The Camino De Santiago 2018

The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Pilgrimage of Compestela or “The Way of Saint James” is a network of paths to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great, located in the cathedral of which is in Galicia, Spain. Tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried there. Many follow various routes to this shrine as a form of spiritual path or retreat for their spiritual growth.

The scallop shell, which is frequently found on the shores of Galicia, has long been the symbol of the Camino de Santiago. Over the centuries, the scallop shell has taken on a variety of meanings. Here are two common versions of the story about the origin of the scallop shell as a symbol.

Version 1: After James’s death, his disciples shipped his body to the Iberian Peninsula to be buried in what is now Santiago. Off the coast of Spain, a heavy storm hit the ship, and the body was lost to the ocean. After some time, however, it washed ashore undamaged, covered in scallops.

Version 2: After James’s death his body was transported by a ship piloted by an angel, back to the Iberian Peninsula to be buried in what is now Santiago. As the ship approached land, a wedding was taking place on shore. The young groom was on horseback, and on seeing the ship approaching, his horse got spooked, and horse and rider plunged into the sea. Through miraculous intervention, the horse and rider emerged from the water alive, covered in seashells.

The Modern-Day Pilgrimage Routes

Hundreds of thousands of Christian pilgrims begin at various points across Europe, most travelling by foot, although some travel by bicycle or on horseback. There are many different routes, all of which end at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Father David Sánchez will first take the Le Puy Route which begins in the town of Le Puy, France.  He will travel through Conques, Moissac and Ostabat to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port where the Camino Frances “Way of Saint James” begins. This route is approximately 739km (459.19 miles) long.

From there he will enter Spain and continue the route through Roncesvalles, Pamplona, Puente la Reina, Logroño, Burgos, León, Astorga, Ponferrada and then finally the Santiago de Compestela cathedral. This route covers approximately 769km (477.18 miles).

In total, Father David Sánchez will have walked over 1,000 miles during his pilgrimage.

Accommodations Along The Route
Scattered throughout the route there are many hostels operated by the local parishes known as “albergues”. These cost anywhere from €6 ($7.16 US) to €15 ($17.89 US) per bed, per night, depending on the hostel.

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