Knowing All about The Holy Piligrimage of Saint James

Pilgrimages consist of devout practitioners of the faith going on a long journey to seek out spiritual peace and fulfillment.  As cliché as it may sound, it’s a path that is less likely to be traveled by very many people.  These individuals would rather stick to their usual routines of going out on the weekends, partying with their friends or going on a vacation to a popular tourist destination.  However, there are some individuals who wish to get away from all of this, and indulge in some peace and quiet, along with a chance to meditate and pray.  In their minds, earthly pleasures and delights are temporary, and it is with fervent prayers and the belief in God that can truly be them eternal bliss.  They would then go to far off places to participate in a pilgrimage, along with other devoted followers of Christianity to find enlightenment. One of the most notable destinations that these pilgrims travel to is Camino de Santiago, located in the northern part of Spain.  In English, it means “The Way of Saint James.”  There are certainly a lot of things that one would wish to know about this pilgrimage before actually taking part in it.  Thankfully, even the Internet can be of great help.  A person would only have to check out any Camino de Santiago Forum to get the necessary information in preparation for their trip of self reflection. Below are some of the facts that people will come across upon checking out these forums:

• There are several routes to take during the pilgrimage, with Camino Frances being the most popular of them all.  It starts in the French region of the Pyrenees Mountains, crossing several towns until pilgrims reach the town of Santiago.  In the town, there is large cathedral which is built on the very grounds which the remains of Saint James is believed to be entombed. 
• According to historical fact, this is one many of many places in which pilgrims visit, aside from Jerusalem.  Christians travel long distances by foot in order to become one with their Maker and be absolved of all their wrongdoings.  For modern religious people, this serves as an act of penitence, one that requires great sacrifice and determination.  This is quite true, given that the routes can run anywhere from 450 to 500 kilometers in distance. 
• Pilgrims usually bring boots, hiking pants or shorts, a sleeping bag and a walking stick.  This is because the terrain can be quite varied, ranging from flat roads to rugged terrain. Sleeping in forests can lead people to experience bed bug infestations, which is why one should also bring along some antihistamines or remember to keep their sleeping bags clean before and after use.  However, they would come across a few hostels, known as “alberques,” where they can sleep for the night before heading off the next morning to continue their pilgrimage.  These alberques are either converted monasteries or privately owned establishments.

These are some of the information that one can find in a Camino de Santiago Forum.  It would be best to check other online resources such as blogs too in order to be better prepared for the journey known as the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. 

Leslie loves hill walking and writing his routes on the web.  He has been running the main Camino de Santiago and Walking in Scotland site since 2006. For those who are planning to join in should check out information posted on any Camino de Santiago forum before anything else.