Dare I say it out loud?
“I will walk the Camino de Santiago this year.”
There. I said it. With so many things happening last year, my dream of walking The Way was relegated to the bottom of my list of “Things To Do Eventually”. But this year feels different. This year feels right. I think this year is the year I will go on a pilgrimage of a lifetime.
Just as I was thinking these thoughts, I got an invitation from Ms. Vien Cortes of the Spain Tourism Board to attend a presentation on January 30, 2011 at the Instituto Cervantes. This is so reminiscent of what happened last year when Marc Grossman stumbled upon my post on the Camino and sent me his precious all weather walking maps! Vien, who learned about my Camino plans from Marc, contacted me last year expressing her interest to help me. We have been e-mailing each other since.
On January 30, Vien will be in the country to give a presentation on one of the world’s oldest pilgrimage sites, Santiago de Compostela. For those who are not familiar with it, Santiago de Compostela is the third most important Catholic site in the world after Jerusalem and Rome. The body of Saint James, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ is believed to be burried in the Cathedral, down in the basement. For over a thousand years, millions of pilgrims have been walking along the road to Santiago de Compostela. Traveling the breadth of Northern Spain, the road to Santiago stretches from the scenic Pyrenees Mountains of France all the way to Galicia, where Santiago de Compostela is located.
Here’s a video that captures both its beauty and significance:
If, like me, you’re interested to walk the Camino, why not drop by on the 30th? Here are the details:
Date: 30 January
Time. 0900H to 1200H
Presentation: The Road to Santiago de Compostela and the Religious Routes in SPAIN
Presenter: Spain Tourism Board and special guests
Venue: The Auditorium of the Instituto Cervantes
Admission is free. The Spain Tourism Board will also be raffling off some door gifts from Turgalicia on this day. For more details, drop me an e-mail or leave a message here.
By the way, here’s a map going to Instituto Cervantes:
Hi. Stumbled upon your blog. I am leaving in 2 weeks time for the Camino. I was also a former student at the Instituto in ’97 thereabouts.
iUltreia!
Hi Jan! Wow! Really? I’m so envious!:) Good luck and hope you can drop by after your trip to tell us all about it. Ingat!
Hi, I hope you will realize your dream this year. If you want a copy of my Camino de Santiago diary, just send me an email message – I will send it as file attachment. fr picx
Hi Father Picx! Thank you so much for the words of encouragement! I’m really hoping I’d be able to make the trip this year. I will certainly email you for advise and to get your notes.:) Thanks again!
i am also planning on walking the camino next year. do you have any materials that you can share? 🙂
Hi Reynor,
I have a map and a guide. You are welcome to borrow them.:)
Hey, i stumbled upon your blog, i’m currently on the last leg of my camino walk, not much people from the Philippines here, i hope more people back home get to be inspired to do this, it’s humbling.
Hi Diana,
Wow I’m inggit! Good luck on your last leg. I’d love to interview you for my pre-Camino series.:) Talk soon!
Pauline
To celebrate 5 years of being cancer-free, I am doing the Camino this October. I was first enthralled by the Camino many years ago through Paolo Coelho’s Pilgrimage, then Joyce Rupp’s Walking in a Relaxed Manner. Thought several times of doing it, but often chickened out. Now there is no turning back. I stumbled on this forum http://www.caminodesantiago.me/board and whose members’ tips, blogs, and website I have relied heavily on. I am doing the Camino Ingles, 119 km, “a less populated, scenic route with cardiovascular challenges”. Keep the faith … you will do it!
Hi Bebol!
Congratulations on your 5th year anniv.:) It’s so great that you’ll finally do the Camino. When are you leaving? Like you, I have been contemplating on doing the pilgrimage for 3 years now. I’ve been to Santiago de Compostela but only by bus hehe. Your route sounds interesting. And thanks so much for posting the link. It will definitely help! Good luck!
Pauline
Hi Bebol!
Congratulations on your 5th year anniv.:) It’s so great that you’ll finally do the Camino. When are you leaving? Like you, I have been contemplating on doing the pilgrimage for 3 years now. I’ve been to Santiago de Compostela but only by bus hehe. Your route sounds interesting. And thanks so much for posting the link. It will definitely help! Good luck!
Pauline