Tuesday 17 June 2008

Newsletter 17, June 2008

Hola Pereginos e Peregrinas

As I write this 17th issue of Amigos another cold front has swept in and the rain is falling hard. There are many pilgrims in Spain on the Camino walking in sunshine amongst the red poppies and cornflowers as we freeze in the grip of an icy winter. Don't you wish you were in sunny Spain? Actually there has not been too much sunshine in Spain. The weather has been exceptionally cold, wet and muddy with more rain in Galicia in May than the whole year in 2007.

This is another issue jam-packed with articles and snippets of Camino news to keep you warm with delight. We continue with our second part on Labyrinths as well as how to draw a Cretan labyrinth. As we read in the last issue, labyrinths were used as virtual pilgrimages by those who, for various reasons, could not make a pilgrimage. If you can't get to one of the labyrinths in S A near you, you can draw one and then trace your virtual pilgrimage with a finger or pencil. This works as a meditation too.

We follow up with Margi Biggs and the spring-clean of the Camino campaign. There is also a list of 29 tips for walkers and a very funny article from Bernard and Morayne about tried and tested methods for women to relieve themselves in the bush! An article from Sylvia gives you ideas on how to book your next trip on-line as well an article written by Clare Taylor after attending a Camino workshop at the Bergtheil Museum in Westville, Durban.

Being an editor is like living on a lonely planet; I rely on others to send me news and articles and hints. After hours of putting this together, I'd like to know that you've read it and enjoyed it. I'd like feedback, suggestions and comments please. Of course mostly I'd like snippets of your news - anything related to the Camino.

Please also note the times and dates for the St James Feast Day on the 26th 27th July.

Buen Camino!
Christine

How to draw the Cretan Labyrinth

Begin with a cross and a right angle in each square and a dot as in fig 1. Then join up bottom vertical of centre cross with the right arm of square. Next the left bottom square to the right dot and so on joining from left to right …

Historically, the labyrinth of Chartres has been referred to by four different names:

  • le dédale (or maze, named after Daedalus, the legendary architect who built a labyrinth for King Minos of Crete).
  • la lieue (or league: which is a distance of about three miles). Although the length of the path is only 260 meters, in the Middle Ages some pilgrims would walk the labyrinth on their knees. This exercise would take about an hour, or the time needed to walk three miles.
  • le chemin de Jérusalem (or road to Jerusalem). By walking the labyrinth, the faithful could make a substitute pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and be united in spirit with the Crusaders.
  • le chemin du paradis (or road to paradise, the heavenly Jerusalem).
    By walking the, labyrinth the faithful trace the path of our long and laborious life on earth, beginning with birth, at the entrance, and ending with death, at the centre. The way out symbolizes purgatory and resurrection.

† From Marilyn Scholtz: "I am sorry to have to let you know that Peter Keanley passed away suddenly while walking the Camino. Please pray for him and his wife Georgy. Although Peter had heart problems they had enjoyed at least three Caminos together, and this must be a terrible sadness for her."

Our deepest condolences to Georgy and family.

Walking the Camino with a group.

The old adage two is company, three is a crowd can be very true when walking the Camino. Spending 30 days or more together on holiday in a foreign country can be trying for even the closest of friends but when you engage in something as strenuous as the Camino with a group of people, tiredness, injuries or just not enjoying the experience can lead to friction, dissatisfaction and arguments.

"My friend Carol and I planned on walking el Camino together," said Jane. "Then Carol asked if her friend could join us. She told me that I would love Jackie but we never really hit if off. We were planning a pilgrimage and she wanted a walking holiday complete with hotels and gourmet meals. We ended up being her tour guide having to wait for her to get ready each day and eat at restaurants we didn't intend eating in." We have heard many sad tales of broken friendships, grudges and recriminations occurring in small and large groups. Groups often spilt up, some members going on alone, whilst others even cut their holiday short. We printed the views of a few South African pilgrims in an early AMIGOS.
"I started with a group" said M, "but chose to walk most of the route on my own as I needed to sort out my life (which I did)". Some members of the group might need time alone and will resent having to stay with others day in and day out.

A pilgrim who walked with a group said, "No one really had private time despite encouragement to give people their space, they wanted to be together. Many lacked the courage to spend time on their own, needing the reassurance of companionship, acceptance, someone to tell them what they should be carrying, wearing, where they should go etc."

