What is the Camino de Santiago? (5 days until start)

Counting down - 5 days to the start

Training hike of 12 miles on
Baldwin Rails to Trails

Laurel and I are preparing to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain. In English speaking countries this is known as "The Way of St James". I hope you enjoy the posts on this blog. Until we start walking I will be posting general information that I hope you find interesting. It is a good way for me to test the blogging software so I don't have technical issues while relaxing in Spain.

Many people are familiar with the Camino from the movie The Way (2010), starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez. The principal character (a father played by Sheen) walked the Way in memory of his son that died on the route. We hope to meet pilgrims as interesting as Tom, Sarah, Joost, and Jack along the Way. If you haven't seen the movie check it out -- but have tissues handy.

Cast from movie "The Way"

The 9th century is  earliest record of visits paid to Santiago de Compostela and the shrine dedicated to St. James the Great, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. . Also, much of the route follows Roman roads that date from 1st Century BC. How do the roman roads still function when we are still working on the interstate highways continuously?

Statistics for the math inclined.

• In 2015 over  250,00 pilgrims (peregrinos) arrived at the Cathedral
• 20% of the pilgrims spent 30 days or more on the journey. From the furthest starting points they walk 800-900km.
• Countries of origin: Spain (46%), Italy (8%), Germany (7%), USA (5%), Portugal (5%), and France (3%).
• Religious reasons are cited by 91% of the pilgrims arriving in Santiago. The other 9% are classified as cultural pilgrims.

We are walking 340 kilometers (210 miles) on the French Way. We start in city of Leon at the Santa María de León Catedral and finish in city of Santiago de Compestela at the  Catedral de Santiago de Compostela.

The many ways to reach Santiago de Compestela

This Blog and another from last year

2016 Camino Frances                2016jaxcamino.blogspot.com

2015 Great Smoky Mountains   2015gsmowens.blogspot.com

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