Lava cola

The day started in a wet drizzle and the rain quickly got heavier and stayed with us all the way to Lavacolla. The good news was that we only walked 15k or about nine miles. We got to our hotel about one and after warm showers, dry clothes and a great lunch it was siesta time. Such a treat! I even had time to knit!

Today Lavacolla is the location of the Santiago airport. The word Lavacolla is Spanish for " wash your private parts!" During the Middle Ages Christians seldom bathed and they made fun of the Jews and Muslims who practiced better hygiene. Because they had walked for up to six months without washing they were a pretty smelly group by the time they reached this point. In honor of St. James they would stop here and bathe before entering Santiago. I am sure St. James was happy they did! Everyday there is a pilgrim mass at noon in the Santiago Cathedral. This cathedral has the largest incense burner in the world called the Botafumeiro. The incense burner was originally used to fumigate the smelly disease ridden pilgrims. Because the burner is so large it takes six attendants to raise it and swing it so it is not used everyday. We have our fingers crossed that tomorrow it will be swinging at mass.If you have watched the movie The Way you saw the burner in action. After mass we will go to the Pilgrim Office to show our credentials and get our Compostela. Charlie plans to frame his! We are staying in an old monastery in Santiago, should be an amazing end to our 300 mile trek.

Yesterday my post was about all the ways you could get to Santiago and I forgot horseback. Today we were passed by our first rider and his horse! Once when we were unsure which way to turn we started following the horses prints in the mud.

One more sleep and our adventure will be over. I am not sure how my body will adjust to not walking 12-15 miles a day!