Camino de Santiago...

Santiago de Compostela, Spain

December 2-3, 2007
N42°52.773
W008°32.694

The pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela begins near the southern border of France, in Spain’s Basque Country. People trek several hundred miles to reach the infamous town of Santiago, pray for forgiveness and ask to be blessed in the name of Jesus Christ. The rite is akin to a Muslim’s journey to Mecca, the ultimate experience.

We took the train to Santiago, we didn’t walk through the cold weather along the northern most part of Spain; however, we still appreciated the vibe within the city and the deeper meaning it holds to many. We didn’t meet anyone who completed the pilgrimage on this trip, but Ana, my friend in Barcelona, completed a shorter version of the journey a few years ago with her father. She described the warmth of people in the small towns and villages along the trek; people who took them in, fed them, and, most importantly, provided them encouragement to continue.

The old town is built around the incredible Catedral del Apostol. The massive baroque cathedral and is where the pilgrimage comes to and end. There are town squares built around the church where people congregate. There are views of the church from different angles from around town, but our favorite view was from the park where we could admire all of its beauty. The striking façade and stunning interior does not disappoint those who have walked for days. We’ve seen hundreds of churches during our travels, in fact I can say we’re “churched-out”; however, Catedral del Apostol was something special and actually made us pause… it was very impressive.

We were so moved with the energy in Santiago upon arrival, we decided to spend an extra night walking through the medieval streets, admiring the church, and sampling tapas, regional wine and cheese. It’s a perfect town to rest tired feet and refuel the body and mind after a long trip—regardless of how you got there!