SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA PILGRIM ROUTE Updated Aug 16th 2004 It was a very nice challenge to walk 300 km in Spain from Leon to Santiago de Compostela in late May this year 2004, the holy year for Roman Catholic world, to celebrate the Aposthole Jacob. The pictures describe some details of this marvellous trip, with wife Leena, with backpacks, staying overnight in Albergues, sometimes in hostals, hotels, private bedrooms, but no night under the sky. A few words for those ones, planning this fascinating experience: good (old) shoes, maximum backpack load 8 kg (mine was too heavy with 12 kg!), take time - do not hurry, enjoy the countryside of Northern Spain, learn some words of Spain. You will loose some toenails, get blisters in feet, that is normal. You will meet great persons, all over the world. Take a wide-rim hat, use sunscreens! Start the walk early (6-6.30 a.m.) in the morning, you should be ready to book your bed at 2 p.m. And - you do not need any special sporty condition, just decide to do it and you will do it. Buon Camino!     Fig 1. San Martin - good Albergue, big hall for beds. Warm shower. Fig 2. Typical path, with snow covered mountains in the horizon. Fig 3. El Acebo, try to get full accommodation in the small 'La Troucha', friendly and huge views (vegetarian!). Everyday laundry drying in the mountain wind.     Fig 4. Approaching 150 km, next O'Cebreiro, historical, touristic, worth staying overnight. Take enough water in bottles for this really heavy climbing up! Fig 5. You are not alone... Fig 6. Finally, The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. After 300 km of walk in less than 2 weeks, you really feel having experienced something special...   Fig 7. All the way you collect stamps to prove that you have walked at least 100 km to get... Fig 8. ...your statement that you are a real pilgrim now and for ever... Back to Main page Home