Santiago de Compostela

Although the weather had set itself into a fine misty drizzle we set out to explore the place. Well, after an simply scrumptious breakfast at the Hotel San Miguel Gastronomico that is. Our bella Senora Louisa outdid herself with a lavish spread of cold meats, Danish pastries, cereals, breads, juices and fresh fruits. And torte de queso or cheese cake. For breakfast? You bet, try it sometime. We really do owe that lady a present of some kind.

A walk through the old part of Santiago is like strolling from one church to another church with either a continual line of restaurants or souvenir shops joining them all together. It is an absolute maze of twisting lanes and alleyways which all seem to end in a plaza overlooked by a church. The shops are in keeping with the medieval appearance of the town and will display perhaps a subtle shingle on their outside. No garish neon signs in this area at all. You could be excused for thinking this must have been quite like how it would have looked way back in the town's earliest history.

You've seen the amazing exterior of the cathedral itself from the outside in the last post? Well, today we excitedly went inside for a look at the marvellous interior and oh what a shock. It is full of scaffolding. Yep, the cathedral is undergoing some major restoration work and many of the interior features have either been covered for repairs or removed altogether. The crypt under the altar is still open though and lines formed to file past the silver reliquary. The custom of "Embracing the Apostle" was still available and a long line of people had formed up to take their opportunity there too.

Leaving the cathedral we quickly lost ourselves in the alleys and lanes and church plazas. We did take some respite from the cold with a coffee and cake at a cafe called the Cafe Casino. No particular reason why we chose it. It was there and we were feeling the cold. On entering we thought we'd stumbled into the Ritz or the Waldorf or somewhere. The walls were decorated with carved wooden frescoes and lined with comfy looking armchairs and low tables. There was even a baby grand piano although no one was playing it. We needn't have worried. The staff were great, the coffee and cake delicious and the price quite reasonable.

The shops were heavily biased towards souvenirs.

This jewellery shop (and a great many others) featured designs in crucifixes and scallop shells, the symbol of the Camino.

There is no better place than Santiago to satisfy all your religious artifacts needs.

Another jewellery store window.

This one featured liturgical and other items in hand chased silver.

Across the Praza Das Praterias to the steps and side entrance of the Cathedral.

Not sure why their are dressed up like this but how could I resist not taking their photo?
It might have been a photo shoot of some kind with the Cathedral as the backdrop.

The interior of the Cathedral, and full of scaffolding. DOH!

Some of the ornamentation was still visible though.
They couldn't take it all away after all.

A statue in memory of San Julius who was the first pilgrim to walk the Camino and is
now recognised for his tremendous feat.

Inside the Cafe Casino. 
Warm and comfortable and in spite of appearances to the contrary quite reasonably priced.

Carved wood frescoes adorn the walls of the Cafe Casino.

This one is for you, Tina :)

The Mercado or market, where people flock to buy their fresh produce.
And when they've finished doing that, they sit down and have a meal. Seafood seems the main go.

Couldn't resist this sign advertising an orthodontist surgery.

This is the Museo do Pobo Galego with the attached Convento de San Domingos de Bonaval.
And it was closed. Some beautiful gardens surround it though.
Spain has a somewhat irritating habit of closing for a couple of hours in the middle of the day and then reopening again later.