Santiago de Compostela: Lost My Drumsticks, Found My Soul (Maybe)
okay, so. santiago. wow. i didn’t really know what to expect, honestly. i’m finn, by the way, touring session drummer - usually hauling gear across europe for some indie band or another. this time, i was supposed to be in portugal, but my band cancelled (story for another time, involves a rogue ferret and a very expensive bass drum) and i figured, hey, i’m already halfway there, might as well wander.
and wander i did. santiago de compostela. it’s… something. the whole pilgrimage vibe is intense, you know? like, everyone’s got a story, everyone’s walking, everyone’s slightly sweaty. i felt a little out of place with my backpack and perpetually tired expression, but hey, who isn’t, right?
i just checked and it’s… drizzling, a sort of persistent, damp hug. the kind that seeps into your bones. hope you like that kind of thing. it’s not exactly drum-playing weather, let me tell you. speaking of which, i lost my drumsticks. somewhere between the cathedral and that amazing little tapas place. seriously, if anyone finds a pair of vic firth 5a sticks, please, please let me know. they were a gift from my grandpa.
but honestly, losing the sticks? it was almost… freeing. like, i didn’t have to be a drummer for a few hours. i could just be. i spent the afternoon wandering the old town, getting hopelessly lost in the narrow, cobbled streets. it’s gorgeous, by the way. all granite and wrought iron. seriously, check out some photos on TripAdvisor - https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g184298-Santiago_de_Compostela_Province_of_A_Coruna_Galicia.html.
“Don’t eat at that place near the market,” a very drunk man slurred at me in broken english. “The octopus… it’s… chewy. Very chewy.”
he wasn’t wrong. i tried the octopus. it was… an experience. i’d recommend sticking to the tapas. there’s a place called Tapesia - Yelp says it’s good https://www.yelp.com/biz/tapesia-santiago-de-compostela - and it definitely is. seriously, get the pulpo a la gallega. it’s a must.
and the people! everyone’s so… calm. like, genuinely relaxed. i overheard someone talking about how they’d been walking for weeks, and they still seemed… happy. i’m used to tour buses and frantic schedules, so that was a nice change of pace. if you get bored, vigo is just a short drive away. it’s a bigger city, more going on.
“The cathedral bells… they’re louder than you think,” a local woman warned me, shaking her head. “Sleep will be difficult.”
she was also right. the bells are loud. but somehow, even that felt… peaceful. i found this really cool forum with local events - https://www.forosdegalicia.com/. might be worth checking out if you’re staying longer than i did.
okay, so, final thoughts. santiago de compostela is… unexpected. it’s not flashy, it’s not trendy, it’s just… real. it’s a place to slow down, to wander, to maybe lose a few things along the way. and you know what? that’s okay. i’m heading to pontevedra next, apparently there’s a really good vintage shop there. i’m hoping to find something to replace my lost drumsticks. or at least a cool hat. check out this local board for tips https://www.santiagoturismo.gal/en/.
and the weather? well, it’s still drizzling. but somehow, it doesn’t even bother me anymore.
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