we wake up to a nice, misty day reminiscent of home. we are spurred on by a desire to reach snatiago as early as possible, but we decide to stop for a break, coffee in arca. then its up and down a few more hills and into santiago. we pass the airport and continue along the narrow country road for another 10km before arriving at the tourist office on the city's outskirts. vero goes in to get the accomodation list and city map. we find a lovely pension. it is only 11.30 and guests are still leaving their rooms, but ours is cleaned while we chat to the owner and fill in the questions on the registration form. we dry off and go into the city to have a look around. we find the office to get our compstela, the certificate to say we have travelled the pilgrimage route. we queue for only half an hour amongst many happy and proud people who have also successfully completed the distance. we then go to get something to eat before going to mass in the cathedral. the cathedral is dramatically baroque and gilded it verges on the kitsch. many people queue to kiss specific statues for reasons not readily apparent. we buy an english guide book for maurice and commemorative mugs to remind us of the great time each of us had on the camino. the town is full of happy pilgrims and tourists.

next morning we get up at 07.00 and head to the offices of the transport company to hand in and say goodbye to our bicycles.. then we go to the train station travelling to hendaye over the border in france, and then the night train to paris, gare austerlitz.