All the numbers from Santiago - 100,000 Thanks

On 16 October the initial 6 months pilot of the "Amigos Welcome Service" came to a close. From 1 May - 16 October 29 volunteers came to work in the pilgrims office to welcome every single pilgrim, offer them congratulations and to provide an information and support service to English speaking pilgrims. During the 6 months of the project 160,000 pilgrims arrived. A rough estimate is that the Amigos personally welcomed at least 100,000 of them. I'll soon write more about the results of the project. For the time being on behalf of every pilgrim who was welcomed with a smile and a warm word of congratulations I'd like to offer my heartfelt thanks to the Amigos. 

All the numbers from Santiago - the United States tops the league

So far this year 186,763 pilgrims have arrived at the Pilgrims' Office in Santiago. That's an increase of just less than 5% on last year's total of 178,271.

This level of overall increase is normal but things are changing. For the first time this year the monthly figures are showing consistently less Spaniards than foreigners but the big story remains the huge increase in pilgrims from the English speaking countries particularly the United States of America. By the end of October the number of American pilgrims had risen by almost 90% placing the United States 6th on the list of countries - see below.   

Note: following complaints from some readers who wrote to me saying that either country or their point of departure was missing I am not publishing the full list of statistics. Look down - it seems endless!

Pilgrims from English speaking countries 1 January - 31 October 2012

Country		2009		2010		2011		2012		Growth
Australia		951		1098		1288		1780		38%
Canada		2095		1796		2271		2758		21%
Ireland		1688		2272		2623		3792		45%
	South Africa		255		287		506		696		37%
	United Kingdom		1660		1958		2310		3648		58%
	United States		2432		3154		3591		6797		89%
	New Zealand		187		216		225		364		62%

Between 1 January 2012 and 31 October 2012 186,763 pilgrims arrived at the pilgrims office. This is more about them:

Gender

Gender                        Number of pilgrims

Male                           105116 (56,28%)

Female                       81647 (43,72%)

Mode of transport

Mode               Number of pilgrims

On foot            159164 (85,22%)

Bicycle            26958 (14,43%)

Horseback      591 (0,32%)

Wheelchair      50 (0,03%)

Motivation

Motivation                              Number of pilgrims

Religious and other reasons   97689 (52,31%)

Religious                                77550 (41,52%)

Not religious                            11524 (6,17%)

Status

Status                          Number of pilgrims

Employed                    41767 (22,36%)

Student                        34094 (18,26%)

Technicians                 24048 (12,88%)

Retired                         21596 (11,56%)

Self employed             20891 (11,19%)

Teachers                     14108 (7,55%)

Public workers             8449 (4,52%)

Manual                          6834 (3,66%)

Unemployed                4844 (2,59%)

House wives                4257 (2,28%)

Directors                      1739 (0,93%)

Artists                           1399 (0,75%)

Priests                          1143 (0,61%)

Farm workers               607 (0,33%)

Religious                      470 (0,25%)

Sailors                          327 (0,18%)

Sports people              161 (0,09%)

Oikoten                         29 (0,02%)

Ages

Age                 Number of pilgrims

30 - 60             105594 (56,54%)

< 30                 53318 (28,55%)

> 60                 27851 (14,91%)

Routes

Routes                         Number of pilgrims

Frances-Camino de    130901 (70,09%)

Portugues-Camino      24896 (13,33%)

Norte-Camino de        12632 (6,76%)

Via de la Plata             7890 (4,22%)

Primitivo-Camino        6145 (3,29%)

Ingles-Camino             3477 (1,86%)

Otros caminos            430 (0,23%)

Muxia-Finisterre          392 (0,21%)

Country                       Number of pilgrims

Spain                           92516 (49,54%)

Germany                     15311 (8,20%)

Italy                             12140 (6,50%)

Portugal                       9989 (5,35%)

France                         7854 (4,21%)

United States              6797 (3,64%)

