History of the Way

While still drifting in a post operative anesthetic stupor sleeping with brief interruptions called work, feeding  and attention to hygiene, I half consciously saw the movie, "The Way," written and directed by Emilio Estevez in collaboration with his father, Martin Sheen.

Somewhere between Navarre and Pamplona, I snapped out of hibernation.  As feverishly and excited as I could be under the circumstances, I began to research the possibility of travelling "The Portuguese Way to Santiago de Compostela."  In the movie, the trip begins in France, the French way, but I am a realist and redirected myself to "The Portuguese Way" simply because I have never walked to any sanctuary before and  I seriously doubt my ability to start by way of the Pyrenees.

For as long as I can remember my Portuguese family has walked in faith and in thanksgiving from our hometown of Adaes, Barcelos to Our Lady of Fatima, a distance that is similar travel between Hialeah and Orlando or even to San Bento de Porta Aberta, another challenging trek.  Pilgrimage in Portugal is a way of life and my family has always been devout.

Although I have never been interested in a pilgrimage before, for whatever reason, perhaps my passion for air conditioning was a deciding factor, I have been equally fortunate to have been driven to all these beautiful places of faith.  This time I would like to visit on "The Way.".

The Camino de Santiago de Compostela, also known in English as The Way of St James and  has existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during  medieval times. It was considered one of three pilgrimages on which a plenary indulgence could be earned (the others are the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem).

The main Camino route is the Camino Frances. This part of the Camino de Santiago traditionally starts in St Jean Pied de Port and finishes in Santiago de Compostela about 780km later, after traveling the breadth of Northern Spain, (In Santiago you can collect your Compostela).  However you can start anywhere and even continue past Santiago to the sea at Finisterre. Finisterre was thought to be the end of the world in medieval times.

There are several caminos, the most popular being the Camino Frances which is protagonized in the movie.  Then there is Silver Route which starts in Granada, the Northern Route which is known for its rough terrain, the Portuguese route which is a route that can include a segue to Fatima and the English road which begins in la Corruna and or Ferrol ports as well as at minimum a couple more.

As a point of reference, the way of St. James has become the convergence of a global community, e.g.:

The Way of St James has a variety of different names in various European languages, to name a few:

• In Galician it is O Camiño de Santiago and often also Ruta Xacobea
• In Basque it is Donejakue Bidea
• In Spanish it is usually called El Camino de Santiago
• In Catalan it is called the Camí de Sant Jaume de Galícia
• In Czech it is called the Cesta Svatého Jakuba

• In German it is called Der Jakobsweg or the more archaic Der Jakobusweg
• In French le chemin de Saint Jacques
• In Italian Cammino di Santiago
• In Polish Szlak św. Jakuba
• In Portuguese Caminho de Santiago

I have ardently begun to research and mentally prepare for this road.  I am so taken by the culture surrounding this journey; from the way markers, to "Buen Camino, peregrino", to hostels, rucksacks (I didn't even know what this was), and  walking staffs.

I plan to order my Camino passport and have signed up in a forum. I know now that I want my Compostela...I have just enrolled in the Camino, World University, 101.

Buen Camino~