The experiences of an ordinary man on the pilgrim’s path are charted in this narrative that walks along the Camino Francés to the shrine of Saint James at Santiago de Compostela and then on to Finisterre, the westernmost point of Spain. The history of the Camino is recounted, as well as several of the myths, legends, and miracle stories that have become attached--and given special meaning--to this itinerary. Emphasizing that personal myths are an essential part of this lore, this chronicle also includes stories from the confraternity of the pilgrims, people from all corners of the world who visit this walk for a great diversity of reasons, but all of whom leave having experienced the same miracle--that this pilgrimage will play a defining role in their lives.

Experience the powerful prose and poetry of Joyce Rupp with the beautiful full-color art of Mary Southard.

I'm Off Then has sold more than three million copies in Germany and has been translated into eleven languages. The number of pilgrims along the Camino has increased by 20 percent since the book was published. Hape Kerkeling's spiritual journey has struck a chord. Overweight, overworked, and disenchanted, Kerkeling was an unlikely candidate to make the arduous pilgrimage across the Pyrenees to the Spanish shrine of St. James, a 1,200-year-old journey undertaken by nearly 100,000 people every year. But he decided to get off the couch and do it anyway. Lonely and searching for meaning along the way, he began the journal that turned into this utterly frank, engaging book. Filled with unforgettable characters, historic landscapes, and Kerkeling's self-deprecating humor, I'm Off Then is an inspiring travelogue, a publishing phenomenon, and a spiritual journey unlike any other.

The road across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela in the northwest was one of the three major Christian pilgrimage routes during the Middle Ages, leading pilgrims to the resting place of the Apostle St. James. Today, the system of trails and roads that made up the old pilgrimage route is the most popular long-distance trail in Europe, winding from the heights of the Pyrenees to the gently rolling fields and woods of Galicia. Hundreds of thousands of modern-day pilgrims, art lovers, historians, and adventurers retrace the road today, traveling through a stunningly varied landscape which contains some of the most extraordinary art and architecture in the western world. For any visitor, the Road to Santiago is a treasure trove of historical sites, rustic Spanish villages, churches and cathedrals, and religious art. To fully appreciate the riches of this unique route, look no further than The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago, a fascinating step-by-step guide to the cultural history of the Road for pilgrims, hikers, and armchair travelers alike. Organized geographically, the book covers aspects of the terrain, places of interest, history, artistic monuments, and each town and village's historical relationship to the pilgrimage. The authors have led five student treks along the Road, studying the art, architecture, and cultural sites of the pilgrimage road from southern France to Compostela. Their lectures, based on twenty-five years of pilgrimage scholarship and fieldwork, were the starting point for this handbook.

Guide to walking the Camino Frances through northern Spain, the most popular version of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage or Way of St James, covering the 784km from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela. The guidebook is everything you need to plan your camino. It describes the route in 36 stages and lists 500 pilgrim lodgings along the camino, including public and private albergues, with a description of facilities available at each, allowing the route to be customised to suit your own itinerary. The accompanying map book is ideal for day-to-day use, with maps for the entire route showing the locations of accommodation and services, as well as over 100 useful town and village maps. Divided into 6 sections, the guidebook includes an additional section from Santiago de Compostela to Finisterre and Muxia on the Galician coast. Each section is broken down into detailed stages with easily customisable start and finish points due to the amount of accommodation available en route. This two-part guidebook and map book provide an abundance of advice on planning and preparation, sample itineraries and detailed information that allows complete customisation of the Camino, making this an ideal guidebook for all pilgrims walking the Camino Frances.

Foods along St. James Way in Northern Spain

A spiritual and practical companion on the pilgrimage from Santiago de Compostella to Finisterre

The Camino de Santiago has been a holy pilgrimage across northern Spain for more than a thousand years. When retired journalist Mike Gardner began walking from St. Jean-Pied-de-Port, in April, 2018, he didn't know if he would make it. The Camino is an extraordinary physical challenge of 800 kilometres, taking pilgrims around five weeks to complete - though the majority fail along the way. Mike believes he was accompanied on his pilgrimage by powerful, supernatural forces. He made friends from all over the world and, he says, they were touched by the hand of God. He met cocaine addicts, alcoholics, reformed alcoholics, pilgrims with millions of pounds, one walker who was so poor his budget was five euros a day, airline pilots, plumbers and one amazing lady from New Zealand, who overcame a lifetime of mental anguish, in one divine moment. Mike says he witnessed four miracles, and enjoyed dozens of experiences that were either the result of mystic forces or coincidences that stretch the laws of statistics way, way beyond breaking point. He acquired two sons, three daughters, three sisters and brothers too numerous to put a figure on. His pilgrimage is the essence of everything that is so wonderful about this unique place - there is nowhere like it on Earth. He originally posted his story every day on the internet, as a blog, where he would record his journey on a mobile phone, late at night, and without notes, exhausted but invigorated and keen to put on record his incredible experiences, while everything was fresh in his mind. It was shared all over the world and by the time he reached Santiago, it was being read by thousands of people. This is his story, updated and improved, with more than 70 photographs - it is entirely truthful, uplifting, poignant and ultimately triumphant.