Pictures from Spain

Following the Path of Pilgrims of Old On The Road to Santiago De Compostela

A Youth Pilgrimage to Spain

Led By

Bill Campbell
St. Paul's Episcopal Church Youth
Alexandria, VA

July 19 – 28, 2010

The Camino de Santiago, or the way of St. James, actually begins in St. Jean de Port, France and continues some 500 miles to Santiago.  This same path has been taken for hundreds of years by the faithful making their holy pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.  The path was also used by Roman, Moor and Saracen invaders, the Knights Templar and the armies of Charlemagne and Napoleon.  Therefore, this journey is not only steeped in spiritual significance as you travel to the place believed to be the burial site of St. James, but it also has much historical and cultural significance.

At the beginning of our walk, each pilgrim will be given a pilgrim’s passport that will be stamped at our stops along the way showing that we have completed that portion of our walk.  The pilgrim’s passport is simply a document showing our progress along the trail.  It has no connection with a US Passport.  When our walk is complete, we will exchange our pilgrim’s passport for our Certificate of Completion of the Camino de Santiago.

Trip map

DAY 1, Monday, July 19, 2010 - Depart Washington Dulles Airport for our trans-Atlantic flight on Air France connecting in Paris, France.  There, we transfer to our Air France flight into Vigo, Spain.  Dinner on board the aircraft. D

DAY 2: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 - Upon arrival in Vigo we meet our driver and guide and drive to Sarria which is the starting point for our walk to Santiago.  We will visit the Samos Monastery, an active Benedictine Monastery originally founded in the 6th century.  The architect for the monastery was one of its own monks, Juan Vázquez.  Dinner and overnight Portomarin/Lugo. LD

DAY 3: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - Today we start our 115 KM walk to Santiago taking in the sites of the small country churches, oak and chestnut groves and farm life along the way.  Upon arrival in Portomarin, we will visit the Church of San Juan, which was moved stone by stone from its original location down in the river valley.  This afternoon we visit the city of Lugo where we will walk along the 1800 year old Roman Wall encircling the historical quarter.  Overnight Portomarin/Lugo. Walking distance 23.5 KM/14.5 miles. BLD

DAY 4: Thursday, July 22, 010 - Today’s hilly walk continues through field and forest filled with countless examples of Galician vernacular architecture – wayside crosses, granaries, and medieval bridges.  We will take an afternoon excursion to the Castillo de Pambre, one of the few intact 15th century castles in Galicia.  Overnight Palas de Rei. Walking distance 24.5 KM/15.2 miles. BLD

DAY 5: Friday, July 23, 2010 - This morning we will walk to the small bustling town of Melide where we will visit the Ethnographic Museum.  We continue on to the medieval pilgrims’ hospital and bridge spanning the Río Iso where we will take the bus to Arzúa.  This afternoon we will take an excursion to the Portodemouros Reservoir where we can rent kayaks on our own (approximately 9 Euro) or visit the Museo de Mel (Honey Museum) (approximately 2.5 Euro).  Overnight Arzúa.  Walking distance 26 KM/16.2 miles. BLD

DAY 6: Saturday, July 24, 2010 - This morning the bus will take us back to where we ended our walk yesterday and we will continue our walk to Arca.  We will visit the Monastery of Sobrado, founded in the 10th century and which continues to be active today.  This evening we enjoy music and a spectacular fireworks display in front of the Cathedral in Santiago.  Overnight Santiago de Compostela.  Walking distance 22 KM/13.6 miles. BLD

DAY 7: Sunday, July 25, 2010 - During this, the final stage of our journey, we return to our stopping point of yesterday and continue our walk into Santiago as so many pilgrims before us have done.  We will stop and reflect on the Monte del Gozo (Mount Joy) from which the spires of the Cathedral can be seen.  We finish our walk on July 25, the feast day of Apostle St. James.  Upon arrival in Santiago, we will enjoy a guided tour of Santiago de Compostela with a local guide.  Overnight Santiago de Compostela.  Walking distance 21.5 KM/13.3 miles. BLD

DAY 8: Monday, July 26, 2010 - Today we will be free to explore Santiago de Compostela on our own in small groups.  We will have time to enjoy the local Holy Year activities and expositions.  We will attend the Pilgrims’ Mass where we will see the Botafumeiro, a 4 foot incense burner that is swung across the cathedral.  In the medieval days, the incense was burned to mask the smell of the pilgrims in the church.  We will also go to the Pilgrim’s Office where we will turn in our Pilgrim’s Passport in exchange for our Compostela Certificates.  Overnight Santiago de Compostela. B

DAY 9: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - We will travel along the breathtaking Galician Coast to Finisterre, the ancient Land’s End and common endpoint for pilgrims in the medieval period.  Along the way we will stop at fishing villages and Galicia’s longest granary in Carnota.  Upon arrival in Finisterre, we will visit the light house, the most powerful on this stretch of coast known as the Death Coast.  The Death Coast has suffered huge numbers of shipwrecks in its treacherous waters.  We will enjoy some beach time prior to returning to Santiago for our “farewell to Spain” dinner.  Overnight Santiago. BLD

DAY 10: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 - After breakfast we depart for the Vigo Airport where we board our Air France flight to Paris.  There we transfer to our flight back into Washington Dulles. BLS

Price: Contact Leader.  Price is based on double occupancy without airline taxes and fuel surcharges.  Roundtrip air from Washington Dulles Airport.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single supplement:  $289.00

Excludes airline taxes and surcharges that will be added to your final payment invoice.  Estimated taxes as of 2/5/10 $436.68.

$200.00 per person deposit due with registration and copy of passport.

Final payment due April 19, 2010

The price is not guaranteed and may change due to the fluctuation of the Euro and the US dollar.  We make every effort to avoid any increase and will only do so if the value of the dollar falls against the Euro.  Your pricing was based on the exchange rate of $1.36018 to the Euro

Cancellation Penalties
◊ February 18, 2010 - April 18, 2010 - $100.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ April 19, 2010 - June 3, 2010 - $200.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ After June 4, 2010 : NO REFUND

Price includes trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

Meals: B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner, S Snack

The itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions or at the discretion and direction of the leader or guide.