Epic Hikes of the World ( PDFDrive )

the trail passes through town as well as country.
Why are you walking the Camino? It was a question everybody asked. The
answers were often deeply personal: dealing with grief or illness or a sense of
religious obligation. Some people returned to walk the Camino for a second or
third time with their families or partners. I could only mutter that I had a month free
with nothing better to do; the truth was I wasn’t sure why I was there.
By the time I reached León, two-thirds of the way to Santiago, I had had plenty
of time to think. For four weeks I had travelled only by foot – no cars, buses or
trains – and moving slowly allowed me to notice what was around me, to chat
about everything and nothing with other pilgrims and snack on blackberries along
the way. I had relaxed into the routine of walking every day with everything I
needed in my small backpack, with nothing to think about except arriving in the
next place. After walking all morning, the simple pleasures of taking off my walking
boots, a hot shower and a cold beer were intensified.
About 60 miles (100km) from Santiago, the Galician mountains stood between
me and my destination; the demanding climbs came with breathtaking views.
Finally arriving in a rainy Santiago a month after setting out from Saint-Jean-Piedde-Port,
I felt a true sense of accomplishment when I thought of how far I had
come. IA
ORIGINS OF THE TRAIL
For over 1000 years pilgrims have followed the path to Santiago de Compostela to
visit the tomb of St James, thought to have brought Christianity to the region. But
the route dates back to pre-Christian times, when Celts would follow the Milky Way
west to Finisterre (land’s end). Today, pilgrims walk for a range of reasons. Many
tie a scallop shell – a symbol of the pilgrimage – to their rucksacks.
ORIENTATION