When you are with a large group you lose some of the opportunities for contemplation. "I think that if you walk in a group you are very tempted to chat about home, kids, and all the little things we do here, instead of focusing on the Camino and the spiritual journey it actually is." (M)

Before you go, agree on what kind of accommodation you will stay in and what you will budget for meals. Do you all want to stay in the smart, up-market, comfortable albergues and eat out every night or do you want to try out the small, basic refuges where communal cook-ups and sing-a-longs are tradition? "Despite being on a pilgrimage, some wanted the usual home comforts" said AG. If you are planning to walk with a group there are a few things you can do to minimize the dependence on each other and to ensure the camaraderie is retained.

Ensure that each group member is involved in the planning, the organization and the daily routine of the walk. Don't let anyone say, "Just tell me where to go and I'll follow you."
Unless you want to be a tour guide, this is not acceptable. Make copies of your guide book or maps and share them equally otherwise one person will be left carrying the load and everyone will come to depend on that person for guidance. With three, four or more people all walking together with different fitness levels and different ideas on when to start each day, how far to walk, how fast or slow, it will be difficult to satisfy everybody's aspirations. Before you go, come to some agreement about the distance you will be walking each day. Bear in mind that there will be slow walkers, fast walkers and speed walkers. You can't expect people to change their pace to suit each person in the group. You should agree that if one wants to walk ahead they can and if another wants to dawdle along, she won't mind always being at the back, as long as you all meet up at the same place at the end.

Consider that refuges work on a first-come-first-served basis and they can fill up quickly. If three or four arrive first they might get a bed but the rest of the group might not. What will you do in a case like this? Some pilgrim refuges only have 20 beds (or less) and these do not accept groups. You might have to find alternate accommodation in hotels or inns. Is everyone prepared for the extra expense of staying in hotels? Agree before hand on what to do if one person is injured or falls ill. Is it going to be one-for-all and all-for-one or do you agree that the injured person catches a bus ahead and waits for everyone else to catch up - or even goes home alone? Ditto if someone is ill: let them go ahead a couple of days and meet up with the group later at a pre-arranged village or town; or will everybody stay together and have a rest day until the ill person is feeling better?

Now this might sound a bit like girl-guides but with a large group it will help to plan on having a new group leader - or Mother - each day so that you don't have one bossy-boots doing all the organizing and leading! The role of the Mother is to ensure that everyone is up on time, that they have all their belongings (she will check on walking poles, hats etc) and that everyone is clear on where they are heading that day. The Mother is the 'sweeper' and should stay at the back, walking with the slowest person all day and making sure no-one is left behind. The following day, she can be in the front and the new Mother goes to the back. If you have 10 people in your group and are walking for 30 days, each person will be Mother only 3 times so it's not a hardship.

Have a group meeting each evening (over dinner is good) to share experiences and discuss plans for the following day. Perhaps you are planning a shorter day and can all get up half an hour later, or a longer day and need to be up earlier. If you have predetermined wake-up times you won't have to resent the lazy-bones who sleeps in late and keeps everyone waiting. Agree to take it in turns to go shopping for provisions for the evening meal. Many refuges have kitchens and it will be a fraction of the cost if you buy pasta or rice, vegetables and salad ingredients and make your own meals.

With a bit of preparation and planning walking with a group can be a wonderful experience but be prepared for the odd break away.

BOOKING YOUR CAMINO ONLINE:

Using the World Wide Web you can book and pay for all your travel and accommodation online. Airlines, rail, shipping, car hire, hotels - all have safe servers that allow you to book and pay online using a credit card. This will save you the travel agent's service fee.

Airlines:
Most airlines allow you to book up to six routes which means that you can fly into one city and out from another using an 'Open Jaw' ticket. If you are walking from Roncesvalles to Santiago, you can fly to Pamplona on Iberia and get a bus to Roncesvalles, then fly home from Santiago (or continue onto other destinations). This not only cuts out a lot of time consuming airport transfers, hanging about for trains or buses, but is also cost effective in the long run.

Iberia - the Spanish carrier - has a fairly 'friendly' website at www.iberia.com. To book from South Africa you will need to open the Home page for South Africa. This is done by clicking on the box at the top left side of the page, after HOME and SPAIN entitled "Iberia in/en". You will be prompted to select a country and your language. If you intend flying into one airport and out from another, click on Multiple Routes. On the next page you start making your bookings E.g.

