Day Nineteen: Finesterre and Muxia

It is legend that pilgrims, after reaching Santiago and paying their respects, would continue on to Finesterre, the Westernmost point known to man at that time. Here they would burn their clothes they had used during the journey as a symbol of their rebirth. 

We started our day with a traditional Spanish breakfast of churros and chocolate. 

Afterwards, David and I packed up and made our version of this trip by car. We stopped on the way at a store and bought new clothes to be worn on the flight home, got some uniquely Spanish foods to take back, and drove to Muxia. 

The famous church here burned at Christmas and then was even more damaged by a severe storm in the following days. It is now closed and under full reconstruction. But the location is beautiful and we enjoyed walking the rocks at the sea and having lunch in the sleepy little fishing town. 

Finesterre has a lighthouse and several monuments to pilgrims and the conclusion of the Camino. Here we saw the mile 0 marker showing there was no further to walk. We also saw where many folks had burned items or left their boots. 

Normally you would stay here for the sunset, but it was a cloudy day and we needed to get back because I had a surprise for David. 

He thought that we did not have a place to stay in Santiago and that we had to find somewhere. As we walked back into the city from the car rental, I asked David if he wanted to get our final stamp in our credentials from the historic Hospital de Los Reis, which was now a parador hotel. He was shocked when we not only got stamps but checked in! This was our celebration for having accomplished our Camino.