BEGINNING WITH ASTORGA AND A FREE DAY
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=EdBIZNXLFDw&si=v9qfOcfxa2OuPYh7
There have been a number of Pelegrinos on our Camino Frances,which began in 2022. June,Anita,Mary,Sue and Ranjit walked one or two of the previous stages but are no longer walking the Way. Hopefully,they have happy memories and can be proud of what they achieved.
However, we have new recruits! Joining us are Val,Myra, Richard and Ray from Solihull Ramblers,together with Christina of Sutton Coldfield Ramblers. This makes a group of nine including Tom,Rob, Mike and myself. There are going to be some memorable stretches on this final saunter !
My thoughts for all of us on the walk are better expressed by R D Laing:
“There is nothing in the world more enjoyable than to be in communion with another human being. This has nothing to do with technique. Once it is there it is a field – a sort of force field that is not to be discovered within the investigative competence of science. So I will have to call it spiritual. It is the tuning into a spiritual field that is always there. It has to do with attunement – two instruments getting in tune with each other – harmonising. It is quite an experience. In Christian terminology the name they have given to this healing force is the Holy Ghost. Holy means healthy and spirit means ghost. There is a healthy spirit that exists in us and between us and that is the only healing power that exists as far as I know. It exists not just between us as a single species – but throughout the whole of creation”.
From a speech he gave entitled, ‘Beyond science’- to a spiritual healing power” which caused much controversy at the time.
Also, to bear in mind a more earthy piece of advice – “To Walk Ten Days With Someone is Like Living Together for Ten Years!” Let’s hope it doesn’t age us that much.
PRACTICAL DETAILS
We fly to Madrid on our rearranged flight ( by Ryanair) from Birmingham on 05/06/2024, flight 2083,departing at 14.15 and arrive in Madrid at 17.45 ( note the hour time difference). We shall stay at Fly Rooms Hotel near Barajas .
Hopefully we can eat at the same restaurant we used on our departure last year – Barajas is a pleasant enough town considering its proximity to the airport. The next morning we leave for Astorga – our starting point from the Camino – transport TBA soon. 6-8th June, we have two nights at Imprenta Musical Alojamiento in Astorga.
Pliny called Astorga an urbs magnifica. It has Asturian and Roman origins. In time the city became an important intersection of two Caminos – The Via de la Plata and the Camino Frances – it is also a popular starting point for the Camino for Spanish pilgrims. The city is actually built over its early Asturian and Roman origins . Much of the Roman Wall is still intact. Astorga also marks the beginning of the territory known as the Maragateria,home of a people called Maragatos.
The Maragateria is defined by a unique culture of strong mountain people, including arrieros ( traditional muleteers ) who transported goods over the mountains before there were railways and trucks. They were also key to Astoria’s rebirth as a centre for chocolate making – the city has a Museo de Chocolate- 5 minute walk outside the city walls.
It is also famous for its hearty fare which would make a great dinner.
You can work up an appetite for that by taking a tour of the city. Here is a useful link to guide you on the way round.
https://londontraveller.org/2019/11/09/walk-around-astorga-roman-town/
The Turismo,adj.Hotel GAUDI has maps available too.
Don’t miss the GAUDI Palace and the Cathedral- take your pilgrim passport with you for impressive stamps.
Along the top of Astorga’s western ramparts runs a popular promenade looking out towards an imposing range of mountains- the Montes de Leon.
BIBLIO: I found a great deal of interest and information from the following books :-
MOON “ CAMINO de SANTIAGO….By Beebe Bahrami
Camino de Santiago – Camino Frances ….By John Brierley
THE CAMINO FRANCES – A Wise Pilgrim Guide
THE ROAD TO SANTIAGO….Michael Jacobs
CAMINO DE SANTIAGO – Village to Village Guide….Anna Dintaman and David Landis.
And of course The Internet! Especially useful for photos.
Unless stated,I shall be using the above for all further “ Previews”.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=EdBIZNXLFDw&si=_M32IgyAWsFeg-Cd
“ There’s Gold in Them Hills” by Ron Sexsmith.
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