Where to start and finish

[MattesJ]

Everyone seems to want to finish in Santiago. Is there a reason for this? From the looks of things the last week walking towards Santiago is the busiest section of the trail. Since I have managed to arrange time in August, will it be a superhighway? What is the best part of the trail for a not- as-fit-as-I-was-20-years-ago-walker and a slow walker if I have a week or two? If there is a bonus to end in Santiago, can one walk part of the eastern part, catch a bus and end up finishing in Santiago... or is that cheating?

[firesalamander]

Is there a reason to go to Santiago? On the camino it happened to me that locals helped me. Thanking them, I sometimes received the answer "Hug Saint James on my behalf". So I think, when you are on the camino, everybody expects you to go to Santiago. But the last 150 km were crowded, weather in Galicia was wet and this year I will stop in Leon. However, I might not be a "true pilgrim"....