Ireland                         3792 (2,03%)

United Kingdom          3648 (1,95%)

Holland                        2940 (1,57%)

Canada                        2758 (1,48%)

Poland                         2240 (1,20%)

Korea                           2201 (1,18%)

Brasil                           2152 (1,15%)

Belgium                       1911 (1,02%)

Australia                      1780 (0,95%)

Austria                         1716 (0,92%)

Denmark                     1653 (0,89%)

Sweden                       1255 (0,67%)

Swizerland                  1245 (0,67%)

México                         995 (0,53%)

Norway                        964 (0,52%)

Hungary                       872 (0,47%)

Czec Rep                    810 (0,43%)

Japan                         798 (0,43%)

Argentina                     770 (0,41%)

Finland                        704 (0,38%)

South Africa                696 (0,37%)

Eslovaquia                  624 (0,33%)

Russia                        480 (0,26%)

Colombia                    444 (0,24%)

Venezuela                   423 (0,23%)

Eslovenia                    368 (0,20%)

Nueva Zelanda           364 (0,19%)

Rumania                     273 (0,15%)

Bulgaria                       207 (0,11%)

Ecuador                      180 (0,10%)

China                           171 (0,09%)

Chile                            165 (0,09%)

Lithuania                      162 (0,09%)

Perú                           158 (0,08%)

Israel                           152 (0,08%)

Uruguay                      147 (0,08%)

Filipinas                      124 (0,07%)

Puerto Rico                119 (0,06%)

Estonia                       116 (0,06%)

Luxemburgo               102 (0,05%)

Malta                          100 (0,05%)

Andorra                      94 (0,05%)

Ucrania                      84 (0,04%)

Croacia                      64 (0,03%)

Letonia                       58 (0,03%)

Grecia                        55 (0,03%)

Taiwán                       53 (0,03%)

Islandia                       53 (0,03%)

Bolivia                         52 (0,03%)

Rep. Dominicana        52 (0,03%)

Costa Rica                  51 (0,03%)

Paraguay                    47 (0,03%)

Singapur                      45 (0,02%)

Cuba                           43 (0,02%)

India                            37 (0,02%)

Líbano                         32 (0,02%)

El Salvador                 32 (0,02%)

Malasia                        31 (0,02%)

Guatemala                  29 (0,02%)

Panamá                      25 (0,01%)

Turquía                        20 (0,01%)

Islas Feroe                  20 (0,01%)

Marruecos                   20 (0,01%)

Nicaragua                   19 (0,01%)

Honduras                    18 (0,01%)

Serbia                         15 (0,01%)

Myanmar                    14 (0,01%)

Bielorrusia                   12 (0,01%)

Armenia                      12 (0,01%)

Irán                              11 (0,01%)

Bosnia                         11 (0,01%)

Angola                         10 (0,01%)

Jordania                      10 (0,01%)

Emiratos Arabes         10 (0,01%)

Starting Point

Starting Point              Number of pilgrims

Sarria                         39924 (21,38%)

S. Jean P. Port           21089 (11,29%)

León                            10186 (5,45%)

Cebreiro                      9978 (5,34%)

Tui                               8184 (4,38%)

Roncesvalles             8176 (4,38%)

Ponferrada                  7530 (4,03%)

Oporto                         7459 (3,99%)

Astorga                        5540 (2,97%)

Pamplona                    4039 (2,16%)

Oviedo - C.P.             3873 (2,07%)

Burgos                         3750 (2,01%)

Le Puy                         3291 (1,76%)

Ferrol                           3277 (1,75%)

Irún                              3053 (1,63%)

Valença do Minho       3015 (1,61%)

Vilafranca                    2618 (1,40%)

Resto Portugal            2582 (1,38%)

Ourense                      2213 (1,18%)

Sevilla                          2182 (1,17%)

Francia                        2025 (1,08%)

Triacastela                  1993 (1,07%)

