We take the road to Santiago de Compestela after two days in Bilbao, and the weather changes from grey skies and showers to torrential rain, which is a real shame as this road hugs the coast on one side and the mountains on the other. Just short of 600 kilometres over seven hours driving on a fantastic autovia the road goes up hills, round hills, down through valleys following the coastline but because of the weather you can't see much more than the road ahead. We will have to do this route again and hope for better weather next time.
Santiago what a super place, the old town is not very big, you can walk round it in about half an hour, from one side to the other in about ten minuets. The building above is The Convento de San Francisco built in the 16th. century.
The Igrexa de San Miguel des Agros, not as old as it looks, built in the 19th. Century.
The Pazo de San Xerome built in the 15th. century home of the Vice Chancellor of the University.
The pilgrims to Santiago stand on this spot in front of the Cathedral, gazing at the building housing the remains of St. James. No pic it was covered in scaffolding - as its around 900 years old it requires a bit of tlc from time to time.
We had decided not to bother going inside, thinking the inside of one looks much the same as another but the heavens opened so in we went-maybe that was a message of sorts. What a surprise!
This I think must be the Nativity Scene of all time.
More scenes of the Nativity.
The Altar, with a statue of St. James, the pilgrims walk up some stairs behind the Altar to embrace St James.
A side chapel showing the symbol of Compestela in the top right hand corner. The scallop shell - coquille St. Jacques. The symbol is shown on all the routes leading to Santiago de Compestela.
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