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A Parish holiday journeying along the road to Santiago de Compostela
Led by The Revd Charles Bradshaw (C. of E.) and The Revd. Duncan Swan
Introduction
Come and give St James a cuddle!
For my fiftieth birthday I walked the old pilgrim route from Burgos to Santiago. I have been passionate about it ever since. The route begins with a dream (but more about this when we get there.) So in the ninth century a pilgrimage route was born and continues to this day. To gain merit you should walk it, not travel in a coach and eat well and sleep in a clean bed. But having said all that I will try to create the pilgrim feel and read extracts from my own diary to add colour to this wonderful region of Spain. It is called green Spain because it can rain. The landscape is more akin to Ireland than your image of Spain. We travel through plains, mountains, and deep valleys, deserted villages and then arrive at one of the most beautiful medieval cities in the world. No day will be like another. The food changes as the region changes, the wine changes and the language changes from Spanish to Galician. In a few short days we shall travel through time and end up banging our heads on Matteo, giving St James a cuddle and sharing worship hopefully with the biggest thurible in the world. We may not be doing it the hard way, but I hope you will come back feeling that you have shared in something very special.
Charles Bradshaw
Basic Itinerary
DAY ONE - SATURDAY 23RD MAY
London - Bilbao - Santo Domingo da la Calzada
Morning scheduled flight: Gatwick - Bilbao. Coach to Santo Domingo de la Calzada. This is a small cathedral town founded specifically to assist pilgrims on their way to Santiago. It is rich in history and legend, and lies at the heart of the Rioja wine area, dinner and overnight here.
DAY TWO - SUNDAY 24TH MAY
Santo Domingo de la Calzada - Burgos
After breakfast, we travel along the Camino to Burgos. The cathedral is crowned with an octagonal lantern, richly decorated with carving. The city is an ancient capital, and contains the house which belonged to the Catholic monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella (now a bank and museum). There will be a Eucharist in the Cathedral followed by a guided tour. Leave Burgos along the pilgrimage route, travelling to Carrion de los Condes, once an important town with seven hospitals for pilgrims. On arrival, transfer by coach to our hotel, the Real Monasterio San Zoilo, a former Benedictine monastery part of which has been converted into a Relais Hotel situated in Carrion de los Condes which is on the pilgrimage route between Burgos and Leon. Dinner will be in our hotel on each night of our stay here.
DAY THREE - MONDAY 25TH MAY
Fromista - Sahagún - Santo Domingo de Silos
After breakfast travel to Fromista, formerly an important stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. We continue on to Sahagún, another ancient city, which became a monastic centre in the 11th century, and had its own university in the middle ages. We continue to Santo Domingo de Silos, where there will be the opportunity to have a late lunch before visiting the beautiful Romanesque Monastery, made famous by the plainchant of the monks who form the community there. We may get the chance to hear them sing at vespers, before returning to our own monastery hotel, San Zoilo. There will be the opportunity to walk part of the route today.
DAY FOUR - TUESDAY 26TH MAY
Leon
In the morning we drive to Leon for a guided tour, starting with the Gothic cathedral which is considered to be the most elegant of all cathedrals in Spain with its impressive stained-glass windows. Continue with a visit to the ancient church of San Isidoro which has wonderful Romanesque wall paintings, and a tremendous atmosphere of devotion. In the afternoon we have the option to visit the Hostal San Marcos. This former monastery, with magnificent 16th century buildings, is now a 5-star hotel. Its former purpose is revealed in the decoration of the walls with dozens of scallop shells, the mark of pilgrims to Santiago. We then drive back to our hotel.
DAY FIVE - WEDNESDAY 27TH MAY
Astorga - Villafranca del Bierzo - Sobrado
After breakfast, leave Carrion de los Condes en route for Santiago. We visit the walled Cathedral city of Astorga and go up into the Montes de Leon. A stop for lunch will be made at the pretty village of Villafranca, an official stop on the Camino. We continue to the 9th century sanctuary at O Cebreiro, supposedly the holder of the chalice known as the Holy Grail. We make an overnight stop at the guesthouse of the monastery of Sobrado.
DAY SIX - THURSDAY 28TH MAY
Santiago de Compostela
We drive straight to Santiago de Compostela. Some of the party may wish to walk the last 5km from where the city comes into view. The evening Mass is at 7pm for those who wish to attend. Our hotel is very close to the ancient centre. Dinner will be in the hotel.
DAY SEVEN - FRIDAY 29TH MAY
Santiago de Compostela
Our own Eucharist in the cathedral. Guided tour. Sightseeing. Pilgrims' Mass at noon. It is at this service that the great censor, the Botafumeiro, is often used. It is swung by six men until it practically touches the ceiling. Visiting the cathedral is free - last time our party willingly clubbed together to pay for the men to operate the Botafumeiro, an unforgettable sight!, and we have built in the cost on this occasion. We return to our hotel in Santiago.
DAY EIGHT - SATURDAY 30TH MAY
Santiago de Compostela - London
Return in the late morning by scheduled flight from Santiago de Compostela Airport to Stansted Airport.
Travel Dates and Cost: | ||
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23rd May 2009 - 30th May 2009
Eight days
£799
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Terms of Payment:Deposit of £90 on booking (+ insurance if required). Balance payable two months before departure date.
THIS PRICE IS GUARANTEED UNTIL THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE DEPARTURE DATE, AFTER THIS TIME THERE MAY BE A FLIGHT SURCHARGE. | ||
THIS TRIP INCLUDES:Return scheduled flights: Gatwick - Bilbao - Santiago - Stansted. U.K and Spain airport taxes. Air-conditioned coach for 8 days. 7-nights accommodation in shared twin bedded rooms with private facilities as follows: 1 night - Hotel el Corregidor (or similar), Sto Domingo de la Calzada. 3 nights - Monasterio S. Zoilo (Relais hotel). Superior 3-star. 1 night - Monasterio de Sobrado. 2 nights in a centrally – located 3-star hotel, Santiago. Continental breakfast and dinner each day. Local guides in Burgos, Leon, and Santiago de Compostela.
EXTRAS:Travel insurance, currently at £27 per person. Single room supplement at £112 per person for the 7 nights (Limited number of single rooms available). Gratuities: it is suggested that this is €20. Charles will collect this early in the tour. Entrance fees, apart from those in the programme. Lunches, drinks and souvenirs.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS AND WORSHIPThis is an Anglican pilgrimage although members of ALL christian denominations are welcome. We shall have our own services during the pilgrimage, as well as a share in services in Spanish. In general Spanish services are shorter and simpler than ours, with a five minute sermon, no organ music or choir, and only unaccompanied choruses.
The Spanish DayTimings are very different from those in Britain. The clocks follow European time and are one hour ahead of us, but the country lies largely west of Britain. The sun in summer is overhead at 2pm or later. Lunch is late, typically 2 or 3pm and it is often followed by the siesta. During this time shops, museums, churches etc. are closed.
We shall use this time to travel by air-conditioned coach (mad dogs and Englishmen….!) Visiting starts again at 4 or 5pm and may continue until 7pm supper may be at any time around 9pm. It sounds like a long day but the pace is relaxed. Last time people who came on their own appreciated the fact that they were not simply left to their own devices in the evenings after an early meal!
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS AND WORSHIP:Anglican |