Lugo - C.P.                  1492 (0,80%)

Resto C. León             1335 (0,71%)

Samos                         1271 (0,68%)

Resto Asturias             1154 (0,62%)

Santander                   1122 (0,60%)

Ribadeo                       1086 (0,58%)

Lisboa                         945 (0,51%)

Logroño                       922 (0,49%)

Bilbao                         894 (0,48%)

Ponte de Lima             870 (0,47%)

Vilalba                         839 (0,45%)

Holanda                       775 (0,41%)

Gijón                            713 (0,38%)

Oviedo                        677 (0,36%)

Somport                      640 (0,34%)

Alemania                     581 (0,31%)

Avilés                          543 (0,29%)

Salamanca                  504 (0,27%)

Madrid - C.F.               462 (0,25%)

Zamora                       446 (0,24%)

Resto País Vasco       422 (0,23%)

Sahagún                      418 (0,22%)

Mondoñedo                 375 (0,20%)

Bélgica                        366 (0,20%)

Puebla de Sanabria    358 (0,19%)

Rates, S. Pedro          331 (0,18%)

Braga                         322 (0,17%)

Resto Asturias - C.P. 316 (0,17%)

Vega de Valcarce       314 (0,17%)

Baamonde                  297 (0,16%)

San Sebastián             294 (0,16%)

Chaves-Portugal         287 (0,15%)

Resto Cantabria          285 (0,15%)

Jaca                            284 (0,15%)

Lourdes                       258 (0,14%)

Frómista                      257 (0,14%)

Muxia                         254 (0,14%)

Suiza                           252 (0,13%)

Barcelos                      230 (0,12%)

Gudiña                        219 (0,12%)

Porriño                        200 (0,11%)

Neda                           194 (0,10%)

A Guarda                    188 (0,10%)

St Dom Calzada         188 (0,10%)

Carrión de Condes      175 (0,09%)

Fonsagrada - C.P.      168 (0,09%)

Vezelay                       167 (0,09%)

Puente la Reina          166 (0,09%)

Lourenzá                     162 (0,09%)

Cataluña                      155 (0,08%)

Arles                            152 (0,08%)

Rabanal del Camino   151 (0,08%)

Mérida                         148 (0,08%)

Resto Andalucia          144 (0,08%)

Allariz                         143 (0,08%)

Resto C. León - V.P.   143 (0,08%)

Granja de Moreruela   140 (0,07%)

Finisterra                     138 (0,07%)

Montserrat                   134 (0,07%)

Francia                        131 (0,07%)

Xunqueira de Ambia   129 (0,07%)

Hendaya                     128 (0,07%)

Laza                            126 (0,07%)

Madrid                         124 (0,07%)

Fonsagrada                 121 (0,06%)

Hospital de Orbigo      120 (0,06%)

Valencia                      116 (0,06%)

Abadin                         114 (0,06%)

Estella                         110 (0,06%)

Navarra                       107 (0,06%)

Viana do Castelo         106 (0,06%)

Austria                         104 (0,06%)

Fatima                         100 (0,05%)

Zaragoza                     100 (0,05%)

Cáceres                      97 (0,05%)

Verín                            95 (0,05%)

Baiona                         92 (0,05%)

Barcelona                    89 (0,05%)

Cadavo                       88 (0,05%)

R.Pais Vasco             85 (0,05%)

Grandas de Salime.    83 (0,04%)

Grandas de Salime     81 (0,04%)

Rest Extremadura      81 (0,04%)

Vigo                             80 (0,04%)

Tineo - C.P.                 77 (0,04%)

Com. Valenciana        76 (0,04%)

París                            64 (0,03%)

Italia                             64 (0,03%)

Canfranc                     60 (0,03%)

Castilla la Mancha      60 (0,03%)

Guimaraes                  60 (0,03%)

Molinaseca                  54 (0,03%)

