Wednesday 10 August 2016

The Santiago Pilgrimage: Walking the Immortal Way by Jean-Christophe Rufin

"Whenever I was asked: 'Why did you go to Santiago?', I had a hard time answering. How could I explain to those who had not done it that the way has the effect - if not the virtue - to make you forget all reasons that led you to become involved in it in the first place."
Jean-Christophe Rufin is an ex French Diplomat, a novelist, medical doctor and co-founder of Medicins Sans Frontieres.  He writes in this book about his experiences walking 800 km of the Santiago de Compostela, the Spanish medieval pilgrimage completed by thousands of pilgrims and backpackers every year.
Rufin's writing is honest, insightful and informative. My romantic views of walking the Santiago de Compostela were however somewhat deflated by Rufin's descriptions of the monotony of walking through industrial estates and urban sprawl (of course there are also areas of historical charm and natural beauty).
As somewhat of a loner, he mostly avoids the crowded hostels and chooses to stay in his small tent.
He does humorously describe some of his fellow travelers and people he meets along the way (not always in a complimentary fashion) as well as his rapid descent into dishevelment.

Catalogue link:  The Santiago Pilgrimage








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