Santiago

   Ten years ago, i (Willow) took a walk. It was a very, very long walk. In fact, it was 500 miles long across northern Spain. This walk is called the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. I had read about it in the Shirley MacLaine book "The Camino" a year earlier, and knew it was something i wanted and needed to do for myself. It is a pilgrimage dating back to the 12th century with Catholic roots, but has evolved into a pilgrimage for all people over the years, irregardless of religion or belief. For me, it was a journey within, and with nothing to do but just set one foot in front of the other for 500 miles, it was quite a journey indeed. It was a long solitary journey and took me a month. It ends in the small town of Santiago at the 10th century cathedral. It was a life changing journey and is always with me.
   Now i have no desire to repeat this walk, but i have wanted to take my Love to Santiago and let him experience some of the magic of this journey. So, we left the boat in Palma, Mallorca and took a quick flight to the NW corner of Spain to Santiago de Compostela. Now ten years ago, i stayed in what we called "Refugio's" (primitive centers where the pilgrims took refuge). But this time my Love booked us into a 5 Star Hotel that was once a 15th century hospital. It was started by King Ferdinand and Isabella to tend to the Pilgrims after their walk to Santiago. It was magnificent and right on the Cathedral Square so we were right in the heart of it all.
    It truly was a dream-come-true to share this important part of my life with Richard. He of course is the direct result of that long walk and journey within. So to be able to share it with him was unbelievably precious. So i hope you can get a sense of it and enjoy the many pictures of Santiago.

                                                            The Cathedral.    





The Cathedral by day and lit up magically at night....




















Our hotel on the square looking down from the Cathedral stairs....

And one of many courtyards in our hotel....

                                                             Music Everywhere....

                  

                 

There is music everywhere in Santiago. The haunting melody of the bagpipe plays night and day as Santiago is in the Galicia area of northern Spain and much connected to the Celtic tradition. The Indian Sage plays the Sitar on the street corner and the Troubadours sing every night in the courtyard.

And the pilgrims straggle in to the city every day, exhausted but triumphant to have made it.

         A pilgrim with her heavy pack just arriving in the city.













 Looking at the map because after 30 days of wandering in the countryside, even a small town like Santiago is daunting....

When the pilgrims arrive in Santiago there is a pilgrim mass to celebrate and honor their journey. Inside the Cathedral is a huge swinging incense burner that is lit and hoisted high. The story is that not only was it used to cleanse the pilgrims but was used to help cover their smell as they came to mass after such a long walk. It truly is a moving ritual as the burner swings over your heads and the organ plays loudly while the nuns sing beautifully. Of course, the pictures just can't do it justice--you have to be there to experience it.

                                                                                                              

                             

The food in the Galician area of Spain is outstanding and is known for it's seafood (octopus, lobster and shrimp from the Atlantic) and it's great beef. It is also here that i was introduced to Orujo which is an herbal digestive liquor. It is quite strong and something we drank every night after walking 20 miles. I still love it and after enjoying way too much food here in Santiago, it was a necessity.

Santiago was a trip of a lifetime 10 years ago and also a trip of a lifetime now as i shared it with the love of my life. We walked the old cobblestone streets of the city, we lingered in the Cathedral courtyard and watched the pilgrims wander in, we indulged in the best of food, we experienced the swinging incense burner at mass, and we just breathed in the spirit of Santiago....together.

And oh yes, the long walk was worth it !!!