Povoa de Varzim        54 (0,03%)

Monforte de Lemos    54 (0,03%)

Granada                      50 (0,03%)

Tineo                           48 (0,03%)

Castilla La Mancha     46 (0,02%)

Coimbra                      45 (0,02%)

Cast. la Mancha          43 (0,02%)

Huelva                         41 (0,02%)

Ponferrada. C.Inv.      40 (0,02%)

Com. Valenciana        40 (0,02%)

Nájera                                     39 (0,02%)

Benavente                   36 (0,02%)

Badajoz                       34 (0,02%)

La Rioja                       32 (0,02%)

Polonia                        31 (0,02%)

Malaga                        30 (0,02%)

Córdoba                      29 (0,02%)

Roma                         28 (0,01%)

Resto Europa             28 (0,01%)

Valladolid                     27 (0,01%)

Castrojeriz                   27 (0,01%)

San Sebastian             25 (0,01%)

Las Médulas                24 (0,01%)

Fonfría                         22 (0,01%)

Reino Unido                21 (0,01%)

Murcia                         21 (0,01%)

Vegadeo                      18 (0,01%)

Guitiriz                         18 (0,01%)

Cataluña                      17 (0,01%)

Republica Checa        17 (0,01%)

Salas                           14 (0,01%)

Eslovaquia                  13 (0,01%)

San Juan de Ortega   13 (0,01%)

Quiroga                       13 (0,01%)

La Bañeza                   10 (0,01%)

Grado                         10 (0,01%)

Esposende                  9 (0,00%)

Irlanda                         9 (0,00%)

Faro                             8 (0,00%)

La Mesa                      8 (0,00%)

Viseu                           8 (0,00%)

Cea                             8 (0,00%)

La Rioja                       7 (0,00%)

Hungría                       7 (0,00%)

Finlandia                      6 (0,00%)

Resto Galicia             6 (0,00%)

Dinamarca                  5 (0,00%)

Aveiro                         4 (0,00%)

Valcarlos                     4 (0,00%)

Luxemburgo                4 (0,00%)

Vincios                        4 (0,00%)

Sobrado                      4 (0,00%)

Peñaseita                    3 (0,00%)

Rábade                       3 (0,00%)

El Escamplero            3 (0,00%)

Guntín                         3 (0,00%)

Jerusalem                   3 (0,00%)

Gonzar                        3 (0,00%)

Vilabade                      3 (0,00%)

Mella                           2 (0,00%)

Betanzos                     2 (0,00%)

Leyre                           2 (0,00%)

Inglaterra                     1 (0,00%)

Pontedeume               1 (0,00%)

Reino Unido C.Ing      1 (0,00%)

mirallos                        1 (0,00%)

Gándara                      1 (0,00%)

O Barco                      1 (0,00%)

Irlanda C. Ing             1 (0,00%)

Ortigueira                    1 (0,00%)

Pardellas                     1 (0,00%)

Egipto                          1 (0,00%)

A Rúa                          1 (0,00%)

Andorra                       1 (0,00%)

All the numbers from Santiago - Americans galore!

Pilgrims are still arriving in Santiago in considerable numbers. But before I tell you about the figures for the months and some of the surprises they contain I´d like to introduce you to this family from New Zealand who arrived in Santiago the other day. Here is what they wrote in the book of memories:
"A man walked to Santiago with a donkey… he wrote a book and in it suggested it would be impossible to do with children. We decided to try anyway!
We started in Astorga and slowly made our way a westward with the sun at our backs casting shadows in front of us with each step we took. Dusty paths, up hills, shady glades, stony tracks… beauty and challenge all the way. Even a broken arm for the 8 year old at O Cebreiro. We met many people… and met them again before they left us behind. We talked and looked and learnt and thought and experienced.
It was a wonderful memory-making walk."
Rob & Rachael, Jaala (18), Josiah (16),Kyle (15), Kaleisha (13), Levi (11)
Micaiah (10), Tessa (8), Ella-Rose (6)
Grandpa Joe (80 years old)