  • Flight 1: City of origin Johannesburg, destination Pamplona - date of departure 12th July
  • Flight 2: City of origin Santiago de Compostela - destination Johannesburg - date 18th August. Click on SEARCH.
  • The Flight search (Availability) page will open with a number of flight options. The first one (the one with a dot in the circle next to the flight) is usually the best option. Scroll down to the end of the page and click on NEXT LAG.
    Once again the first option will be the best so scroll down to the end and click on FARE.
  • The Flight search (Price) page will display the price. Total 8,478 ZAR
  • To book this ticket, click on BOOK. On the Passengers identification page click on 'Continuing passengers details'
    On this page it is important to enter your name as it appears in the document you will be using to check in - either your passport or ID book. Click on BOOK NOW.
  • Check all the details on the Flight search (Trip plan): choose your document type (passport/ ID etc) and enter the document number. Click on the box to accept the terms and conditions and click on CONTINUE.
    The next page is the Purchase page where you will enter your credit card details. Once you have completed the payment process, print out your e-ticket. Confirmation will also be emailed to you.

NB: When you check in at the airport you MUST have the credit card you booked with and the document you used for the booking.

Follow up on the Camino clean up:

Below is a picture of the newly developed "Camino Spring Clean" refuse bag. Margi Biggs, our sub-committee chairman, will coordinate the execution of this project in May/June 2009.

The Camino Spring Clean project will focus on three key areas:

  1. to issue a bag per pilgrim in South Africa when they apply for their CSJofSA Credencial,
  2. to clean up a specific sector of the Camino in Spain (one sector per annum) - the Burgos/Léon sector will be targeted first, and
  3. to leave a small supply of refuse bags at each refugio/albergue along the Camino.

Margi has paid for the purchase and printing of 10,000 refuse bags from her own private funds. The CSJofSA will pay for the printing of a small number of A3 sized posters. Gordon Bell, our CSJofSA member who lives in Vilachá (near Portomarin) in Spain, has kindly offered to assist with the distribution of refuse bags and posters along the Camino, from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela.

Suggestion: If you are walking the Camino soon and would like to take a few bags to help clean up litter or leave at an albergue, please contact us.

A FOOT GUIDE TO THE WALKER'S CAMINO
    1. You know the rules - get good shoes, walk them in, get fit.
    2. Walk for 30 min a day to keep muscles and breathing synchronised. Once a week do an extended walk of 3 hours.
    3. Something that helped me was to do a measured walk before setting off. I measured the distance from my home into the village by car. It was 5km. Then I set off from home one morning with a light backpack. I noticed where I was after 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes and an hour (by then I was in town). I had coffee in town, did some errands and set off back home. I then knew I could walk for 10 kilometres, and how long that took. It was a "yardstick" throughout the Camino.
    4. Do a mini-Camino a month before going to Spain. Set off with a 5 - 7 kg backpack and walk for 20 - 25km. Notice what your walk was like, what happened, what your thoughts were.
    5. An average, medium fit walker will do about 5 - 5.5km in an hour. A fit, fast walker can do 6 - 6.6km in an hour. A slow or unfit walker will do only 3 - 4km in an hour.
    6. Take care of your feet. Each foot bears about 1.5 times your body weight at each step and about 70 tonnes each kilometre you walk.
    7. Keep your feet in check. Don't be caught flat-footed. Get your feet checked out by a professional or try this test: Wet your feet and step onto a sheet of paper. If the bridge (along outer edge of your sole) joining the heel to the front of your foot is wider that two-thirds - you're flat-footed and need an insole. If it's less than one-third the width of the heel your high-arched foot needs cushioning.
    8. BLISTERS: keep your feet dry. Wear socks that wick away moisture, not cotton socks. If you feel a "hot spot", stop immediately and attend to it. Carry "blister packs" or COMPEED. http://walking.about.com/cs/blisterschafing/bb/bybblister.htm
    9. Try walking poles (Nordic Walkers). If correctly used they can take up to 20% of your body weight. Adjust to longer length when going downhill, and shorter when going up hill. http://walking.about.com/cs/poles/bb/bybpole.htm, http://www.swixnordicwalking.us.
    10. If you walk at 6.5 km/h, a 60kg walker will burn 336 kilojoules every 15 minutes.
    11. On steep hills, try zigzagging up or down. It's what the skiers do.
    12. To speed up swing your arms strongly, bent at elbows. It will increase your walking speed.
    13. On level, firm ground try to swing your legs from the hip. Imagine moving your hip forward with your sort-of-relaxed leg swinging then straightening out in front. Down goes heel then the toes as your body passes over your foot.
    14. Make your walk more than locomotion. Listen to slower rhythm music and take notice of your surroundings. Try reciting a mantra or a prayer. In the afternoon try to let your mind go very slow. Notice details like the grass on the verges, the pebbles, the gravel, the birds, the ants.
    15. Regardless of where or when you're walking - town, country, near or far, light or heavy - make it a habit to carry a pocket knife, a whistle, small change and your ID with you.
    16. When you walk uphill, imagine a cord pulling your knee backwards, thereby straightening the leg. This mental game takes a lot of effort off the thighs and makes walking uphill much less tiring.
    17. Breathe through your nose to keep your mouth moist and to conserve water.
    18. Water bottles become hot. Carry two 500ml bottles instead of one large one. Place one in the bottom of the pack.
    19. Keep topping your body's water level up. Drink small amounts often. Thirst is not a reliable indicator of how much water your body needs.
    20. When you tire more easily and are becoming irritable, you're likely to be dehydrating. As little as a 5% drop in hydration can cause a 20% to 30% drop in your metabolism.
    21. Watch your sodium level if you're sweating a lot. Salt might not be the best way to replace sodium so talk to your chemist. Even on cool days you're still flushing out sodium.
    22. Take little steps to conserve strength. If you can't carry on a conversation, you're going too fast.
    23. Do your fingers look and feel like sausages after you've been walking for a while? Keep your hands higher than your heart for 2 to 3 minutes in every 30.
    24. Keep toe nails short.
    25. The most important item in a first aid kit is the knowledge of how to use it. Your kit should contain a crepe bandage for sprains, roll and strip plaster for cuts, bandages for wounds or supports, antiseptic ointment, sunscreen, eye drops, ointment for insect bites, muti for tummy upsets, and a waterless hand-wash.
    26. The rougher the terrain, the lower the heavier items should be in your backpack.
    27. Waist belts stop light daypacks from moving around. On the larger backpacks they're needed to transfer a lot of weight from the shoulders to the hips.
    28. Keeps boots properly laced and tied. Lace the foot part and tie a knot; then lace the ankle part and tie another knot. This allows you to maintain different tensions throughout the boot, depending on the terrain.
    29. Feed but don't overfeed, your leather boots and shoes. Choose a product that deserves and waterproofs but isn't tacky and doesn't attract dust.
Tried and tested - Ladies relieve your bladder while standing!

