Camino Signs Slideshow

Signs that point the way on the Camino.

The ancients followed the Milky Way to Finesterrae (literally means 'the end of the world), the westernmost point of continental Europe.  When the reached this small fishing town, the ships came to take them home.  

In the 800s, when the route was Christianized, the pilgrimage ended at the pilgrimage in SAntiago, some fifty miles away.  Many pilgrims take the 3 day, 50 mile walk to Finesterrae and few are disappointed.   It feels as though all pilgrimages should end at the sea.

The ancients burned their clothing and swam in the waters as a type of ritual baptism.

They considered themselves to be reborn and at the beginning of their pilgrimage, as opposed to at their destination.   Today people are more likely to burn paper with intension or candles....  A toe in the water does just fine! 

The final 300 kms of the pilgrimage runs through Galecia, a Celtic area of Spain.  It's very similar to Ireland and many people there still consider them selves Celtic.  For this section, the road is marked every kilometer, much in the same way as Roman mile markers.  In fact, much of the route is the old Roman route. 

All photos: (c) A. Minogue 

(33 photos) 

 BACKGROUND MUSIC TO SLIDESHOW:  "Sanctuary" from the album "Celtic Pilgrimage"

http://www.minogue.com/albums/celtic-pilgrimage/