Camino de Santiago

Camino de Santiago: History, Routes, and Practical Tips

The entire article is a story within a story…
Before we give the floor to Tanya, a few clarifications regarding the route and concepts.

For centuries, Catholic pilgrims have traveled a route through Northern Spain called Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Or the so-called. Classic route.

El Camino begins in France in the small town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, crosses the Pyrenees, and travels from east to west across all of Northern Spain until it reaches the magnificent and famous Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where it is said that the relics of Saint James, son of Zebedee. One of the 12 apostles of Christ. Recall his portrait by Rembrandt - „St. James the Greater.“.

The path itself is about 800 kilometers, which pilgrims travel on foot. The network of rays to the spiritual is 1500 km. You choose your path. In the 11th century, pilgrimage to Santiago gained the status of second in importance after the pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It is assumed that the Camino runs under the projection of the Milky Way. The sacred path can be traveled on foot, by bicycle, or on horseback.

The difference between the Classic and Portuguese Way

The Short, or Portuguese Way – Camino Portugués it was established in the Middle Ages, after Queen Isabella of Portugal passes along it to pay homage at the tomb of the apostle James. It is between 400 and 650 km, depending on which route the pilgrim takes.

With a backpack on my back and faith in my heart

Tanya is a faithful person; spirituality is inherent to her, which is not coincidentally related to her journey, as it also involves religion. In addition to tourism. It involves overcoming difficulties. Her friends choose to walk the long path with backpacks on their backs, carrying only the most essential items. Without making any prior reservations.
where they „freeze over.“ It has happened to them more than once that they reached the settlement where they decided to spend the night, but there were no vacancies, and consequently, they had to walk at least another 10 km to find shelter.

During the trip, you will meet believers who give vow, in whose name the road was traveled. Or they dedicate it to a secret dream of their own. For example, he meets a mother and son who have set out alone for their faith.
Imagine, curious reader: starting twice from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to the finish line in Santiago de Compostela – 800 km of the classic route. And once a 400 km, shorter route. Over about ten years. A memory born of distance, accumulated and shared experience. „I always did the long and short routes from the Dormition of the Theotokos until around September 15th, 30 days – a month, and the short route in two weeks.

We slept in hostels, monasteries, private apartments, hostels.

The first time I was with a friend who got inspired and wrote a book.

And for the second time with another friend, a doctor, her name is Antonia – she's currently writing a book. My friend used to describe her day in short stories on Facebook every night – and one of her followers eagerly awaited the next „serial,“ as he called it.
Along the way, she also meets Bulgarian women who carry their luggage for them, and consequently, everything is organized for them in advance. But the fact that they have started is worthy of respect. Tatyana thinks.

What to pack for the Camino de Santiago?

• „You will read many travel blogs online with recommendations on what to wear and what to pack in your luggage. I recommend: only long pants made of light material. Because it's hot, everyone prefers shorts, and the sun is beating down mercilessly, raising a tremendous amount of dust – you walk through fields, farms, on dirt roads. In addition to sunburn, your legs are covered in dust and dirt...
• Naturally - the mandatory many quality hiking boots and socks “– I didn't suffer from foot injuries, I didn't even have a single blister on all three of my pilgrimages.“ Amazing, right?!“

Let's listen to her advice then.

It will sound strange to you, but I had no goals or expectations.

I just went. I didn't read any preliminary information, except for McClane's book, which had a big impact on me. Apparently, I had a spiritual interest in my soul. For the Path and meeting people on it.
Yes, that's right. Sometimes you walk in silence and don't meet anyone. Other times, it's full of admirers, but every encounter is a lifelong memory: different destinies, stories, interesting conversation partners, eccentrics.

Encounters on the Path: The Romantic Story of the Australian Albergo

For example, in a village in Spain we stayed in a charming little house of... an Australian woman. Her story is unusual.

The Australian woman walks the Camino. It impacts her so much that she rediscovers herself: she returns to her homeland, sells her flower shop and business, and buys a century-old historic house. With hard work and love, she restores it and turns it into an albergue. Here, the story starts to resemble a modern romantic fairy tale.

One night, a pilgrim, a Spaniard, knocks on her door. He asks for a place to stay. Love at first sight sparks. He stays for three or four nights. She locks up the albergue and sets out to share the Way again, now with him. And after they finish it together, he makes his decision. He leaves his business to an architect and comes to her. Together they manage and welcome pilgrims. She cooks, and he accommodates and takes care of their stay.

Both are very beautiful – the Australian resembles her compatriot Kylie Minogue, and he is a typical Spanish macho man.

And Tanya and her friend's stay at the house also remains unforgettable. In addition to the romantic story they share with the hosts. An incredible international company gathers. The atmosphere is like a prayer: intimate, personal, human, shared thoughts and revelations. An artistic dinner: food picked from the garden – a salad of everything that grows, plus plums and greengages. Have you ever eaten like that?!

„And finally.... There's no sense of an end, when you get home.
The fireplace continues to work on the fallen. It's been a year. Years....

Spanish Traditions: Festivals and Fiestas on the Road to St. James

These are over a thousand national sites, numerous cities, villages. And celebrations. It's as if the lives of Spaniards, Portuguese, and French are an endless celebration. There's always some occasion and you always stumble upon a regional festival: whether it's a saint, or a harvest, or wine making, flower festivals, anything you can think of... You become part of the lives of the Spanish people – bullfighting, city festivals. Something is always happening...

After the veneration of St. James - I read and reread again The Bible. Especially the deeds of the holy Apostles. You have no idea how much wisdom is gathered there.

Otherwise, every day is different. You wake up early, set off, and by 2 PM you've reached the village where you've decided to spend the night. And there, you'll find a museum, a cathedral, a local festival, or an incredible neighborhood, house, hosts, or volunteers waiting for you.

For example, we stayed with a family: an elderly Spanish couple. The road literally passed through their house. They had made something like a cafe for their guests. They didn't know a word of English, but we never had a more fun evening. My friend and I provoked the grandmother, and she called the grandfather. And then it began, emotional, in Spanish: they put on a show of dances and songs for us, authentic, with a lot of laughter. Where else can you find such a fiesta? Organized personally for you. From the heart, spontaneously.

Personal freedom and the strength to move forward despite problems

When I set off on the Camino the second time, I again had a ball of problems. This time, family ones. Always urgent events. But whatever tries to stop you,  always prevails heart, not reason, not logic. Then I felt family support. Yes, we are united, we support each other a lot, we love each other, we can't live without each other. But we respect our partner's personal freedom and choices.

If I were a „reasonable“ person, I shouldn't have left. But with the blessing of relatives and loved ones, I left. This time, my friends saw me off.

I took on the backpack of burdens in my soul from numerous, complex problems, a whole „tangle“ of unanswered questions, of tasks to which I saw no solution...

The Miracle of Camino: How to Untangle „Unsolvable“ Problems

And halfway through the journey, I had a wonderful dream: rain, sun, and a rainbow. Jumping off the top bunk, I quickly shared it with my girlfriend. „I believe everything will be okay,“ I said in the end.

And behold, returning from the Camino, the complex tangle of „unsolvable“ questions began to unravel. At least twenty very important things, and for the first time in my life, with no effort, everything fell into place.  

See more Author Tanya Stavreva here