Santiago de Compostela! and other news

My trip to Santiago de Compostela was awesome. We got in around 8 pm, checked into our hostel(50 beds to a room), and explored the city by evening. It was very relaxing, and the sunset was beautiful, but the real excitement came the next morning.


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History of Saint James and the Camino de Santiago(Santo Iago=St. James):
When the apostles went out to spread the gospel, St. James landed on the Iberian Peninsula. Having much success and being well loved, his bones were shipped back to Galicia in Northwest Spain after he died. Centuries later, as bones were rediscovered and a large cathedral built on the spot. It then became the largest pilgrimage sight in Christendom as Christians throughout Europe would travel across northern spain on foot, strengthening their faith, and building up the economy of the route. It's famous for it's giant incensor which swings from the ceiling, pushing back the stench of sweaty pilgrims.
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After getting to see the incensor(which takes 6 Brothers to manage the pulley), we attended mass and spent the day exploring the city. We ate lunch in a big park across the way from the Cathedral where we could see it in the distance. I had a loaf of bread and some peach marmelade that I bought at a local supermarket. In the evening we took the bus home.






Sunday was also exciting because the feast of Corpus Christi was celebrated at the Cathedral followed by a procession. They had the full choir out for the occasion, many priests and seminarians, and there was a whole section in the procession just for first communicants(who enjoyed throwing rose petals on the monstrance during the benediction). Mass was a little hard to understand because of the echo, but it was worth it to get to walk in the procession afterward. 8 men carried the large gold and silver monstrance through the streets with loudspeakers projecting words for reflection and songs from the choir. It was really cool.


Today however, we're back to the daily grind of classes. Not many more though! We have a test a week from today and another next thursday and then we're done. As for my research paper, (almost)everyone has a lot of work yet to do and I just e-mailed my professor for some help. It'll be a struggle, but I'll get it done.


¡Dios te bendiga!