The numbers
The family counted as part of the total number of 168,678 pilgrims who have arrived so far this year. This is 4% more than the 162028 pilgrims who arrived in 2011.
Less Spanish pilgrims are arriving than in previous years. 54% pilgrims in 2011 were Spanish however this year that has dropped to 50%.
September has been busy with 27318 pilgrims arriving in the month compared to 26022 arriving in the same period last year.
The increased number of pilgrims from English speaking countries continues. This month we have noticed more people from the United States of America arriving than before. The end of month figures bear out this impression. As you can see below pilgrims from the USA top the table with a massive 78% more Americans arriving this year compared to last.

Pilgrims from English speaking countries

Country	2009	2010	2011	2012	Growth
Australia	729	880	981	1364	39%
Canada	1649	1414	1762	2119	20%
Ireland	1549	2138	2423	3540	46%
South Africa	224	249	433	591	36%
United Kingdom	1436	1710	1978	3171	60%
United States	2145	2693	3111	5546	78%
New Zealand	164	173	187	273	46%

Full analysis of the statistics for the period 1 January 2012 – 30 September 2012

Total 168678

Countries
Country           Number of pilgrims
Spain               85789 (50,86%)
Germany         13324 (7,90%)
Italy                11446 (6,79%)
Portugal          9073 (5,38%)
France            6923 (4,10%)
United States  5546 (3,29%)
Ireland            3540 (2,10%)
UK                 3171 (1,88%)
Holand           2665 (1,58%)
Canada           2119 (1,26%)
Poland           2070 (1,23%)
Korea            1873 (1,11%)
Brasil             1826 (1,08%)
Belgium          1694 (1,00%)
Austria           1556 (0,92%)
Denmark        1432 (0,85%)
Australia        1364 (0,81%)
Switzerland    1081 (0,64%)
Sweden         1063 (0,63%)
México            864 (0,51%)
Norway           798 (0,47%)
Hungría           750 (0,44%)
Rep Checa       741 (0,44%)
Japón               688 (0,41%)
Argentina          678 (0,40%)
Finlandia           620 (0,37%)
South Africa      591 (0,35%)
Slovaquia          576 (0,34%)
Russia               427 (0,25%)
Colombia          385 (0,23%)
Venezuela          367 (0,22%)
Slovenia            350 (0,21%)
New Zealand      273 (0,16%)
Romania            223 (0,13%)
Bulgaria             175 (0,10%)
Ecuador            164 (0,10%)
Chile                 156 (0,09%)
China                150 (0,09%)
Lithuania           139 (0,08%)
Perú                  134 (0,08%)
Uruguay            126 (0,07%)
Israel                 108 (0,06%)
Malta                   97 (0,06%)
Puerto Rico         96 (0,06%)
Filipinas               90 (0,05%)
Estonia                90 (0,05%)
Andorra              86 (0,05%)
Luxemburgh        72 (0,04%)
Ucrania                66 (0,04%)
Croacia                60 (0,04%)
Greece                 51 (0,03%)
Bolivia                 49 (0,03%)
Islandia                48 (0,03%)
Letonia                46 (0,03%)
Paraguay              44 (0,03%)

Gender

Gender       Number of pilgrims
Males           94707 (56,15%)
Females        73971 (43,85%)

Method of transport

Method        Number of pilgrims
On foot         143298 (84,95%)
Bicycle          24822 (14,72%)
Horseback        520 (0,31%)
Wheelchair         38 (0,02%)

Reasons for pilgrimage

Reason         Number of pilgrims
Religious or spiritual reasons 87873 (52,10%)
Religious reasons 70106 (41,56%)
Not religious or spiritual 10699 (6,34%)

