The Road is Long

For the 350,000 annual pilgrims to Santiago de Compostello, the road is not easy. In order to get the certification for the completion of the pilgrimage, one must walk a minimum of 70 miles or ride a bike 140 miles. You can also ride a horse should you choose and the distance for that is also 70 miles. For us the bus will suffice, and our certification will have to wait for another day. Many will stop in at the Bom Jesus church. Renowned for the illusion of the hidden staircase this shrine sits high above the town of Braga and this too has been a pilgrimage destination for many of the faithful. Beautiful gardens and a very strong spiritual presence. However, the holy grail is Santiago. The magnificence of the cathedral, the surrounding old town with narrow streets and hidden alleyways along with the influx of 1200 to 1400 pilgrims a day makes it a constant beehive of activity. The draw to the cathedral is also enhanced by those wishing to pay homage to the Apostle James who is buried in the crypt. The tapa bars are both enticing and fun and the buskers in the streets are world class. We particularly enjoyed an opera singer who was singing beneath a stone covered passage and the acoustics were amazing. Click on my video at

Well that’s it for another Blog. For those of you who have tagged along, thank you, and I hope you enjoyed it. Watch for the next one which should be coming from the Danube later next month. VIAGEM FELIZES!!

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