Hoosier Cruiser

May 1, 2026

Our final port in the Iberian Peninsula was A Coruna, Spain. Our trip today was to the historic pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela. The site is revered as the burial location of St James, one of the Twelve Apostles. Why here? According to legend, before his beheading in Jerusalem, he preached the Gospel in Hispania. His followers were said to have transported his remains here, where they lay forgotten until a hermit miraculously discovered them in the 9th century.

Aside from its religious connotations, SdC is the provincial capital of Galicia and home to a major university founded in the 15th century. We walked past many of the university buildings on our way to the main cathedral square. Structures bordering the square included the city hall, pilgrim’s hostel (now a luxury hotel), the archbishop’s residence, the cathedral and cathedral museum. After our guide took us on a tour of the cathedral’s perimeter, we explored the side streets before a lunch break at the hotel. By this time, the square was filling with tourists and young pilgrims completing the Camino de Santiago. Following lunch we entered the Cathedral Museum where we saw architectural remnants of the earliest church and medieval texts (no photos allowed). Finally, we toured the interior of the cathedral and all its gothic and baroque splendor. Returning to our coach, I made a quick stop at one of the many bake shops for some Viking crew gifts and a Tarta de la Casa for back home.