Imagine before there were tomatoes, potatoes, and even chocolate: the world was a much smaller place. Finisterra was literally the end of the World until Christopher Columbus changed things. It was also kilometer zero of the Camino.

The locals no longer encourage pilgrims to follow the longstanding tradition of burning their clothes, and given the amount of synthetic fibers – I tend to agree with them. Gone are many of the other hardships for pilgrims in the Middle Ages, most importantly the need to now turn around and begin the long journey home.
What is unchanged is the throngs of pilgrims who make their way up to the lighthouse at the end of the point to watch the sun sink into a limitless sea.

As I was wandering back from the market earlier in the day (after consuming enough churros for a family of four) I ran into Gildas!! He and Maja were still in town after taking the bus there the day before. Suddenly we were invited for a home cooked meal by Maja and a concert on the point by Gildas. A small update is needed here on Grandma (his violin). Part way along the Camino Gildas picked up another credential and began collecting stamps for Grandma. Although he confessed his unorthodox behavior in full to the person at the pilgrim’s office in Santiago they would not issue her a Compostela.