I really should feel guilty arriving by luxury ship and taking a comfy coach to the famous Catedral BasÃlica de Santiago de Compostela.
If I were a devout Christian, specifically a Catholic, then maybe. And there was plenty of holy whooping and hollering as the many self-satisfied Camino pilgrims made their theatrical entrance into the UNESCO World Heritage-listed plaza in front of the 13th-century cathedral. Some of these exuberant hikers may well have begun their journey 1000 kilometres away, although the minimum distance for certification is 100 kilometres, and I saw plenty of these being waved around.
Some of the Swan Hellenic guests did choose to hike the last 10 kilometres to the church, but my exertion extended to a flight of steps from the bus station and a mini-quest for the post office and obligatory postcards.
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| Christian or not, you have to be impressed with this altar. (RE) |
The reason Christians get all excited about this place is that it is believed to be the resting place, or reputed burial place, of Saint James the Great, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ and has historically been a place of Christian pilgrimage on the Way of St James (Camino de Santiago) since the Early Middle Ages and marks the traditional end of the pilgrimage route. As is so often the case with Catholic churches, cathedrals in particular, the inside is stunningly ornate with lashings of gold and intricate carvings and decorations. This one is no exception.
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| Some impressive millinery on show (RE) |
As an added bonus, since it was the weekend, local community groups held a costume parade, with some outfits clearly requiring considerable effort.
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