20.07
This day we got to Spain to Irun. There we stopped hitchhiking and we
started our Camino de Santiago de Compostela (Way of St. James). I would like attached some description of this
“camino”. For sure some of you already know what it is but in Poland it is not
so popular like in France or Spain, so some information could be useful for you.
The Camino de Santiago or the Way of St. James
The Camino de Santiago or the Way of St. James is a spiritual journey
that pilgrims of all faiths and backgrounds have traversed for over a thousand
years. The pilgrimage originally began at one’s doorstep, though modern
trekkers today would find that rather difficult, particularly American pilgrims
needing to cross the Atlantic. While there are a number of established routes
leading to Santiago from all directions, the most popular is the Camino
Frances, which crosses the Pyrenees Mountains along the Spanish-French border
starting in St. Jean Pied de Port.
This Camino route covers 800 kilometers that traverses an idyllic
northern Spanish countryside. By following the yellow painted arrows marking
the road, a pilgrim can expect to walk 12-15 miles a day to reach the next town
for the night. At this pace, a pilgrim can reach the Cathedral de Santiago in 6
to 8 weeks time to attend the Pilgrim's Mass held at noon each day. Some take
more time, others less. Some choose to travel by bike, and some have done the Camino
on horseback. Along the way travelers encounter albergues, refugios and casa
rurals that cater specifically to the thousands of pilgrims of all ages that
take this journey each year, immersing themselves in the local food, culture
and history dedicated to this experience.
Pilgrims walk the Camino for various reasons. Some to seek penance,
others enlightenment, and still others for a sense of adventure, yet all
progress toward the Cathedral in Santiago where it is believed the remains of
the apostle St. James are held. Most pilgrims choose to carry a scallop shell
with them to symbolize their journey in honor of St. James. According to
legend, scallop shells are said the have covered St. James’ body after it was
found on the shores of the Galician coast. Another, perhaps more useful symbol
is a walking stick to aid a weary pilgrim on his or her journey. Most pilgrims
also carry a document called the credencial, purchased for a few euros from a
Spanish tourist agency, a church on the route or from their church back home.
The credencial is a pass which gives access to inexpensive, sometimes free,
overnight accommodation in refugios along the trail. Also known as the
"pilgrim's passport", the credencial is stamped with the official St.
James stamp of each town or refugio at which the pilgrim has stayed. It
provides walking pilgrims with a record of where they ate or slept, but also
serves as proof to the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago that the journey is
accomplished according to an official route. The credencial is available at
refugios, tourist offices, some local parish houses, and outside Spain, through
the national St. James organisation of that country. The stamped credencial is
also necessary if the pilgrim wants to obtain a compostela, a certificate of
completion of the pilgrimage.
We decided to take
the North Way. It is known as the most beautiful way but the hardest one because
there are mountains everywhere. You walk through the mountains but n your left
or right almost always can see the Ocean. I will describe more the Camino in
the next posts.
In Irun we found
our albergue ( it is Spanish name to
call the refuge for pilgrims). It was totally free with breakfast included. In
addition it had a kitchen which is not so common for albergue. There we got our
credencial (is like identity for
pilgrims). With this you can get for example discount in some restaurants and ofc enter to albergue. It is also great
souvenir from camino. In each
albergue they give you stamp which is unique in every city/village.
In the next posts I
will describe all my camino:)
