Tips on the Way of St James pilgrimage route this year in July?

[Maria de los Angeles]

I need last-minute help! My husband and two children just decided this weekend we want to do the Camino de Santiago, the old pilgrimage road in Spain from teh French border to Santiago de Compostela in July and we'd like to arrive there in time for the patron saint's day in late July. I can find a good airfare myself, but a friend told me about this forum on tripatini and I could really use a hand planning the rest of the trip.

for example, we're going as cultural tourists, my husband is a jewban (that's a cuban jew!!) and i'm not really catholic or anything, so one question is, can we stay in those church-run paradores along the way or do we need a letter from a priest? I think i heard something to that affect from a frined that did the Camino a few years ago but he's on safari in Africa now and I can't reach him!

also, we want to drive or take the train, we can't walk the whole way, so any tips on which is the best way to go is helpful, plus i understand there are different routes and so which is the best? I've looked it up on the internet but it all looks great to me and having some human advice from someone whose done this trip is what i need.

any other tips like great places to eat, little towns we shouldn't miss etc are also very welcome.

thank u all in advance, and if u need any advice on south florida let me know!

Maria

[Lori Erickson]

Hi Maria,
I haven't done the pilgrimage, but I've been on a media trip to Galicia (sponsored by Spanish Tourism) focused on the Camino de Santiago and have written articles about it. No, you don't need a letter from a priest to stay in the hostels--they're open to everyone. Paradores are the high-end luxury hotels in historic buildings, so you would need to make reservations as with any hotel. The French Way is the most heavily traveled route and has the best visitor accommodations. I'd highly recommend contacting the Spanish Tourism Office in Chicago. They can give you detailed advice. They're at [phone].
Good luck!
Lori Erickson

[Ed Wetschler]

Lori, thanks for jumping in here. Love your holyrover tweets on Twitter, and I hope your book, The Joy of Pilgrimage, is doing well.

[Max Pesling]

Hi Maria,

I too have done the Camino, though I admit I cheated and drove instead of walked. And I too was a cultural, not religious pilgrim (I'm Jewish), but the sights and experiences along the way were inspiring and spiritual nonetheless. Make sure you spend at least a couple of days in Burgos if you can: the city feels like a time capsule of a bygone Spain, and the cathedral, grandest in Spain, is one of the most impressive I've ever seen (they have, if I recall correctly, a life-size Jesus allegedly made with human nails and skin and hair and I could barely bring myself to look at it). Another favorite stop: O Cebreiro, an ancient village in Galicia with odd round stone houses with thatched roofs. And of course, leave plenty of time for Santiago de Compostela, which is a gem of a town and easily navigated on foot. I agree with Lori: the French Way is the way to go. One more thing: to me one of the most iconic sights of the whole journey was a spot in Old Castile, I believe, where the road goes right through the ruins of an old stone convent, right under a pointy Gothic arch. I think it's in a place called San Antón. Major picture op, and a very particular spiritual feel as well.

Speaking of food, it's great all along the way, and what's intersting is how each region has its own distinctive specialties. The Basque cuisine at the beginning of the road (many say it's the best food in Spain), the Castilian cocidos and roast suckling pigs, the caldeirada galega at the end of the road (a delicious fish stew); in short, you won't go hungry.

It's been a while since I've been, but if I think of any other tips, I'll write back

Buen viaje!

Max