some facts before I go...

Welcome to my travel blog that I'm going to try and do for my long walk across Spain. I'm leaving on September 3rd and thought I'd do an entry before I go. Below I've written a little on the pilgrimage path that I will be taking - the path is about 800kms long, will take me about six weeks to walk and is called "el camino de santiago". I will be following the 'camino frances' route.

I'm starting off in St Jean Pied du Port (a small village on the French side of the Pyrenees) and finishing in the city of Santiago de Compostella, nearly on the north west coast of Spain. I've marked the rough route on the map above. I am doing this walk by myself, hoping to walk about 20kms a day.

The path (el camino) has been walked by pilgrims for over fifteen hundred years. You don't have to be religious to do the walk - many people, like myself, do the route for their own personal challenge and spiritual growth.

Why is this a pilgrimage route? Well according to wikipedia:

"The Way of St. James, often known by its Spanish name, el Camino de Santiago, is the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where legend has it that the remains of the apostle, Saint James, are buried.
The Way of St James has existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times.

There is not a single route; the Way can take one of any number of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. During the Middle Ages, the route was highly travelled. However, the Black Plague, the Protestant Reformation and political unrest in 16th- century Europe resulted in its decline. By the 1980s, only a few pilgrims arrived in Santiago annually. However, since then, the route has attracted a growing number of modern-day pilgrims from around the globe. The route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in October 1987; it was also named one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites in 1993."

So who was James?
James was one of Jesus' apostles and went to Spain to try and convert the locals (who at the time were Muslims) after Jesus' death. He wasn't too good at his job - only converting a handful of people during his stay in Spain.. Poor old James! So he returned to Jerusalem only to have King Herod chop off his head. (poor, poor old James). James' friends put his body into a stone boat, it sailed miraculously to the shores of Galacia where his body was taken ashore and buried near by.

Eight hundred or so years later a shepherd was out and about and noticed stars hovering over a field. He went and investigated and found James' bones. To mark the spot a church was built over the site. So the Cathedral of Santiago came into being. Most Christians today realise there are some flaky bits to the story, but regard Santiago still as a holy and special place.

Camino facts:
The way is marked for those walking the route by either a scallop shell or yellow arrow painted on signs, rocks, buildings, or roads.

Pilgrims are offered shelter along the way in 'albergues'- basic accommodation that may shelter nearly one hundred pilgrims in one room. The albergue's comfort varies greatly - they can be just a basic village hall with mattresses on the floor, a rustic old monasteries, an old village barn, or a purpose built building. Often there is a communal kitchen where you can cook your evening meal or the local bar offers "a pilgrim meal".

Pilgrims are given a 'pilgrim passport' at the beginning of their journey (the credential). This is your official paperwork to show the albergues that you are a pilgrim and so qualify for accommodation at the inn.

All your worldly goods you carry with you on your back. Most people start out with way too much stuff and end up posting stuff ahead to themselves. I'm really trying to keep everything I'm taking to an absolute minimum - hopefully I won't be carrying more than 8kg in my backpack.

I've been learning intensive Spanish for the past six months and trying hard to get in quite a few hikes so that I can be semi prepared. I'm very excited but also a little scared - so wish me luck and keep your fingers crossed for me.

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Adios!