Our group took a side trip from Pamplona to Roncesvalles, in the Pyrenees to walk the beginning of the Camino de Santiago, one of Europe’s most important pilgrimage routes. “The Way of St. James,”(in English), is a series of walking routes that lead from various locations in Spain, Portugal, and France to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, reputed to be the burial place of Saint James the Great, one of apostles of Jesus Christ. The most popular trek is the French Way, which crosses the Pyrenees.
Although many people follow the route for spiritual reasons, it is also popular for hikers and cyclists from all over the world. The route is 500 miles long, and 65% of those who walk it are women, many of them older, walking while grieving losses or experiencing important life changes. Serena, our tour leader, walked the Camino while mourning the loss of her grandmother.
The symbol of the walk is a sword, because a sword was used to cut off James’s head. A scallop shell is also a symbol, because it could only be found at the end of the route—proof that you walked the entire Camino. The shell itself was used as a plate to receive food, a symbol of charity. Today, many walkers buy a shell painted with the sword symbol and tie it to their backpacks at the beginning of their trek to indicate they are walking the Camino de Santiago. In addition, the scallop shell is the symbol used on directional signs along the route as well as on the front of hostels on the route that house pilgrims overnight.
Roncesvalles, where we walked the first mile of the route, is a small town in the beautiful Pyrenees mountains. Later, we took a second, two-mile walk through the gorgeous northern Spanish forests.
(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)
For lunch, we met up with Serena’s friend, Gonzalo Santoma, a photographer and musician, in a charming little village.
After explaining and demonstrating the Basque sport of Jai Alai in the village gym, we took a stroll to a restaurant for a Basque lunch.
Gonzalo entertained us with his guitar-accompanied singing, which turned into a duet when a local joined in for a song:
Coming up next: SOUTHWEST FRANCE, NORTHERN SPAIN & PORTUGAL #13: EXPLORING UBIDEA & CASTROJERIZ, ON THE WAY TO LEON.
Elaine-iaK's Travels: A Traveler's Tales of People, Places, Photos, Pools... and CHOCOLATE! 