"That sounds great. So, what is it?"
I’ve realized over the last couple of days that I have kind of assumed that everyone knew what the Camino de Santiago was when I say it’s what I’m walking later this month. I sometimes follow that with, “I’m doing the Camino Frances more specifically”, as if that clears everything up. I thought I’d spend a quick minute going over what I know about the hike (the term pilgrimage still seems a little weird to me).
The Camino de Santiago (known in English as the Way of Saint James among other names)i s a network of trails and paths leading to the shrine of Saint James in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain. Many follow its routes as a form of spiritual path or retreat for their spiritual growth. It is also popular with hiking and cycling enthusiasts and organized tour groups.
The French Way (Camino Francés) and the Routes of Northern Spain are the courses listed in the World Heritage LIst by UNESCO.
Thanks Wikipedia!! You’re a pal.
The distance of the route I’m taking is 780km, or about 500 miles. I plan on walking for 35 days with my current itinerary.
Fun facts:
Over 300,000 people from 200 different countries walked the Camino last year
About 10% of pilgrims are from the US (the largest group were Italians at almost 17%)
Only about 10% start from Saint Jean de Port, which is the traditional starting place for the full Camino Frances
I’m told many people do it sections, returning year after year to complete another portion
The most popular starting spot is about 100km away from the finish (the minimum distance required to get your Compostela or “Pilgrims Certificate”)
Movie trailers got their name because they were originally shown after the movie (look it up)
My typical day will consist of me waking up (as happens most days), having a nice breakfast and heading out for about a 14ish mile hike through various types of countryside and villages and cities along the way. I will eventually get to the town I’m staying in and find my room. Then it’s time for a pilgrim’s dinner (a popular and inexpensive meal often consisting of a stew made with local fare) and maybe some exploring of the town. Then it’s off to bed. Then repeat. A bunch of times. There are going to be at least two sections where I plan to do a night hike because apparently the views of the skies and moon are amazing in a couple of areas. Also, I’ve got a cool new headlamp and nothing makes me smile more than when you look up at someone and blind them with that super high setting. It’s the little things….
I have very purposely not done a lot of research about the towns I’m passing through and staying in. I intend to discover them as I go. At most I will read up a little about my next days route the night before and then perhaps do a little research on the towns when I arrive in them. This has been difficult but I’m excited to be surprised.
So that’s what I’m doing. Michele is sewing my Sasquatch patches on my pack this weekend (represent) and then I will load the bag for the last time. Then it’s two more days of work next week (you might actually be able to smell the apathy in my cube) and then I’m off!!
Now you know as much as I do. To be clear, this is seldom a good thing.
“So, what is it?” I dunno, but in a week or so I”m gonna find out.
