Camino de Santiago

[revanne]

So I am finally fulfilling a long held dream and walking part of this ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. It's supposedly the burial place of the Apostle James Saint James being Sant'Iago in Spanish). You have to walk the last 100 kilometres (62 miles) to get a certificate and we are hoping to do slightly more in a week. Pilgrim badge acquired from the Pilgrim office in Santiago. The pilgrimage route nearly died out in the 20th century but has seen a massive resurgence with a quarter of a million people walking part of it annually.

[DerynifanK]

Hope you have a wonderful time and return restored and refreshed.

[Jerusha]

Very awesome, revanne.  I hope the trip exceeds all of your expectations and leaves you with many memories to treasure.

[DesertRose]

I'm not sure I've expressed how totally freaking amazing I think it is that you're doing this!  As an amateur historian of medieval Europe, I'm fascinated by pilgrimages in general and particularly modern iterations of pilgrimage routes.

I hope you find the experience full of wonder and knowledge and discovery, and I hope you'll share more pics with us.  I love the pilgrim's badge!

[Laurna]

I will repeat what everyone else has said. Have a wonderful time and a great pilgrimage. Do you have hostilities to stay at along the pilgrimage path? Are there specific foods to eat and historic places to pass by? Please share pictures.

[revanne]

Beautiful old church at start of our walk.

[Jerusha]

Oh my, revanne!  So beautiful in its simplicity.

[DerynifanK]

 LOVE your pictures. Hope you have a lovely time. Beautiful  church.

[HoundMistress]

May good fortune smile on you during your walk and may God bless you at the end.

[revanne]

To answer Laurna there are pilgrim hostels - cheap but clean and I suspect a lot better than the facilities Columcil would have known. Also Pilgrim menus of good simple food - so tonight I had a salad, fish and chips and almond cake for 10 Euros. Very reasonable.
Today's walk is probably the longest at 16 miles. Please send Duncan to massage my feet.

[revanne]

It's very well signposted.

[Laurna]

Good to hear about the accommodations and food. I do hope your long walk to day was a pleasant journey without any foot soreness.

[Jerusha]

I'm sure Bishop Duncan will be happy to help with any foot soreness.  I think he would be happy to be with you on this journey in spirit. 

[DerynifanK]

I'M sure Duncan and Columcil  are with you in spirit on this very special journey . Actually, Fiona and Aliset would lover to have such an adventure . You are an example.  So wonderful to fulfill your dream.

[revanne]

To stay in the hostels you need to buy a pilgrim passport at the beginning and these can be stamped in hostels and churches. At the end as long as you have walked 100 kms (63 miles) you can get a certificate. We will have done 75 miles.