PalenQ

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/01/wo...-too.html?_r=0

...in Saturday's NY Times - a detailed article showing how towns along it are reacting to the huge increase in the numbers of people making the arduous journey by foot to the shrine of Saint Jacques in Santiago de la Compostella - even Angela Mirkel did a short few steps on it recently.

Walkers have boomed in spite of Europe's increasing turning away from religion.

Has anyone walked along the now well-beaten trail from France thru northweatern Spain to Santiago?

I've been to Santiago and loved the whole scene - the pious pilgrims making their last tough approach on knees, if I recall correctly them climbing a final stair case to the actual shrine.

yorkshire

While in the Basque region, I did a short coastal stretch of the Camino. We barely saw another soul, but we saw some amazing rock formations and some adventurous surfers.

cruiseluv

Yes, the Camino is alive and well. Not only the better known Camino Frances , but other Caminos, all ending at Santiago de Compostela. In July I did the last 120 kms of the Camino Portugues ( fellow poster Lincasanova joined me and is currently writing a thread about her experience). Two years ago I did the last 160 kms of the Frances, which frankly I preferred.

Santiago is an awesome destination, and the Camino is a worthwhile challenge to undertake , even if you dont do it for religious reasons.

Ive been to Santaigo several times and have never seen pilgrims climbing the steps on their knees. I think the Camino is hard enough.

Thanks for posting this article, going now to read it.

Fra_Diavolo

I hope I haven't waited too long, again.

PalenQ

Guess I mixed up that memory of knees climbing steps - I did see it in Rome at a famous Vatican-owned church outside the Vatican in Rome.

cruiseluv

Yes Palenque, maybe youre thinking of the Scala Santa in Rome, in a building near St John Lateran Basilica

noe847

My husband and I covered 500km of the Camino Frances, from Burgos to Santiago de Compostela by bicycle in 2011, which was 9 days of riding. It was truly life-changing for us.

hetismij2

Lincasanova and Gruezi have both done (some of) it I believe.

lincasanova

Gruezi did LOT of it.. much more than I have. There are a few more here that have done it or do it quite frequently.. very admirable and understandable once you repeat it yourself.

latedaytraveler

Hi PALENQ,

Thanks for the link. I always enjoy reading about the pilgrimage. Although I did not do the camino, I did visit Santiago some years back - fabulous place. So inspiring to see the pilgrims approach their destination. God love 'em!

I would like to suggest the film THE WAY starring Martin Sheen about a middle aged man camino and reawakening after the death of his son. In my view, the flick gives a good snapshot of the whole experience.

PS. - happy that these pilgrims are also continuing to contribute to the economy in Spain - they sure need it!

PalenQ

latedaytraveler - thanks for the film suggestion - may add it to our Saturday night movie want list.

IMDonehere

The movie The Way captures the essence and the sensibility of The Camino.

And I also agree with Lateday that watching the pilgrims enter the main plaza in Santiago tired but quietly proud and undaunted heading to get their Compostela (the certificate that they walked, biked, or rode a horse for at least 100 kilometers of the Camino) is a most enjoyable experience.

The square is called Plaza del Obradoiro, is like a fortress of impressive buildings. There is the Cathedral, a Parador which is considered one of the oldest hotels in Europe, the Town Hall in the Palacio de Rajoy, and the Institute of Galician Studies.

HappyTrvlr

Standing in the Plaza del Obradoiro watching the pilgrims of all ages arrivie is a real highlight travel memory for me. We enjoyed the city and hope to return there.

PalenQ

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...e-santiago.cfm

Here's lincasanova's nice trip report on the Camino.

chapla

In the article the people in the photo are NOT facing the catheral!!!
I am so glad to have enjoyed Santiago before the invasion of tourists and the monasteries/convents being bought and turned into 4/5 star hotels.Definitely losing its charm for me.
The same has happened in San Sebastian-overrun and even more overpriced now.Glad to have visited there a few years back.
Now I'm trying to find undiscovered gems in Spain.....

cruiseluv

chapla,

yes, I have observed the same thing. I first visited Santiago in summer of 2002 and at the time I wasn't even aware of the pilgrimage there. There were no hoards of people. In fact, the huge Plaza del Obradoiro always seemed deserted. This time we were there during the festivities for the Feast of St James which is July 25th and the city was mobbed. I will never go back during those days.

IMDonehere

As you know the Camino has been a tradition for over 1,000 years. In fact the Botafumeiro was originally used to fumigate the Cathedral because of the smell of the pilgrims. And while there has been a huge surge in people who walk the Camino, feast days are usually celebrated by the people who live there and their relatives and tourists who just happen there. The Feast of St. James is an important day in Galicia.

PalenQ

Now I'm trying to find undiscovered gems in Spain.....>

Well Caceres, near the Portuguese border is not undiscovered but you rarely hear anything about it on Fodor's - a real gem, especially the upper town.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cace...=1600&bih=1075

cruiseluv

PalenQ,

Thanks for that ! Very timely as my son is heading to Extremadura to work as an Assistant English teacher in a small town an hour away from Cáceres. I'm looking forward to visiting him there and traveling around Extremadura, I've never been to the region.

chapla

I hesitate to mention "new" places to visit in Spain but since I've visited them twice I would like to share my "finds":

Tordesillas-worth the effort/drive from Salamanca.It's where the treaty dividing the new world was signed.Overlooks a river and the parador is there.Another place to visit is the convent where Juana la Loca spent her life after the death of her husband.The plaza is also a gem and across from it is the best bakery that does a booming business selling polvorones.
Cuenca is an easy bus or train ride from Madrid.It's getting busier so visit it and the hanging houses ASAP!Wonderful parador.
Buitrago de Lozoya- my "best" find is this village/town- another easy and lovely bus ride from Madrid.It is walled with a castle overlooking a river,!4 century church where I had the good fortune to enjoy their annual Gregorian chant concert and a wonderful Picasso museum put together by his barber-a resident of Buitrago! Be prepared, you won't meet any tourists and no English!
PalenQ-I made the "mistake" of visiting Extremadura during the summer! The heat is brutal!