O Pedrouzo to Santiago! (20km)

Today was the walk to Santiago!
It felt like the camino was testing us to see if it could push us a little further as the walk was a little hillier than expected! We stopped 5km away from the cathedral at the top of a hill which had a statue on the top which depicted pilgrims entering the cathedral area.
We continued down hill and Santiago appeared in the distance. The walk into the old part of Santiago was actually not to bad (particularly compared to walking into Leon etc.).
When we arrived into the old part we all begun to feel a little strange, as though it wasnt really happening. However, as soon as we all entered the square with the cathedral we all became quite emotional. For me, this was because the walk has been very long and extremely difficult. The cathedral is beautiful and imposing and looks onto the Paradore (5* hotel branch used in the film, ´The Way´). After we all calmed down a little we just took our time taking in the atmosophere. Then we were aproached by a team of Dutch documentary makers who are making one on the Camino. We were asked some questions on our experience through the walk and so basically now we are FAMOUS! haha. We then saw Alasdair (apparently I have been spelling his name wrong) who we said goodbye and good luck too which was nice, he had even gotten a little teary. awww
We then entered the cathedral and had a quick look around. It is HUGE and very beautiful inside, the alter area particularly!
We then went to the Pilgrims office to collect our Compostellas (official certification of the walk). The que was at least an hours wait but it was well worth it to get something physical for the whole month of walking we have done. After this we attended the hour long Pilgrims mass at 12 noon in the cathedral. This was nice as despite it all being in Spanish, one of the nuns attempted to teach us snippets of songs so we could join in. It was nice apart from we didnt get seats and were sat on the floor, and for those who are unaware of Catholic services, they involve alot of standing up!
We then bumped into Jeanette and Larry once again  and we all took photographs and planned to meet up for the evening mass ( 7pm ) to see the ´Botafumeiro´(giant insence burner which swings across the cathedral above pilgrims heads).
We then went and found our hostel for the next 2 nights which is called ´Roots and Boots´. It was advertised to be better than it actually is but it is a bed none the less. Not greatly recommended but we dont mind too much. After getting changed and showered we left to get a drink in one of the cafe´s. We had a quick look around the shops and found out where the restaurants and cafes were and then went to get a good seat at the cathedral. The botafumeiro is something which has been done for pilgrims (to rid them of disease and stench) for over 800 years and it was quite an impressive sight!
After the mass we went and got some Sangria which was delicious and had some dinner. This was expensive but was also sort of celebratory dinner so hey ho!
After we went to see the cathedral at night and it looked beautiful still and there was a Spanish band playing under some of the arches across from the cathedral! This was awesome as we all danced a little and then said a sad goodbye to Jeanette and Larry.
A very good first day in Santiago!!