Advertisement
Published: July 20th 2008
Edit Blog Post
Santiago at last!
I arrived on July 5th after 35 days of walking across Northern Spain. July 5, 2008: After 500 miles and 35 days of walking, I've finally arrived in Santiago!
My feet are very happy about this, and my blisters are healing nicely. I'm staying in the old city near the cathedral for a few days to relax and explore the city. I attended the daily pilgrim mass at the cathedral and watched in amazement as the largest incense burner in the world swung over our heads from a pully above, powered by half a dozen priests pulling on the other end of the rope. The swinging of the giant "botafumeiro" was originally used to fumigate the sweaty pilgrims. Now it looks like they have just as much fun swinging it as we do watching it swing low over our heads and up so high it looks like it will hit the cathedral ceiling (see video).
The Story Behind the Camino de Santiago
The cathedral in Santiago is the official endpoint of the famous pilgrimage that originated over 1,000 years ago (the other two Catholic pilgrimages are to Jerusalem and Rome). Santiago de Compostela is the site of the remains of St. James the Apostle. Two thousand years ago, he preached in
Map of Camino de Santiago, Spain
The route goes from east to west across Northern Spain. I started just inside France at St. Jean Pied de Port (50 Km east of Roncesvalles) and ended at the cathedral in Santiago. the area that is now northwestern Spain (Galicia). After he returned to Jerusalem, he was beheaded by Herod on 42 A. D. Following his martyrdom, his disciples brought his body back to Spain to be buried.
The Santiago story re-emerges in 813 when a shepherd discovered the tomb of the Apostle in the area of Santiago and it was comfirmed by the Bishop. At this time, much of Spain was under Muslim control. And so the story of St. James was resurrected in perfect timing to spearhead the reconquest of Spain for Christianity. The image of St. James was said to appear at crucial moments to turn the tide of battle against the Moors (the name given to the Arab settlers from Morocco). On the strength of these successes, St. James became the patron saint of Spain, a position that he enjoys to this day.
Since the 9th century when word spread of the miracle of St. James, people from all over Europe have journeyed by foot to what is now Santiago de Compostela. The number of pilgrims peaked during the Middle Ages to over 100,000 per year. There are several routes to Santiago, but the most popular
Cape Finisterra
The "End of the World" was the "Camino Frances," which is the one that I walked from the French border in the east across Northern Spain to Santiago in the west.
The End of the World
Just west of Santiago on the western coast is Finisterre (land's end). Before Columbus discovered America, it was believed that this was the "end of the world." I decided to go there and see the End of World for myself. The path to Finisterre ends at a lighthouse. The scenery was spectacular, the weather was perfect and the End of the World is where I will begin the rest of my journey...
Advertisement
Tot: 0.099s; Tpl: 0.016s; cc: 9; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0491s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Lara Stone
non-member comment
CONGRATULATIONS!
I'm so proud of you! What an amazing accomplishment! And now it sounds like you have friends all over the world to go visit. :-) I'm glad you're feet are healing, I can't imagine how much they must need a rest. Well done, LP!