(Bernard and Morayne received this in an email from a friend they met on the Camino in 2001 and have remained fast friends) - During our recent adventure in South Africa we had plenty of opportunity to test out a few FUDs (Feminine Urinary Device).These products are great for many times when you don't want to bare your butt to the world or have no other option but to use unclean, public washrooms. Useful when hiking, cycling, dirty or no public washrooms, camping, skiing, and for all your foreign and domestic travels (car, train, ferry, plane).

Five companies provided us with their product. We liked all of them and they each have their merits. Here are our results:

  • Freshette ~ Love this product and will use for many years to come. A little on the large side, but easy to use and no spills or splash. Comes in its own discreet zip lock travel pouch and easily fits into a pocket or purse.
  • TravelMate ~ Great product! Practice at home the first couple of times to get used to it. Compact in size and designed to last a very long time.
  • PeeZee ~ A reusable FUD. Compact, light weight and easy to use.
  • P-Mate ~ Our favourite disposable FUD. No spills, easy to use and fits nicely in a pocket or purse.
  • Whizzy ~ This disposable FUD took some practice, but once we got the hang of it, it was great.

Each of the FUDs was a little different from the other, depending if you're looking for a reusable or disposable device. If we could only pick one reusable it would be the Freshette and P-Mate would be our choice for the disposable.

The CSJ Badge - why a red cross?

The white scallop shell with the red cross of Santiago emblazoned on it is a fitting logo for the Confraternity of Saint James.

The Order of Knights of Santiago was confirmed in 1175 by Pope Alexander 111. The motto of the order was 'Rubet Enis sanguine Arabum" - The sword is red with the blood of the Moors. The badge was a blood-red sword in the form of a cross charged with a white scallop shell.

By the 15th century, the Order possessed two hundred commanderies and as many priories, an immense number of castles and villages, and properties of every description. Queen Isabella appealed to the Pope to grant Mastership of the Order to Ferdinand and in 1493 the Order and all its properties were incorporated into the crown. From then on the emblem, the little red sword called el largato (or lizard) became the courtly symbol of knights who wore it on their doublets and cloaks. (Source: The Road to Santiago by Walter Starkie)

*The person who designed the CSJSA logo is one of our members, Georgia Gardner. She's the creative director for a publishing company. The logo is on badges and caps and can be ordered from your local branch.

