Bronagh estimates that only 50 percent of pilgrims do it for expressly religious reasons.In addition, the convergence of personal and religious motifs, personal challenges and spirituality, Romanesque and Gothic styles, Templar castles and Benedictine monasteries, lush forests and murmuring rivers, medieval legends and Celtic magic They serve to erect themselves as one of the most amazing experiences that everyone should experience. “There were people doing it properly, with huge rucksacks, and going into every church along the way.” But Tim soon realised that there is no proper way to do the Camino, and no snobbishness, whether you’re walking 5km a day, or eating up the kilometres by bike. But pilgrims are easy to identify everyone on these trails counts as one. Some pilgrims attach a scallop shell to the back of their rucksack, a traditional marker of the pilgrim on this trail. She herself has lost count of the number of Compostela certificates she’s garnered for her walks. “It’s amazing when you finish,” Bronagh says. For some, the Compostela marks their achievement in miles alone for others it’s an emotional liberation. If you walk over 100 continuous kilometres of the Camino, ending in Santiago de Compostela, no matter how long it takes, you are entitled to the Compostela – a Latin certificate which historically guaranteed believers a pardon for their sins. Here, at mass, every pilgrim moves as one at last they’ve all caught up with each other, and can finally, happily, rest their feet. Similar pilgrim masses are held all along the route, most importantly at the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of Saint James, Santiago himself, are visited by thousands. Tim ended his trail with a mass in Pamplona cathedral. You get some mind-blowing conversations,” she says. Bronagh loves meeting people on the way: “You are privileged to be surrounded by experienced and interesting and educated individuals. “We met a German footballer who had given up his career to walk,” he says. “It’s lovely because you’re all going in the same direction,” Tim says. United by a shared goal, pilgrims fall in step with each other. It’s the stories from the people you meet, rather than the state of your feet on the paved paths, that stick with you. But it might be a hopeful diagnosis after illness, or a last walk together. Hundreds more are here to celebrate – like Tim, it might be a big birthday. “In a hard time, they’ve promised that if they get through, they’ll walk the Camino.” Hundreds of people live out these promises every day on the path. “For many people, the Camino is a promise,” Bronagh says. “I loved it,” he said.Īddiction keeps people like Tim and Bronagh coming back, but people are first drawn to the Camino Francés for a variety of reasons. But he’s going back in October, and eventually wants to walk the whole thing. He tackled the start of the trail, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Pamplona in Spain. He started out walking just three days of the 800km route with friends to celebrate some big birthdays in the group. Tim, who is one of Responsible Travel’s directors, might have become addicted to the Camino Francés. We got pedicures before.” And how were your feet? “They were buggered,” he said. Then, on your walking days, smother your feet in Vaseline. In the weeks leading up to your walk, they suggest applying surgical spirits to harden your skin. Our specialist operator, Magic Hill Holidays, has another trick for feet. Mostly paved, it’s the most popular of the many different Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trails. “Wrap your feet in that.”įoot care is a serious business on the 800km French Way, or Camino Francés. “It’s magic stuff.” The Google results page shows a colourful bandage wrapped around the fetlock of a showy-looking horse. Tim, from Responsible Travel, is describing Vet Wrap: “I think they use it for horses,” he says, as we look it up.
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