The official Pilgrim office in Santiago updated the process to request the Compostela. The Compostela is the official certificate and accreditation of completing the Camino. It is a beautiful certificate written in Latin (English translation is below) and is a joyous keepsake for many travelers. Before the new system, you would walk into Santiago and line up at the office waiting your turn to show your stamped pilgrim passport.
When I was a child my dad would always disappear for a week once a year. My mom would vaguely say he was on a retreat, but I never really inquired much about it until I got older. In my 20’s I finally got around to asking my Dad where he went on his mysterious retreat once a year, and he told me he went to some Jesuit retreat center in Louisiana and didn’t talk. He said he just read, prayed, ate and walked around like a typical retreat, but everything was in silence and it was the best week of his life.
This route starts from the town of Tui on the border between Spain and Portugal, across the Minho river. Medieval bridges, the historical old town of Pontevedra and the village of Padrón, famous for its peppers, are some of the interesting sights along the way. This section of the Portuguese camino will take you through green landscapes up the hills and down the valleys into a region well-known for its Albariño wines, an excellent way to explore the last 100Km of the Portuguese Camino.
O Cebreiro, known for its straw roof houses (pallozas), is located on the Galicia border, about 95 miles (150Km) from Santiago. This section of the French route will have you descend from the mountains from the highest point of the Camino in Galicia, through beautiful landscapes and fertile valleys to the city of Santiago. You will have the opportunity to visit sights along the way like the benedictine Monastery of Samos. It is a great route for those willing to explore the French camino beyond the last 100Km.
Even though the Camino seems simple enough, no one really talks about what a typical day looks like. I’m frequently asked- is it just walking?- and while it is mostly walking, I think it’s important to understand that this is more than a hike or walking trip.
The journey that travelers take while walking the Camino is spiritual and meaningful and so much fun.
August and early September have seen a very busy Camino. Even with the pilgrim mass being relocated to San Francisco Church, there was a line around the block to hug the Saint and see the remains of St. James inside the Cathedral in Santiago.
It was good to see the scaffolding removed from the front of the cathedral, but renovations continue on the sides and back of the church to prepare for the 2021 holy year.
Sarria is a great starting point as it is a large town and has everything you need to set out on your journey. This route will take you 70 miles (115 km) along the French route in the Galician region, through green landscapes and lush forests to Santiago during a five-day walk. It is a great route to become acquainted with the Camino. This trip makes you eligible to obtain your Compostela certificate when you arrive in Santiago.
Many times, after walking the Camino, travelers don’t want their experience to end. They can also feel overwhelmed with the crowds and people in Santiago and they long for the quiet trail of the Camino.
One way to extend the trip and have a reflective experience is by taking a day trip to Finisterre, translated as “The End of the Earth”.
