1st International Congress on Pilgrimage and Tourism

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO) estimates that 300-330 million tourists visit the world's key religious sites each year so last July they organised an International Congress on Pilgrimage and Tourism to be held in Santiago this month to raise awareness internationally about the growing importance of pilgrimage spiritual tourism in the light of tourism development.

Amongst the topics to be discussed are ways to manage and preserve heritage sites along religious routes and how pilgrimages sustain growth and assist with world peace.

The Congress' organisation was undertaken by UNWTO Secretary-General Taken Rifai, Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism Isabel Borrego Cortes and Galician President Alberto Nunez Feijoo in July 2013 in Madrid through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.

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Route Napoleon closures: November-March

For anyone thinking of setting off on the Camino anytime soon just a reminder that the Navarrese Govenmnet closes the Route Napoleon over the Pyrenees from November 1st - March 31st each year (and longer if need be). Roncenvalles in the snow The official notification for this (from last year) is below.

The Camino Primitivo

The Camino Primitivo (or the Original Way) is reportedly the very first Camino Way to Santiago in the 9 th century when most of Spain was under the control of the Moors and it runs from near the city of Ovideo in Asturias as it starts in Villavicosa (which also lies on the Camino Norte so many people follow this Way from Basque city of San Sebastian (Donosti in Basque) or in from the French border at Irun ( this route then hugs the Bay of Biscay passing through Guernica, Bilbao, Santander, Llanes before going under the Picos de Europa and then heads along the coast to Ovideo) before branching off onto the Primitivo which goes across the mountains and through the city of Lugo before joining the Frances at Melide. The route is 320km long. Image taken from https://viaalpina2013.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/camino-del-norte-camino-primitivo/

Albergue - Arca

126 beds in large rooms but sectioned off into 6s - two bunks and two single beds. Lights above each beds and lockers (but no locks on them). Large kitchen - the best equipped in Galicia as far as I know. Showers are hot but open and mixed. A little tired in appearance but I do stay here every time I'm in Arca!

On the Camino

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