Exhibition: The last step, St. James’ walk

[sillydoll]

http://www.pierfrancescocelada.com/repo ... tiago.html

Italian photographer, Pierfrancesco Celada, presents a new part of his ongoing investigation into the concept of modern pilgrimages. Every year, driven by both religious and cultural beliefs, thousands of pilgrims walk different routes through Spain from all over Europe to the shrine of St. James, in Santiago de Compostela. The last 100 km is where all these routes cross, and where tourists and the curious increase in number; especially in the summer months when St. James’ festival takes place. After weeks of solitary pilgrimage, because of this multitude of tourists, visitors and pilgrims the return into society is sometimes challenging

 

[KiwiNomad06]

What beautiful photos these are sil. I especially love the one of the poor guy in the yellow poncho looking hopefully skyward. (I was lucky enough to encounter no rain in Santiago, though had yucky weather getting to Monte de Gozo the day before.)

I was interested he had several photos from Portomarin. For me, the last few kilometres into Portomarin were a huge shock. Suddenly, there were huge numbers of people on the track, some of them walking along talking loudly into cell phones, or playing music over a ghetto blaster. The peace I had known in earlier parts of the walk was shattered! I found those last few kms to Portomarin so hard to cope with that I seriously wondered whether I might just catch a bus to Santiago and finish the walk that way. I woke up the next morning feeling much more positive again though, and loved the countryside of Galicia that was still to come... so was very pleased i got over that little emotional hissyfit!
Margaret

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The judgmental cynic in me says these photos are mostly of day trippers -- the lightweight ponchos, the clean clothes, the bewilderment. Pilgrims are grittier in my memory!

Bless us all anyway.