Why Santiago?

Traveling the Road to Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of St James are said to be buried, is one of the oldest and most interesting journeys in Europe. The idea of pilgrimage seems to touch a chord in us and pilgrims on the road to Compostela are as taken with the journey as with the destination.

In early medieval times there were four main cities (in France) from which pilgrims began the long and arduous journey to Santiago de Compostela. These cities, Paris, Vezelay, Le Puy and Arles are still important starting points for this pilgrimage. As well as the famous clergy and rulers who journeyed to Santiago, there were many simple, unrecorded folk who managed to scrape together the money and the energy to undertake this once perilous route.

Pilgrimage is an Opportunity

These days, pilgrimage is an exciting and challenging opportunity to depart from our usual lifestyles and experience the world beyond the horizon. The pilgrim path to Santiago de Compostela is much more than just a long hiking trail.

Arrival in Santiago

After twenty five days of walking, we arrived in Santiago. In the superbly appointed cathedral I experienced a sense of awe at its size and was drawn to its imposing, yet friendly atmosphere. There were small chapels where one could sit and be quiet. In the central altar stood a large statue of the Apostle behind which were some steps allowing the pilgrim to reach Santiago himself. Here I felt able to lay down my burdens as I hugged the Apostle.

Santiago Reviews

There is a freshness and authenticity and at the same time, simplicity about his account which I find thoroughly captivating. Simankevicius generously shares his experiences with us. I feel very proud that a fellow Australian has "engaged" so wonderfully with the Camino and has done it in a superbly Aussie way.- Ben Haneman, Sydney and Pamplona.

A reviewer seldom has the opportunity to review so charming a book as this. Beautifully written and constructed with echoes of H.V. Morton, who wrote travel books in the 1920s and 30s, it weaves a magic spell while you wander along the famous Pilgrim's Way from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain.- Owen Marks, Sydney Bushwalker.

..future pilgrims from 'down under' will find this book useful as they prepare their own journeys and ex-pilgrims from elsewhere will always, as with any other account of a camino they are so familiar with, enjoy re-walking paths and re-visiting places... the author tells his story in a readable, conversational style, with evident enthusiasm and short, graphic sentences, which gives the reader the impression that he is actually talking to you in person, that you are sitting beside him, listening to, rather than reading, his narrative.- Alison Raju, Guidebook writer.

Our Personal Account of 550 km on the Camino

We decided to begin our journey in Pamplona, as the first day's walk over the Pyrenees sounded too daunting. The Camino was everything we thought it would be and more. The mystery of our destination kept us intrigued. What would we find? What would happen to us?

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