. Night night