Adam Gilbertson Study Abroad: The pathway of James, my trip to northwestern Spain.

Two weeks ago I went hiking on an old pilgramige road with my friend Dylan from Virginia. We first went to an old city on the coast called A Coruña. This city was first created by the Celts when they were all over europe and it has a rich history full of Roman and Celtic culture.

The city was very clean and it rains there everyday. It was on the ocean and everything was super green. Most tour books say that this part of Spain is similar to Ireland.
The highlight of A Coruña was this lighthouse. It is supposed to be the oldest lighthouse in the world and there is an old legend that Hercules was burried underneath it. I don´t really know if it is all true but it was cool to see this lighthouse and climb to the top and view the deep blue ocean and the extremely fresh and powerful wind.

We stayed the night there at this weird hostel and explored the city before catching a bus to start our 70 mile hike thru the countryside.

We began the trip on a Thursday and planned to end it on Saturday because I had to catch an all night train to Madrid. We started in a city called Sarria which was 110 miles from Santiago which is where the path leads. The path leads to the tomb of St James and millions of people have done this path for centuries. The path starts in eastern Europe and leads all the way to this point. At the end of the trail there is a massive cathedral and tons of tourists.

The first day we hiked 32 miles thru the valleys of this green part of Spain. We stopped a few times but walked basically all day. The country side here is so pretty and some of these old farm houses don´t have electricity. These people really just live off their land.

We stayed the night at this huge pilgramige place which only cost 3 euros because I assume they get huge donations from churches to build these places.

We struggled thru the second day and then the third day was tough. We got up around 5:30 and hit the road to hike some 20 plus miles to Santiago. We didnt bring ponchos or rain gear and that was a big mistake. It was pouring at this time we left and the sun wasn´t even up. I only had a cotton coat and was worried I would get sick so I began to power walk. I walked in the rain for what seemed like forever and it was so funny because I passed so many bikers who were walking their bikes and I laughed because biking is so much easier than walking.

I made it to the town around 1:30 and it was starting to clear up. I read that the city Santiago was called the Urinal of Spain and I learned why. The second I walked, but more like limped, into the city it started pouring and I was soaked from head to toe. I walked all the way to the massive cathedral and it was so cool. It was full of pilgrims like me and it was a really cool feeling knowing I walked there and so did all these people.

I didn´t really do this trip for religious reasons but it was really fun. Dylan had done this trail last year so it wasn´t anything new for him. I only packed a few things and no blankets which meant one night I slept in all my clothes because they didn´t have any blankets. It was kind of fun living off nothing though.

Many people suggest this part of Spain called Galicia and I would too. It is super green and resembles Ireland. The people are nice but the Spanish there is called Gallego and is really weird. Like the rest of Spain this area wants separation from Spain so it is just this annoying trend this whole country has. A great hiking trip but my joints are still a little soar. Hiking can really be brutal to your body.

I caught the train on Saturday and headed to Madrid to prepare to meet my dad and cousin in Paris. I stayed one night in Madrid and meet my friends there and we went out as usual. It was fun living out of a suitcase.

The path