Spain; In the Footsteps of Pilgrims
The Camino de Santiago

In the 12th century, A French monk named Aymeric Picaud wrote a comprehensive book about a journey from the French border to Santiago de Compostela, a journey of 750 kilometers or 450 miles.

This extraordinary journey in search of the tomb of the Apostle James became the Camino de Santiago. St. James (or Santiago in Spanish) was one of the 12 original apostles, a fisherman who left his nets by the Sea of Galilee to follow Jesus and help establish the Christian church. By tradition we are told that after Jesus' death and resurrection, James traveled across the Mediterranean to Spain to preach. He returned to Jerusalem around 44 A.D. and was the first apostle to be martyred, beheaded by Herod Agrippa.

Legend goes that to prevent its desecration, Saint James' disciples secretly sent the saint's body back to Spain in a stone boat and buried it near the northern coast. It lay undisturbed for nearly 800 years, until 813 A.D when shooting stars led a hermit to the site of the tomb. Within 100 years, people all over Europe were making the harrowing, frequently life-threatening journey to pray at the gravesite. Pilgrims soon built a church over the bones of this patron Saint of Spain, and around it arose the town of Santiago de Compostela. By 1000 A.D. it was one of the most popular of Christian pilgrimages and remains so today.

Upon arriving at the great Cathedral of Santiago, medieval pilgrims would break down with tears of joy as they reached their final destination. They would embrace the statue of Santiago journey (Saint James) and give thanks for their arrival. Today, emotions still run high. After completing this journey there is a special bond and camaraderie among all who have walked it. In a world where things change so quickly, the Camino de Santiago is so refreshing as things have not changed so much after all!

The Camino is as much an experience as it is a path. For 1200 years it has been walked by millions of people from all over the world, greeting each other with "Buen Camino"-(Good Camino) when the sight of the scallope shell, the symbol of the Camino, is spotted on a fellow pilgrim's backpack. Some do tthe entire Camino of nearly 500 miles, which begins in the French Pyrenees and goes across Spain but we will only be doing the last 100 miles.

We will begin this journey by flying into Madrid and then traveling by private coach to Leon, where we will rest from our journey and explore this fabulous city. Before we are introduced to the wonderful countryside, marketplaces, and villages with tiny churches dating back to the 12th and 14th century. For the next nine days we will walk around 100 miles, between 9 and 14 miles per day, before arriving at the magical city of Santiago. Unlike the earlier pilgrims, we will stay in restored inns, hotels and country manors. The part of the Camino we walk will be in Galicia, sometimes called "Green Spain" and has recently become the "foodie" capital of Spain! Much of what we eat is locally grown produce.

Because we will have walked more than the required number of miles, we will qualify for the official Compostela Certificate, with our names in Latin. The demand for this document has grown such that there is now a special Pilgrim's Office that issues these Certificates. It does not matter what your religion is; this is a special part of our entire religious heritage and is to be treasured.

Our guide, Alex Change, has led more than 50 groups and 500 pilgrims along the Camino de Santiago. An American by birth, he is lucky to call two places home as he has lived in Spain for the past 9 years. He has worked very hard to accommodate all of the things I have asked for, including two bi-lingual guides and a support vehicle. He has tailored all of our accommodations, plus all of our breakfasts, 8 gourmet picnic lunches and 8 dinners with wine.

Whatever your reason for doing this journey, be it spiritual or just to experience the wonderful things and sights that this part of Spain has to offer, you will not be disappointed.