Pilgrim's book on the Via de la Plata

[sillydoll]

Is this a first?
Hundreds of books have been written on the Camino Frances by pilgrims but at last we have a pilgrim's account of his walk on the Via de la Plata.
In 2006 at age 68, Marcus Wilder walked and limped 600 miles from Seville along the Via de la Plata to Santiago de Compostela.
His book Naïve & Abroad: Spain, Limping 600 Miles Through History, is the compilation of 28 columns he wrote for the San Antonio EXPRESS-News, reprinted with bits of history sandwiched between about Moors, Bidets, 1492, Gypsies, Jews, the civil war, Romans, Costa del Sol, Templars, and more. The book is cantered by a fine fifty-photo photo essay by über-pilgrim Brandon Wilson.

I'm sure this is going to be a welcome addition to any peregrinos bookshelf - especially those contemplating walking the VDLP.

Available from http://www.naiveabroad.com/ or Amazon.com

 

[sillydoll]

There are two more books on the via de la plata.

There is the book by Tony Kevin "Walking the Camino: a modern pilgrimage to Santiago". A 63 year old Australian , who in May 2006 walked from Granada folowing the Via Mozarabe and the Via del la Plata.

And this one:

Sophronia Camp would like to announce the availability of her new book, A Pilgrim's Journal II: Walking La Via de la Plata at Partner's Village Store in Westport. The book is an account of a 600 - mile pilgrimage walk along a less - traveled branch of the Camino de Santiago, running from Seville in Andalucia north to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

and the 1999 account of Christabel Watson's pilgrimage from Gibraltar to A Coruna including the Via de la PLata available from the CSJ Bookshop http://www.csj.org.uk

 

[cecelia]

Hi all,
There is another book on the Via de la Plata written by a couple of Canadians-Bethan Davies and Ben Cole, called - appropriately enough, Walking The Via de la Plata. I haven't read it yet but did use their book on the Camino Frances and found the layout useful and the history interesting. One thing I really did appreciate was the daily maps.

If you want to check it out you can sample a few of the pages and buy it from their website - http://www.pilipalapress.com for $25.00CAD. Or Amazon.com has new and used copies as well.
cecelia

 

[gyro]

Hi all,
There is another book on the Via de la Plata written by a couple of Canadians-Bethan Davies and Ben Cole, called - appropriately enough, Walking The Via de la Plata. I haven't read it yet but did use their book on the Camino Frances and found the layout useful and the history interesting. One thing I really did appreciate was the daily maps.

If you want to check it out you can sample a few of the pages and buy it from their website - http://www.pilipalapress.com for $25.00CAD. Or Amazon.com has new and used copies as well.
cecelia

It is an excellent resource as a walking guide. Pretty good maps, very detailed route instructions, and useful information on shops,accommodation and bars. Sadly, now 5 years old and the "updated information" on pilipalapress.com is brief.
I found the natural histoy information and the "brief but quirky" regional introductions interesting but not vitally useful. I found myself cutting the relevant pages from the book, popping them into my top pocket each morning and referring to them during the daily slog.

Together with the csj guide, I had more than enough info. The only snags occured with very recent changes to the route and facilities. I found Oseira a cold, frightening and lonely spot (2007) and there is now nowhere to buy a hot evening meal in Lubian (again, 2007). You need to get to the one shop in Lubian.
I made marmitako (sp?) -- tuna, peppers, onions and rice.

Buen camino
Gyro