Starting point
Starting point     Number of pilgrims
Sarria                   36572 (21,68%)
S. Jean P. Port     17432 (10,33%)
León                     9279 (5,50%)
Cebreiro               9092 (5,39%)
Tui                       7569 (4,49%)
Roncesvalles         7365 (4,37%)
Ponferrada            6943 (4,12%)
Oporto                 6572 (3,90%)
Astorga                5054 (3,00%)
Oviedo                 3534 (2,10%)
Pamplona             3502 (2,08%)
Burgos                 3381 (2,00%)
Ferrol                   3066 (1,82%)
Le Puy                 2859 (1,69%)
Valença do Minho 2837 (1,68%)
Irún                       2763 (1,64%)
Vilafranca              2463 (1,46%)
Rest of Portugal     2428 (1,44%)
Ourense                 2102 (1,25%)
Sevilla                   1962 (1,16%)
Triacastela             1891 (1,12%)
France                   1728 (1,02%)
Lugo                     1399 (0,83%)
Rest of C. León     1208 (0,72%)
Samos                   1138 (0,67%)
Rest of Asturias     1092 (0,65%)
Ribadeo                1052 (0,62%)
Santander              1027 (0,61%)
Lisboa                    846 (0,50%)
Logroño                 836 (0,50%)
Bilbao                    835 (0,50%)
Vilalba                   814 (0,48%)
Ponte de Lima        790 (0,47%)
Holand                   741 (0,44%)
Gijón                     670 (0,40%)
Oviedo                  645 (0,38%)
Somport               571 (0,34%)
Germany               521 (0,31%)
Avilés                   506 (0,30%)
Salamanca             444 (0,26%)
Madrid                  423 (0,25%)
Zamora                 392 (0,23%)
País Vasco           379 (0,22%)
Mondoñedo          373 (0,22%)
Sahagún                371 (0,22%)
Bélgium                339 (0,20%)
Puebla de Sanabria 331 (0,20%)
Asturias - C.P        305 (0,18%)
Vega de Valcarce   293 (0,17%)
Braga                    290 (0,17%)
Cantabria              280 (0,17%)
San Sebastián        261 (0,15%)
Chaves-Portugal    256 (0,15%)
Jaca                      253 (0,15%)
Baamonde             248 (0,15%)
Muxia                   240 (0,14%)

Status

Status   Number of pilgrims
Employed 37483 (22,22%)
Students 32390 (19,20%)
Technicians 21664 (12,84%)
Retired 18549 (11,00%)
Self employed 18257 (10,82%)
Teachers 13291 (7,88%)
Pulbic workers 7535 (4,47%)
Manual 6247 (3,70%)
Unemployed 4261 (2,53%)
Housewives 3857 (2,29%)
Directors 1501 (0,89%)
Artists 1205 (0,71%)
Priests 1041 (0,62%)
Agricultores 541 (0,32%)
Religious 424 (0,25%)
Sailors 257 (0,15%)
Sportspeople 148 (0,09%)
Oikoten 27 (0,02%)

Ages of pilgrims
Age Number of pilgrims
30 - 60 95012 (56,33%)
under 30 49817 (29,53%)
over 60 23849 (14,14%)

Caminos followed
Camino                 Number of pilgrims
Frances-Camino de 117308 (69,55%)
Portugues-Camino  22633 (13,42%)
Norte-Camino de    11773 (6,98%)
Via de la Plata          7255 (4,30%)
Primitivo-Camino     5679 (3,37%)
Ingles-Camino          3254 (1,93%)
Otros caminos           402 (0,24%)
Muxia-Finisterre         374 (0,22%)

It isn't how far you travel...but...

I’ve been away from Santiago for a week visiting London. I had to sort out some personal stuff. As I crammed into the Tube to travel 30 minutes underground I knew where I’d rather be. The pace of life is different in Santiago and whilst of course I love the excitement and buzz of London, nowadays a short visit is enough for me.

