July 19-23
Finisterre 3.5km
Arrived by bus July 19th.  We decided not to walk here as our goal was Santiago de Compostela, and we wanted to end our visit with an actual vacation.  We did however make the final pilgrimage from the pueblo of Finisterre to the very end of the earth, 3.5 km.  The path ends at the altar to the sun, Ara Solis, from the ancient time when the people here worshiped the sun.  Today there is a scenic park and a lighthouse on the site. More about that in a minute.
Upon arrival in Finisterre we were met at the bus by rental agents looking to book you in an albergue, etc.  We asked one woman to see what she had available and as we walked and talked with her we discovered that she could rent us a private apartment overlooking the harbor.  Seemed too good to be true.  We were a little nervous going off with her, but as always, the camino provided.  We have an incredible private apartment overlooking the harbor and the Atlantic Ocean.  The apartment itself is beautiful and has all of the amenities.  Both the great room and our bedroom open onto the harborview.  Mike has been able to study the port and the fishing industry.  This is one of the world´s leading harbors for catching octopus. No deep water swimming for me!!, but I will be eating some of the local specialty.  They catch a wide variety of fish and seafood, but are famous for the octopus industry.
Two doors down from our apartment is a bakery, so each day we get fresh bakery to go with our cafe con leche.  Two doors more and we´re at the supermarket, so we can make our own meals.  Last night we made a pasta marinara with squid and shrimp.
We have taken several walks, but nothing like 30k/day.  We´ve been to the local beaches, and enjoyed watching the local, pilgrim, and tourist life out our front windows.
The night of the 20th we made our final pilgrimage to the lighthouse and got our final pilgrim´s stamp.  It is the tradition to watch the sun set there, at the end of the earth, and then to have a bonfire to burn your final intentions and any articles you wish to burn.  It´s a fun tradition.
We hiked around on the point and then picked the perfect spot from which to watch the sun set.  We enjoyed a picnic of bread, cheese, fruit, and wine.  The sunset was very pretty, but not spectacular, as it was somewhat obscured right at the end by clouds.  The sun set at 10:20 p.m.  We burned our socks!!!! and then hiked 3.5k in the dark back to our apt.  We had a glass of wine as we watched the port life out our window.  You know it was only midnight on a Saturday, so for the spaniards the night was just beginning.
Being an actual fishing port there is a huge fish market here where the boats unload.  Each weekday afternoon they have an auction (like at the county fair) where vendors, restauratures, and other professionals bid on the lots of fish.  We can buy a ticket for 1 euro to go in and watch.  So, of course, we´re going.  I´m sure it will SMELL great!
Tomorrow is our birthdays and anniversary and we are headed back to Santiago where we plan to see if we can catch the pilgrim´s mass with the botafumeiro, (the humongous swinging incense burner- like the thing ways a ton or something, and was originally used to try and wipe out the smell of the pilgrims), go to the open-air market again and order fresh seafood to have cooked for us at the cafe.  We really liked that experience and have plans to try some different seafood there.  We also plan to take the rooftop tour of the cathedral.  It is supposed to be spectacular.  We´d also like to go back to the parador and relax in the lap of luxury while sipping a little something.  So that´s the plan for our big day.  We´ll see how it goes.  As they say in Costa Rica, "Pura Vida" - It´s all good.
The next morning we head to Madrid.  There we hope to see Picasso´s "Guernica", go to La Casa de los Champiñones for handmade sangria and specialty mushrooms, do a little shopping, and some people watching on the Plaza Mayor and the Puerta del Sol.  Our hotel is in that neighborhood. 
The very early morn of the 26th we head to Madrid´s Barajas Airport and home to the ones we love.
God´s blessings to all, and forever and always, Buen Camino.