Mark makes it to Santiago de Compostela where he experiences traditional Galician music and dancing as well as attending a pilgrim’s mass in the Cathedral. He sees the famous Botafumeiro swing through the aisles and films ancient rituals performed by pilgrims in the Cathedral. His final message is a quote from St Augustine – Solvitur […]
Only 16 kms from Santiago de Compostela, after 34 days of walking, and a night of food poisoning and a symphony of snoring, Mark sums up his camino pilgrimage. He has learnt that walking can be a meditative experience, but feels the busy final stage of the camino is essential for people to re enter […]
As Mark reaches the final stages of his Camino, he questions whether it has been a Spiritual experience. He also feels guilty that the busy social scene and partying of the last 100 km’s, may in some way be hindering the meditative walking insight he has already experienced.
Mark has reached El Cebreiro in Galicia. He is 150 kms or one week away from Santiago de Compostela. After weeks of walking he feels fit and healthy and keen to walk the remaining distance.
Mark reaches one of the harder walking days of the Camino, rising from 600 to 1300 metres over 10 kms. He marvels at the scenery, the crystal clear streams and ancient forests.
Mark discovers his still camera is not working properly and nearly misplaces a video tape. It makes him realize how important the completion of this film is to him. He finds a mountain stream to cool off in, makes a really bad Jesus quote and tries to play his tin whistle.
Mark arrives at the Knights Templar’s Castle in Ponferrada. Mark was fascinated with the mysticism of this ancient order, but has found walking the way has taught him a spiritual belief does not require membership to some exclusive order.
Mark reaches Cruz de Ferro, a mountain top Cairn that’s history dates back to Celtic times. The tradition is to carry rocks on the day of your journey, imagine the rocks as problems in your life, then throw these rocks onto the Cairn, thus releasing the problems from your life.
As Mark prepares for the climb into the mountains, he contemplates the mental and physical suffering of his camino journey, and whether it is leading to some purification before arrival at Santiago de Compostela.
Mark reaches Hospital de Orbigo and at the Passo Honroso (the Honourable Pass) re-enacts medieval jousting with a fellow (giant) pilgrim. Mark also tells the story of Knight Don Suero de Quiñones.
