Santiago de Compostela

As we sit in an air-conditioned room in Madrid and listen to the hustle and bustle of the big city, I think back to beautiful Santiago de Compostela.  In the Middle Ages Santiago de Compostela was Christianity's third most important place of pilgrimage, after Jerusalem and Rome. 
Today many people walk or ride bicycles in pilgrimage to Santiago (or just for the challenge).  According to legend, the apostle St. James (Sant Yago, thus Santiago) was responsible for bringing Christianity to Spain.  Though martyred in Palestine, later his body was brought to Galicia on a ship.  In the year 814 a hermit claimed to have been guided to rediscover the saint's tomb by a shower of stars - compostela means "field of stars".  The scalloped shell is the symbol of St. James and therefore it is found all over the city of Santiago.  Peregrinos (pilgrims) typically carry a walking stick with a gourd for water as well as the scalloped shell symbolizing the spirit of St. James and their ultimate goal in reaching the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
The center of Santiago is a pedestrian zone, and we walked it from end to end.  Here are some of the pictures.

 After a short one hour drive we arrived in Santiago and were rewarded with this beauiful view from our hotel window.

Because we were there on a Sunday, the plaza was crowded with peregrinos who time their arrival  in order to attend the pilgrim's mass. 

The name of this street is "street of questioning"  named for the many lost pilgrims who over the centuries have stopped to ask how to find their way to the Cathedral.

 With my chisel in hand I left my mark in Compostela.

 Here is the symbol of St. James for all the tourist to purchase.

We went out to take a few night photos and as we walked near the Cathedral we could hear live music.  There was a group of Gallego musicians in medieval garb playing traditional instruments and two guys making Queimada.  We had a chance to try the Queimada, which is a traditional drink based on Orujo (which we mentioned in another posting).  The alcohol is poured into a special clay pot to which sugar, coffee beans and slices of orange are added, the mixture is then heated up over an open fire.  According to legend, witches (meigas) would stay well away from anyone who had been drinking Queimada.  It was delicious and I got to keep my souvenir cup!