 When I got back I found that pilgrims were still arriving in considerable numbers  and I was happy to help write some Compostelas whilst Amigos Lesley and Séan, both from Ireland, chatted to the pilgrims.

Even with the pressure of a seemingly unending queue the atmosphere in the office is usually light-hearted. Colleagues are courteous and helpful to pilgrims. Usually. Laura on my left raised her eyebrows when we both overheard the usually mild mannered Fernando speak more loudly than usual. “Look”, he said, “I don’t make the rules.” He then proceeded to explain to a Spanish cyclist that to qualify for a Compostela he had to have cycled at least 200 kilometres to Santiago. I glanced over at the man’s credencial which Fernando held in his hand. There were few sellos to be seen. Fernando rehearsed the policy for the third time and for the third time the cyclist started arguing with him. He had cycled 100 kilometres and felt he was entitled. His complaints got sharper and his voice grew louder. Frankly it was ugly.

Pietr, Trudy, Barbara, Dominique

It was with some relief I looked up at the next two pilgrims who had arrived at my desk. The woman, Trudy, handed me four credenciales. Thinking they were for the two of them I said, “ 2 credenciales each. Where have you two walked from, St Jean Pied de Port?” The man, Pietr, said with a broad smile and his eyes twinkling. “No, I’ve got four as well” and promptly plumped them down. “We started from our home in Holland” Trudy beamed. “2,700 kilometres” Pietr chimed in, “109 days walking” added Trudy. Just then two more pilgrims stepped up to Laura. They were Barbara from Italy who had walked from St Jean Pied de Port and Dominique who had walked from Paris. They had all met on the Camino Francés and were overjoyed to be at the same desk to get their Compostelas. I have to confess I was being mischievous when I turned to Fernando who was still dealing with the very rude cyclist. 

“ Fernando, two of them have walked 2,700 kilometres from Holland, one from Paris and the other from St Jean,  do you have any idea of their total together?” I asked. Fernando cottoned on and started to calculate. He turned back to his desk to find the difficult cyclist had departed. Let’s hope we see him another day.

It isn’t about miles walked or cycled. The policy of having to walk 100 kilometres or cycle 200 kilometres is purely arbitrary. It was introduced to give the Compostela some meaning and to recognise that many, many pilgrims travel extraordinary distances to reach the Tomb of St James. Pilgrimage is about the internal journey we travel in our hearts and minds as we walk along the road to Santiago. But I have a special fondness for the long, long distance pilgrims. In addition to Trudy and Pietr, Barbara and Dominique here are some others who have arrived in the last few days:

Meet Koreans Dong Hyeon and Hee Bum. They walked to Santiago from Istanbul and Sofia respectively.  They were overwhelmed to have arrived. They were humble and deeply appreciative of the welcome they received. They had difficulty expressing what the journey had meant to them. “A dream” said one, “ My private world has opened”  said the other.

Istanbul was also the departure point of cyclist Nicholas from New York who had also cycled from Istanbul and would hug St James before setting off on the next leg of his journey to Tangiers!

The Camino doesn’t all have to be done at once and this group from Segovia arrived with a huge sense of achievement.

One of them, Rosa, said, “We come from Segovia and we have arrived in Santiago after two years and four attempts: Spring and Autumn in 2011 and now 2012. We started from Roncesvalles and now we are here! I can now rest my sore feet.”

However the most astonishing achievement we saw celebrated this week was when Francisco Guillen arrived. He has set himself a challenge for his pilgrimage and he set out from his home in Castellón in Spain, travelling over the border to France, then to Rome, then to Switzerland, Belgium, and Holland before making his way back to Spain to follow the Camino to Santiago. All 6165 kilometres travelled in his wheelchair.

His words are a lesson to the cyclist who was mean to Fernando. They are a lesson for us all:

“The mind is the limit, but what this shows is that a pilgrim has no limits to his spirit. In the human spirit we see the greatness of people”