OCTOBER 8-17, 2016 RESILIENCE IN BEAUTIFUL SPAIN What s included: Expert local bilingual guides Van support for luggage and transportation along the route Lodging in exquisite small local inns Daily breakfasts and most dinners with wine Two pre-departure meetings to discuss reflective practices and preparation for the trip THE PATH OF BEAUTY & GRATITUDE Pilgrimage of El Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) Price $2750 Does not include: Round-trip airfare Ground transportation to and from the meeting Daily lunches Tips and gratuity Reunite mind, body, and spirit by connecting with like-minded individuals while traveling through this historic and sacred pilgrimage of El Camino de Santiago, Spain. This 70-mile walk is a time to reconnect with your inner needs and develop resilience techniques to bounce forward when faced with challenges. This trip will deepen your understanding about life transitions and help provide direction through an inspiring walk in the beauty of northern Spain s stunning vistas. It will give you ample time to listen to your own inner wisdom and help develop your ability to be at peace with your own vulnerability. This pilgrimage is at YOUR pace and has the support of our guides and a van so that you will have the ease of traveling only with a small daypack and for those who may need it, the opportunity of a helping lift along the way. You will have ample time to soak in the Spanish landscape as you walk through quiet, charming villages, forests, farmland and beaches. We will stay in beautiful restored farmhouses and small inns and enjoy their exquisite regional cuisine and wine. With the surrounding beauty and help of our staff you will learn reflective and resilient practices. Our time developing resilience will be through the use of yoga, dialogue with other pilgrims, quiet self-reflection, journaling, daily group reflections and using the pilgrimage road as a daily metaphor to develop gratitude and wonder. B UNCE BACK promoting health through happiness DEPOSIT: $500 Nonrefundable deposit secures your space Limited to the first 15 people Full payment due by July 1, 2016 Contact: corey.martin@allina.com
El Camino Finisterre October 8-17, 2016 10 days / 9 nights Price $2750.00 Grace will take you places hustling can t Brene Brown When you are on your path, the world conspires to help you Paolo Coelho A Brief History of El Camino El Camino de Santiago, or The Way of Saint James, is the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in North Western Spain, where legend has it that the remains of the apostle, Saint James the Elder, lie. The Camino has been in use as a Christian pilgrimage for over 1,000 years, utilizing existing Roman roads and ancient trade routes. It was one of three important Christian pilgrimages routes during the medieval period. Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, to Rome, and to Santiago de Compostela would earn the pilgrim plenary indulgence, or freeing of the soul s sins. Seventh and eighth century documents suggest that St. James the Elder spent a number of years preaching on the Iberian Peninsula before returning to Jerusalem where he was beheaded in 44AD by Herod Agrippa I. His remains were gathered by his followers, placed in a stone boat and guided by the angels to a place called Iria Flavia, south of what is known as Santiago de Compostela St. James in the Field of Stars. His remains were forgotten about until the 9th century when a hermit, Pelagius, investigated a field of stars, a celestial beam of light illuminating a small knoll, and discovered the remains of a holy person. Soon after this discovery, the King of Asturias, Alphonso II, authenticated the remains and found them to be those of Santiago. This apostle became the patron saint of Spain. Dating back as far as the 9th century, pilgrims have been walking to both Muxía and Finisterre as the final stretch of the itinerary traced by the Milky Way to the westernmost explored part of continental Europe: to Finisterre in medieval times described as the end of the world, where the cliffs plunge steeply to the sea and the sun disappear into the horizon each evening. During the Middle Ages, the Virgin Mary is said to have arrived in Muxía, the remote rocky peninsula, to the north of Finisterre, by stone boat to encourage St. James (Santiago) in his preaching. Sections of the boat still remain & hold mythical properties still believed to this day. Today a small chapel, the Sanctuary of A Barca, stands on the site of the miracle. This 118 kilometer (70 miles) walk begins in Santiago de Compostela and explores Galicia s magnificent coastline. Leaving the hustle and bustle of the city of Santiago, the route passes through rural landscapes of high plateaus, forested tracks, country villages, and stunning coastal trails and headlands where the pace slows to that of centuries of sea faring life. This pilgrimage travels the little-known route from Santiago to Muxía then onwards, via the coast, to Finisterre, where, as an added bonus of this pilgrimage, you can collect your Fisterrana, a certificate of completion of the pilgrimage to Finis Terrae.
