Mass times in Santiago

Try this, it's in Spanish but fairly self-evident:
http://www.galice.net/Que_ver_esp/que_ver_santiago_h_misas.htm

Thank you so much, Diane, that is exactly what I was looking for!

Actually, there's more... If you follow the link to the Cathedral's website, you will find ENG as well as Spanish. Do not choose English!!! The liturgical calendar in English is not updated. Choose Spanish, then the link above to Liturgia, then Calendario. The 18th of May is marked with an X - for Wednesday.
http://www.catedraldesantiago.es/

Thanks for the tip- I pressed English and got the old page when I was searching earlier.

Mike, You might want to consider going to the noon mass. The 12:00 mass each day is the pilgrim's mass and, while I haven't actually seen it, they bless the pilgrims and swing a huge incense burner called a Botafumeiro. I have heard from a friend that it is quite an impressive service. You can google "pilgrim's mass at Santiago" for more information. There are some videos on You Tube, also.

I'm a (former) pilgrim that walked the 500 miles or 790 kilometers from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago last May and June. I recommend attending the pilgrims mass, however it can be crowded, not only with pilgrims but with tourists too, from experience pretty much every mass is crowded. The Botafumeiro isn't always used at the noon mass as I sadly found out the day I arrived in Santiago, but was able to see it at an evening mass. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISnBipsQ4i4. The Camino de Santiago is a very unique way to see Spain, if anyone has any questions feel free to send me a private message or just post them here. Not a day goes by that I don't think of my 33 days of walking.

If you decide to go to the Pilgrim's Mass be considerate of the pilgrams - they have walked a long way to get there and it can be very special for them.

Funny enough, I really want to do the Camino. I struggled with going to Santiago at all right now since I wanted it to be the grand finale to the walk... but I will be in that area of Spain, so why miss out, it could be years before I get to do the walk (I have two very small children). I would love to hear experiences of the walk! PM me!!

For anyone contemplating doing the Camino, but can't do it in one long stretch: many Europeans that I met in Santiago explained that they do parts of it at different times, culminating in eventually having done the entire course of whichever Camino that they had chosen. One guy I met had been a week-end walker on the Camino de Plata for a couple of years before completing the course. So, it's common to do it in stages. So Mike, in Santiago, go the office for the pilgrims and pick-up your "passport" while there. Then anytime, you can decide to plan on a portion. As for the Botafumeiro, I lucked into a special mass for firemen and had the pleasure of watching 6(7?) firemen handling the rope to swing it. It was a double treat! ;-)

Diane, that is a great idea, I will be sure to do that. Can you get them for people who are not with you?

Yes.
I can also recommend the Costa Vella hotel, where I stayed. I found it very pleasant; it's in a quiet location, has a nice garden, the people were very nice, and it was easy to walk everywhere from there.

You can also request one by mail. http://www.americanpilgrims.com/camino/credential_req.html That's a great idea to complete it in stages. I've also wanted to walk the Camino for years and have never been able to allow for the time necessary to complete the walk. Also (FYI), Emilio Estevez made a movie last year, starring his father, titled "The Way". But I can't find any info on a release date.

Mike I hope that someday you do get to do your Camino, for me it was an experience without equal, luckily for me I only had to wait 5 years for mine after learning about the Camino in 2005 while volunteering in an english immersion program in Spain. I met so many people from all walks of life and all parts of the globe. A couple of the Germans I met on my Camino couldn't complete theirs but are going back to Burgos next month to continue, they will return to the cathedral and touch a wall next to the stairway they touched last year so as not to miss a step. And as Linda mentioned you can get your pilgrims passport from the American Pilgrims on the Camino for a small donation. An amusing book about the camino was written by a German comedian (their Jay Leno is the best anology) Hape Kerkeling, the books is "I'm Off Then". Because of this book Germans were the second most nationality on the Camino. If you are interested my blog is available for anyone to read at http://www.bhcamino2010.blogspot.com

BTW, I forgot to mention Emilio Estevez's movie "The Way", he has been showing it at film festivals around the world, Toronto, Dublin and has shown it in Santiago, last word I read on the movies website is they are looking for an American distributor and hope to have it out in theaters later this year.

Very cool, Barry. I hope to follow, literally, in your footsteps.