Spiritual and Walking Guide: Leon to Santiago on El Camino
-
Linda K
- Posts: 11
- Joined: 23 Nov 2015, 18:55
- Currently Reading: The Winemaker Detective
- Bookshelf Size: 19
Spiritual and Walking Guide: Leon to Santiago on El Camino
It’s quite fashionable to create a “Bucket List.” For most people this is a life list of accomplishments they hope to check off before they leave the earthly plane for the next really big adventure. If you’re one of those, you might want to add to your list the Camino de Santiago, Spain, walking path and the book, “Spiritual and Walking Guide Leon to Santiago on El Camino” by Stacey Wittig.
Sometimes referred to as the “Camino,” in total it is about a 500-mile walk- often done as a modern-day pilgrimage. Not to worry, it can be done a section of it a time. The whole thing would take you about 30 or 40 days. This books takes on the Leon to Santiago route. Our author shares her 19-day trip. There are some who complete their Camino by going back year after year. It’s up to you, but as they say…it all begins with the first step. According to our author, “Once your body gets into the rhythm of the walking pilgrimage, you hike without head knowledge you are doing so. Walking becomes like breathing…”
There are no real rules on how the journey is laid out, but if you want a pilgrim certificate you will have guidelines and need to do some paperwork. This is all addressed by the author. You can walk fast (or slow), you can bike, or even do it by auto. This is not necessarily a religious-focused adventure – but it usually is and can be if you wish it to be, and it certainly was for our author. Daily meditations and prayers are part of the structure of the book.
The journey originally began as a pilgrimage to the relics of the Apostle James, interred in the beautiful old Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Ever since his grave was discovered in AD800, hundreds of thousands of the good, not so good and the curious have stepped the path across northern Spain, making the Camino one of the most famous pilgrimages in the world.
The Camino de Santiago's walking route covers modern paved roads, cobbled streets, stone-filled pathways, muddy corridors and compact forest trails. The Spanish consider the Pyrenees a starting point. Along the French border, common starting points are Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port or Somport, on the French side of the Pyrenees, and Roncesvalles or Jaca, on the Spanish side. An alternative is the Northern Route nearer the Spanish coast along the Bay of Biscay. Yet another popular route is the Portuguese Way, which starts either at the cathedral in Lisbon (for a total of about 380 miles) or at the cathedral in Porto in the north of Portugal (for a total of about 141 miles), crossing into Galicia Valença. Our author’s journey starts in León, Spain.
Day by day, step by step the author takes us on the coveted journey that millions of people have walked, ridden donkeys and horses, or been carried to this most famous Christian pilgrimage site after Jerusalem and Rome. The time you take to reach the goal is up to you. Stacey Wittig just makes the process a whole lot easier with practical lodging suggestions, packing tips and walking times as well as some spiritual advice and meditations. This book is a complete “how to” guide taking you from your front door to your final step.
Whether for fun or experiencing a spiritual adventure, the walk serves as a retreat for contemporary pilgrims. If you think it’s time to get going on your next purpose-filled journey, then this 95 page book is your starting point. Highly recommend.
Sometimes referred to as the “Camino,” in total it is about a 500-mile walk- often done as a modern-day pilgrimage. Not to worry, it can be done a section of it a time. The whole thing would take you about 30 or 40 days. This books takes on the Leon to Santiago route. Our author shares her 19-day trip. There are some who complete their Camino by going back year after year. It’s up to you, but as they say…it all begins with the first step. According to our author, “Once your body gets into the rhythm of the walking pilgrimage, you hike without head knowledge you are doing so. Walking becomes like breathing…”
There are no real rules on how the journey is laid out, but if you want a pilgrim certificate you will have guidelines and need to do some paperwork. This is all addressed by the author. You can walk fast (or slow), you can bike, or even do it by auto. This is not necessarily a religious-focused adventure – but it usually is and can be if you wish it to be, and it certainly was for our author. Daily meditations and prayers are part of the structure of the book.
The journey originally began as a pilgrimage to the relics of the Apostle James, interred in the beautiful old Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Ever since his grave was discovered in AD800, hundreds of thousands of the good, not so good and the curious have stepped the path across northern Spain, making the Camino one of the most famous pilgrimages in the world.
The Camino de Santiago's walking route covers modern paved roads, cobbled streets, stone-filled pathways, muddy corridors and compact forest trails. The Spanish consider the Pyrenees a starting point. Along the French border, common starting points are Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port or Somport, on the French side of the Pyrenees, and Roncesvalles or Jaca, on the Spanish side. An alternative is the Northern Route nearer the Spanish coast along the Bay of Biscay. Yet another popular route is the Portuguese Way, which starts either at the cathedral in Lisbon (for a total of about 380 miles) or at the cathedral in Porto in the north of Portugal (for a total of about 141 miles), crossing into Galicia Valença. Our author’s journey starts in León, Spain.
Day by day, step by step the author takes us on the coveted journey that millions of people have walked, ridden donkeys and horses, or been carried to this most famous Christian pilgrimage site after Jerusalem and Rome. The time you take to reach the goal is up to you. Stacey Wittig just makes the process a whole lot easier with practical lodging suggestions, packing tips and walking times as well as some spiritual advice and meditations. This book is a complete “how to” guide taking you from your front door to your final step.
Whether for fun or experiencing a spiritual adventure, the walk serves as a retreat for contemporary pilgrims. If you think it’s time to get going on your next purpose-filled journey, then this 95 page book is your starting point. Highly recommend.