Sylvia and disabled pilgrim from PamplonaDISABLED PILGRIMS:

60 pilgrims in wheelchairs received the Compostela in the 2004 Holy Year. In 2006 11 pilgrims in wheelchairs finished in Santiago and in 2007, 7 got the Compostela. Ibermutuar, together with several Spanish companies, sponsored a guide aimed at pilgrims with handicaps. The guide was written by people with different physical, psychical or sensory handicaps. It offers some background information on the Camino as well as describes each of the stages with the perspective of someone with a disability. The guide contains information about accessibility and other matters of interest including albergues, suggested stages of 8 kilometres per day and restaurants with special facilities.

Three pilgrims that covered the French Way in wheelchairs participated directly in the preparation of the guide which, at present, is only available in Spanish, but which is being translated into French and German.

www.ibermutuamur.es/camino_santi ... nsejos.htm
www.ibermutuamur.es/camino_santi ... nicial.htm

A Hollander, Ad Hermans did 2 500 km from Akersloot, Holland to Santiago in a hand-biked wheelchair in 2000. www.adhermans.nl/old/ In 2002 he went off again, this time to Rome, 2250 km: www.adhermans.nl He was ccompanied by his wife, her sister and brother-in-law, and a couple friends, all on bicycles. On their way they camped.

In 2004 Sylvia met a Spanish pilgrim in a wheelchair in Arzua (above) who had started in Pamplona. His wife was following him in a campervan. At night they often parked next to the albergue so that they could use the shower and kitchen facilities but they always slept in the van.

Points to Ponder: WHICH CAMINO?

Saying, "I would like to walk the Camino" is a bit of a misnomer. There are at least 7 routes in France and over 20 to choose from in Spain and Portugal. The most popular and well known is, of course, the Camino Frances but with reports of mass overcrowding (over 350 pilgrims a day set off from St Jean Pied de Port at the end of April), disappointed pilgrims being turned away from refuges and bun-fights for beds, it might be worth considering one of the other Camino routes. If you would prefer a quieter more solitary Camino you can choose from this list of Camino routes:

SPAIN:
Camino de Andorra (Abalate to Fuentes de Ebro) www.caminosantiago.org
Camino Aragones (245km - Somport - Puente la Reina) www.jacajacobea.com
Ruta Sur del Camino Aragonés (Jaca) www.caminosantiago.org
Camino Frances (750km - Roncesvalles)
Camino de la Costa (85km - Irun - Markina (Vizcaya) www.caminosnorte.org/caminos.htm
Camino Norte (765km - Hendaya) www.caminonorte.org
Camino Vasco del Interior (210km - Irun to Santo Domingo)
Ruta Vadiniense Picos de Europa (134km - Potes a Mansilla de las Mulas) www.rutavadiniense.org
Camino Primitivo (369km -Oviedo) http://www.amigosdelcamino.com www.caminotineo.com
Camino del Salvador (120km - León a Oviedo) www.caminosantiagoastur.com
Via de la Plata (676km - Sevilla) www.viaplata.org
El Camino del Sur (184km - Huelva to Zafra) www.descubregalicia.com/caminos.php
Camino Inglés (108km - Ferrol) www.amigosdelcamino.com
Camino Catalán (480km - Montserrat to Logrono) www.peregrinoslh.com
Camino del Ebro (219km - Tortosa to Logrono) www.valvanera.com/caminoebro.htm
Camino de Valencia (863km - Valencia) www.vieiragrino.com
Camino de Alicante (735km - Alicante) www.vieiragrino.com
Camino de Murcia "Ruta del Azahar" (153km - Cartagena) www.caminosantiago.org
Camino de Levante (900km - Valencia to Zamora) www.vieiragrino.com/camino/camino.html
Cami de Sant Jaume (251km - Barcelona) www.camisantjaume.com
Variante de Huesca y San Juan de la Peña (238km) www.amicsdelspelegrins.org/icatalans.htm
Camino Mozárabe (347km - Granada to Medellin) www.granadajacobea.org
Camino Sanabres (400km - Zamora) www.caminosantiago.org
Ruta de la Lana (380km - Valencia to Burgos) www.decuencaasantiago.org
Camino del Maestrazgo-Bajo Aragón (497km - Castellón) caminosantiagoalcaniz.org
De Granada a Mérida (613km) www.caminosantiago.com
De Málaga a Córdoba (190 km) www.caminosantiago.org
Camino de Madrid (321km - Madrid to Sahagún) www.caminodemadrid.com
Camino de Fisterra (141km - Santiago) www.amigosdelcamino.com/
Camino de Invierno (A variant from Quiroga to Montefaro) www.caminodeinvierno.com
PORTUGAL
www.amigosdelcamino.com
www.caminhoportuguesdesantiago.com/PT/
Camino del Interior (230km - Oporto to Santiago), Camino del Norte (170 Km. - Barcelos a Redondela)
Camino de la Costa (140km - Oporto a Vila do Conde, y de La Guardia a Vigo). Caminho Portuguese -
(1050km-Lagos) www.caminosantiago.org/cpperegrino/cpalbergues/caminoportugues.html
Camino Portugués de la Vía de la Plata (268 Km. - Zamora) www.mundicamino.com
caminodesantiago.consumer.es/los-caminos-de-santiago/aragones/
www.jacobeo.net
BOOK REVIEW

