On the Camino

Wherever you are Buen Camino and Happy 2017!

In Spain Christmas celebrations continue until the 6th of January (Epiphany or Twelfth Night which marks the end of the winter celebrations that start on All Hallows Eve. In mediaeval times this was a time when the Lord of Misrule ruled symbolising the World turning upside down as all of the Lords of the land would become peasants and vice versa). On this day, Día de los Reyes Magos, children receive presents from the Wise Men (named in tradition as Melchor, Gaspar and Balthasar) to whom they have written letters in the days leading up to this date. These letters are either given to the wise men’s ‘emissaries’ and royal postmen in the town squares of their homes a few days before or to the Wise Men themselves as they parade through their town on the 5th of January. Image taken from http://www.enforex.com/culture/reyes-magos.html

It is almost New Year again and here is the card that I have made for my Camino-loving family this year!

Happy Christmas!

Some more possible Lego Pilgrims from Ogle my Lego ( https://www.flickr.com/photos/oglemylego/ )  This is 'On a footbridge, enjoying the stream'    https://www.flickr.com/photos/oglemylego/

Found these awesome Lego Pilgrim photos by Ogle My Lego at https://www.flickr.com/photos/oglemylego/   https://www.flickr.com/photos/oglemylego/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/oglemylego/

The Compostela is written in Latin and here is a translation of what it says:

I have written on this blog before that when you reach Santiago you stop being a Pilgrim and start being a tourist but what is the difference between the two?

The Camino Portgues runs from Lisbon to Santiago a distance of 620km but my family is starting from Vigo which is just inside Portugal and is 117km from Santiago. From here they will pass into Spain at Tui and pass through Arcade where they will see the sea briefly before turning inland passing through Pontevedra and Padron which is famous for its peppers and as the spot where the stone boat carrying Saint James was supposed to have landed. Historically this was the route used by Queen Isabel of Portugal when she made a Pilgrimage to Santaigo. Image adapted from http://www.gregspurgin.com/walking-the-camino-in-portugal/  (a blog written by a couple who walked from Lisbon to Santiago)

 After dropping my family at the airport for their Camino Portuguese we visited Peterborough Cathedral where we found a link to the Camino de Santiago. The Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew and was founded in the Anglo-Saxon period. Its architecture though is mainly Norman as it was re-built in the 12th century

I have a seasonal job which allows me a long Easter break in which I go on Camino and means that I earn enough that I can afford to do so but still a part of me was hoping that this term I wouldn’t get any work (the non-financial side of me that is) because my Mum and sister are about to set off on the Camino Portuguese, 117 kilometres from Tui to Santiago, and truthfully I want to be there with them.