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The Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

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Camino de Santiago (or St James Way) has been in existence since the 9th Century and has become one of the most iconic and famous long distance walking tracks in Europe. The route begins in France and ends in the exciting city of Santiago de Compostela in Spain... The environment of the Camino de Santiago journey is so rich in beauty and history that the pilgrimage is viewed as the longest and most continuous museum crawl on earth!

On the track you’ll view awe inspiring sights including Romanesque art and architecture, monasteries, Gothic cathedrals, Roman Empire gold mines of the first century and castles including that of The Knights Templar. In fact, the World Heritage Committee has acknowledged that little has changed from the original Camino de Santiago since the Middle Ages.

According to legend, Kind Herod Agrippa I had St. James executed making him the first of the apostles to be martyred. His remains were then carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain where he was buried on the site of Santiago de Compostela. Eventually James became the patron saint of Spain.

As a result, the Camino de Santiago was considered one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times and today represents a unifying and humanising experience for all those who walk it irrespective of their religion, motives or culture.

Although there is no minimum or maximum amount of walking, most Kiwis choose longer distances and stay on the Camino longer than their European counterparts. The majority start in the Pyrenese between France and Spain (800km) and some in Le Puy in France (1500km away from Santiago de Compostela).

To give you a taste of what to expect on this amazing journey Marc Grossman, a specialised French and Spanish language teacher over the last thirty years, launched a series of classes and workshops called Camino Downunder in order to communicate all facets and aspects of the pilgrimage to an Australian and New Zealand audience.

“While travelling on the route myself, I observed fellow Australian and Kiwi compatriots struggling with many issues including language barriers and difficulties understanding the policies, protocols and procedures of being a 21st century pilgrim,” says Grossman.

“Our mission is to comprehensively prepare all participants irrespective of age to successfully and confidently undertake their greatest long distance walking journey, whilst armed with deep knowledge and insights about the Camino.”

The Camino Downunder workshops help people prepare, understand and appreciate the universal pull and attraction of the life changing experience. Attendees learn how to navigate along the Camino, successfully move between and among cultures - including specialised Spanish vocabulary and verbal expressions - and about the history and exquisite environment. It also helps travellers to better understand how the registration system works including the $50 a day living costs (accommodation, utilities, food and ablutions).

Grossman will be holding Camino Downunder workshops in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch in July. For more information visit www.caminodownunder.com

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Camino Santiago
Written by mariontopping, on 12-06-2009 11:54
My husband and I walked the Camino in 2002 - it was one of the best experiences of our life. The Camino is an amazing journey that people attempt for a variety of reasons. We formed a family of other pilgrims many of whom we have visited since our time together in Spain - there is still an amazing closeness between us even though we are separated by 1000's of miles - perhaps because we shared a journey where we all had a common bond. We have since walked the Italian section of the Via Francegina from the Swiss border to Rome in 2008 - the second of the medieval pilgrimages. Buen camino & ultreia to anyone wishing to embark on this journey!

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