DAILY ITINERARY Day 1 : Saturday 8 October Santiago de Compostela Group organizational meeting in Santiago at 7:00PM followed by a welcome group dinner. (Dinner included) Day 2 : Sunday 9 October Santiago to Negreira 13 miles At 9:00 am we begin our pilgrimage from the Plaza de Obradoiro in front of the famed Santiago Cathedral. The route leaves the winding city streets, past the Carballeira (oak forest) of San Lourenzo and soon we are in the countryside with lovely pastoral scenes. A mix of large, modern houses and traditional red roofed stone houses accompany us for much of our route before we arrive at the medieval bridge of Augapesada. We walk through Carballo, Trasmonte and the gorgeous village of Ponte Maceira home to an elegant 14th Century bridge. Our day ends in the modern town of Negreira, known for its pastry shops and the fortified, medieval Pazo de Cotón. (Breakfast & Dinner included) Day 3 : Monday 10 October Negreira to Las Maroñas 12.5 miles Today s route passes through a mix of forest and farms. Facilities from here to Muxía are very limited and you will feel very much out in the countryside. Following an old camino real (royal road) with fabulous views across multiple valleys, the route winds its way in and out of oak forest, thick with ferns and ivy and past the tiny hamlets of Zas, Peña and the evocatively named Porto Camiño. Arriving into Las Maroñas, we note the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria and delightful examples of raised stone granaries. (Breakfast & Dinner included) Day 4 : Tuesday 11 October Las Maroñas to Dumbría 14.5 miles Leaving Las Maroñas, we follow quiet paved roads around Monte Aro with superb views of the Fervenza Reservoir. En route, the village of Corzón has an interesting church with a detached bell tower and a rare gallery cemetery. Stunning rural architecture awaits us in Olveiroa with its precariously balanced stone hórreos, the village cross, a communal wash house and thick stone houses. From here water dominates for a while as we cross over the Xallas River heading towards Hospital, a village that used to have a pilgrims hostel but is now dominated by a carbide factory. Here, we will leave the heavily trodden trail to Finisterre and head northwest for a few more kilometers to Dumbría where we will end our day. (Breakfast & Dinner included)
DAILY ITINERARY Day 5 : Wednesday 12 October Dumbría to Muxía 14 miles Our route leaves the sleepy village of Dumbría and takes forest tracks, quiet roads, grassy trails & stone paved segments of the old camino real. The ubiquitous eucalyptus is a large part of our day, as well as the small villages of Senande, Quintáns and San Martiño de Ozón known for its enormous granary and Benedictine Monastery. We climb then descend to Merexo before heading around the bay leading to the small fishing community of Muxía. Our day culminates at the Punta da Barca, the rocky headland where the 17th century chapel of Nosa Señora da Barca stands. Here we can find the hull, sail and rudder of the stone boat that brought the Virgin Mary to this magical spot. (Breakfast & Dinner included) Day 6 : Thursday 13 October Muxía to Lires 8.5 miles We leave Muxía via the main road, following the coastline past the sweeping white sands of Lourido Beach before beginning an ascent of Monte Facho, up through pine and eucalyptus plantations. Our views from here are extensive of the surrounding area. We descend past the Romanesque church of Santa Maria at Morquintián, through Guisamonde to the village of Lires nestled on the River Lires, home to a large trout farm and numerous sea birds that make their home in the protected lagoon. We ll head out to the beach to enjoy lunch and an afternoon of relaxation by the sea. (Breakfast & Dinner included) Day 7 : Friday 14 October Lires to Finisterre 12 miles The sound of the sea pounding its waves is our constant companion, as we skirt the shoreline for much of the day. Our trail begins by following the River Lires on its short journey to the ocean, taking in the beaches of Nemiña and Lires. Southwards we go over the headland, past the tiny community of O Rostro. Then we wind our way on small country roads through the communities of San Salvador, Escaselas and San Martiño de Duio. We are afforded vistas of the huge bay of Langosteira as we approach the town of Finisterre from above. Once in the center of Finisterre, it s onwards and upwards for a few more kilometers to the end of your journey and the ancient world, at Cape Finisterre. Here stands the old lighthouse keeping watch where the sea, spirit, and nature come together dramatically, boldly, and beautifully. Before we scout out our hotel on the hill we ll enjoy a glass of wine in the quiet port of Finisterre, a small town of robust sailors and fishermen. (Breakfast & Dinner included)
DAILY ITINERARY Day 8 : Saturday 15 October Finisterre Rest day Today is free to enjoy some leisure time, wandering the narrow streets of the town, shopping or relaxing by the sea. We will gather together for a ritual on the wild and dramatic Mar de Fora beach before a final and celebratory dinner. (Breakfast & Dinner included) Day 9 : Sunday 16 October Santiago After breakfast this morning, a pleasant drive along the coast of Galicia will lead us back to the center of Santiago. For those that wish to there is an optional 4-5km walk into the city, to arrive as a pilgrim on foot. The afternoon and evening will be at your leisure upon arrival in Santiago. (Breakfast included) Day 10 : Monday 17 October Depart Santiago SAMPLE DAILY SCHEDULE 7am 8am 9am 12ish 4ish 6pm 7:30pm Yoga Breakfast and Reflection Walk the Camino Lunch on the Camino Finish walking and return to hotel for free time Reflection and Resilience Discussions Dinner & Drinks PLEASE NOTE:» This itinerary may change slightly due to accommodation availability, rain, festivals and spontaneous side trips.» We have the luggage van to transport your luggage and you if you feel you need some assistance while on this journey.» This is not an endurance race, nor a competition. Please be respectful of all the different paces and walks of life that come together on this group trip.
MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS How many miles do we hike per day? We average between 10-15 miles per day. Most pilgrims walking the trail independently walk 15 miles a day carrying a heavy pack. With our local Spanish tour guide, we have the luxury of a fully supported van with healthy snacks, which carries our baggage from hotel to hotel, and carries us the extra mile when you need it. What is included? Daily guided reflections and resilience practice, guide service with van transportation to the camino and back to the hotel daily, daily healthy snacks and water along the camino, daily breakfast, 8 dinners with wine included, accomodations. What is not included? Transportation to Santiago de Compostela, daily lunch. What kind of hotels do we use? We use beautifully restored farm houses known as Casa Rurales, and family-run Pazos, Galician manor homes and hotels. They are located near to the Camino Finisterra, situated in small towns and villages, away from the large cities and will involve a group shuttle at the beginning and end of each day. All rooms have private baths. Is there WIFI at our hotels? Our hotels nearly always have free WIFI available although it is often just in the lobby/public areas. We generally stay at historical hotels, which often have thick walls so WIFI rarely works in the rooms. Most bars and cafes enroute have free WIFI also. Meals: All breakfasts and 8 dinners are included in the price of this pilgrimage. Lunches and the last evening (dinner) in Santiago are not included in the pilgrimage price, however, there are a few stores along the trail to purchase sandwich items and fruit, or plan to eat at one of the cafes that cater to pilgrims. The van will be stocked with healthy snacks and water. We will do our best to accommodate any dietary requirements. Please let us know in advance as much as is possible.
MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS How does one get to Santiago de Compostela? We suggest you fly directly to Santiago de Compostela (SCG) and if you arrive the night prior to the tour, to spend the night at the Hotel Monumento San Francisco: www.sanfranciscohm.com or www.booking.com. From the airport, a shuttle bus leaves for the city center every 30 minutes or you can take a 15 minute taxi ride (around 25 ). Equipment: The hikes are not fancy. I will supply you with an equipment list of basic items to pack. You are limited to one bag weighing 30-lbs and one-day pack to hold items such as your camera, rain gear and water bottle. Two pairs of comfortable shoes with good support will be your most important piece of equipment. Please be sure they are well broken in and that you have socks suitable for hiking before arriving in Spain. Spending Money: Most people travel with an ATM card. Money machines are everywhere in Spain, but be sure you know your PIN number (not letters) before departing the US. Do not travel with TRAVELLERS CHECKS as the banking hours are held at odd times and many banks no longer accept them. Most expenses are already built into the cost of this pilgrimage. Lunches will be a separate expense. The Menu del Dia or Menu del Peregrino, available at local cafes, will cost between 9 and 12 Euros. These are three course meals with wine and water included great value! What is the average age of the group? Generally, the average age of pilgrims walking El Camino today is 50 years old during the spring and fall months, but younger during the summer months. I anticipate that this pilgrimage will be a mix of a 40/60 ratio of men to women. With an eager heart and a mind full of curiosities, any age is able to walk the Camino. Gratuity for local guides As a general guideline, it is customary to tip around 10 Euros per day, per guide. What is the terrain like? The trails are well marked with yellow arrows and the scallop shell tile. There are some long, slow climbs through farming areas but not Himalayan or Rocky Mountain-like terrain. The paths are well worn and are not difficult. We walk along a lot of secondary farming roads, forested tracks, through small, charming villages, and old country roads. Single Supplement: Some people would like to be matched with a roommate. I can t guarantee a match but will try to place you with someone if there are any requests. The price of the single supplement is 500 EURO per person for this 10-day trip. For more information on the guides helping set up this trip: You can find the guide service we work with at www.spanishsteps.com The site contains lots of photos and information about the Camino including an extensive reading list, recipes, handy travel info, photos and customer comments. Buen Camino! How do I reserve a spot? Contact Corey Martin at corey.martin@allina.com. A $500 deposit is required to reserve your spot. We will only be able to accommodate a group of 15 people on this trip, so to guarantee a spot you will need to reserve early.