The Way of Saint James by Georgiana Goddard King. A new edition of a classic book on the Camino De Santiago - The Way of Saint James - by Georgiana Goddard King is now available. Completed in 1917, this three-volume masterpiece is a wide-ranging exploration of the history, literature, legends, and architecture of the Camino de Santiago. It is based on Professor King's "three years wanderings" on foot and by cart, mule, and other conveyance on the Spanish pilgrimage road, and on extensive academic research with particular emphasis on medieval art and architecture. Professor King was both a well-respected scholar and a keen observer of her surroundings. As a result, she has given us a fascinating, detailed description of both life and architecture on the Camino de Santiago nearly 100 years ago. Thoroughly documented, with extensive notes and appendices, this is a must-have reference book not only for art historians but also for any true aficionado of the Camino de Santiago. Georgiana Goddard King established the department of the History of Art at Bryn Mawr College in 1913. She received a BA in English and a MA in philosophy and political science from Bryn Mawr College and began teaching art history there around 1910. Although Professor King's interests were wide-ranging her main passion was the art of Spain; Bryn Mawr thus became the first institution in the United States to offer graduate courses on Spanish art. In 1917 she completed her most ambitious and best known book, The Way of St. James. The three-volume work traces the pilgrimage trails to the shrine of St. James (Santiago de Compostela. King's book provided immense bibliographic review of the pertinent literature as well as publishing monuments not previously considered. Although not published until 1924, it formed a survey of the buildings before those in the Way of St. James book. A reprint of the 3 volume set is available from Amazon.com or from www.pilgrims process.com/ events.htm

Camino Snippets

SPANISH LESSONS: The Department for Continuing Education at the University of Pretoria is offering a Spanish for Beginners course in the second semester from 14 July 2008. Please note that Marina Nell will be the coordinator for the course at that time and that you can then enroll directly with her at marina.ce@up.ac.za

Pilgrim Stats:
In 2007 Holy Week (Easter) was celebrated during the month of April, but this year it was in March. That is why 5327 pilgrims were received at the Pilgrim's Office during the month of March this year compared with 1680 pilgrims received in March 2007. Of those pilgrims, 2.229 were women (43,16%) and 3.028 men (56,84%). 4.670 pilgrims arrived on foot (87,66%); 619 by bicycle (11,62%), 37 on horseback (0,69%) and only one pilgrim arrived on wheelchair (0,02%).

Pilgrims' Ages:
204 pilgrims were younger than 15 years old (3,82%); 2.860 were between 16 and 35 years old (53,68%); 2.138 were between 36 and 65 years old (40,13%) and 125 pilgrims were aged above 65 years old (2,34%).

Pilgrims' Nationality:
Spanish: 3.642 (68,36%) Madrid 734; Valencian Community, 463; Galicia 457; Catalonia, 409; Andalusia, 335; the Basque Country, 327; Castile and Leon, 195; Castile - La Mancha, 145
Foreigners: 1.685 (31,64%), Portugal 485; Germany 430; USA 122 ; Austria 63; Italy 62; Ireland 57; Brazil 46; etc.

Starting Points:
Sarria 1.537 (28,85%); O Cebreiro 461 (8,65%); Roncesvalles 311 (5,84%); Ponferrada 250 (4,69%); in Tuy 227 (4,26%); Leon 195 (3,66%); St. Jean Pied de Port 173 (3,25%); Astorga 172(3,23%) etc.

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