InfoAnda - Pilgrims flock to Spain's Way of St.James

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Amanda Knox faces preliminary slander hearing | | 1 October 2010
Chinalco shares up on talk of reshuffle, Rio deal | 9 February 2009
Boston sees first snow of the season, forecaster warn of Saturday snowstorm | 29 October 2011

Kremlin says Russia losing battle on corruption | | 15 July 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Pilgrims flock to Spain's Way of St.James

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Asia Pacific World Pilgrims flock to Spain's Way of St.James AFP - Monday, July 26 Send IM Story Print Pilgrims flock to Spain's Way of St.James PEDROUZO, Spain (AFP) - – They come from around the world to have time to think, fulfil a promise or have an adventure: the gruelling "Camino de Santiago" has seen an influx of pilgrims this year, a Holy Year, for a variety of reasons. Joshua Fleming, a 20-year-old Austrian student, said he decided to make the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain after reading best-selling Brazilian author Paulo Coelho's book describing his own pilgrimage in 1986. "The challenge has opened my spirit," he said at the town of Pedrouzo at the start of the last leg of his pilgrimage, after having already walked some 300 kilometres (185 miles) across northern Spain. The complete "Camino" or "Way of St.James" pilgrimage route usually begins in the Pyrenees mountain range on the Spanish-French border and ends some 800 kilometres further west at Santiago's cathedral which the faithful believe holds the remains of St. James, one of Jesus' 12 Apostles. The cathedral, considered the third most holy place in the Roman Catholic world after Jerusalem and Rome, has been a magnet for pilgrims since the Middle Ages. But their numbers soar whenever July 25, the name day of St.James, falls on a Sunday as it does this year. Last month alone over 33,000 pilgrims flocked to Santiago, compared to just under 20,000 during the same month last year, according to the archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela. It estimates the number of pilgrims arriving in the city this year will be similar to the last Holy Year in 2004 when 180,000 people made the journey. The next Holy Year falls in 2021. Visitors this year will include Pope Benedict XVI who is scheduled to stop over in the city during a visit to Spain in early November. Claude Champagnon, 64, and her daughter Karine, 44, from Puy-en-Velay in central France, walked the "Camino" in 2003 and are repeating it this year because it is Holy Year, when those who make the pilgrimage believe they are granted remission for their sins. But they are unhappy to face competition for beds at the budget hostels along the route from those "who are on the 'Camino' without religious reasons". That is the case of Jorge, Nicolas and Nacho, three 18-year-olds from Madrid, who admit they are walking part of the "Camino" to "have fun and party" by stopping in at bars and nightclubs en route. Just over half, 55 percent, of the pilgrims who arrived in Santiago last month said they made the trip for religious reasons, five percent said they did it for cultural reasons and the rest said they were motivated by both, according to the archdiocese of Santiago. "We prepared our trip without knowing that it was a Holy Year, but that makes it even more special," said Sonja Hahn, a 42--year-old from Germany as she waited in line for a bed at a hostel at Pedrouzo. Her partner Klaus Becker, 56, does not share her religous motivations but is nonetheless carrying a picture of a friend who died two weeks ago in his backpack. "It is like she is coming with me," he said. Many who make the journey still wear the traditional garb of cape, long staff and carling felt cap adorned with scallop shells, the symbol of the saint which can be found all over the city. In the Middle Ages pilgrims used to burn their worn out clothes after ending their journey at Cape Finistere, about 100 kilometres west of Santiago, which was then considered to be the end of the world. Some still keep up this tradition. Cesar Machado, a 46-year-old diver from Lisbon, said he was picking up plants along the way which he plans to burn along with his clothes when he finishes his pilgrimage by bicycle. "It is the philosophy of being reborn from the ashes," he said, adding he was carrying candles from friends who are ill to light at Santiago's cathedral. "I am fulfilling a promise that I made four years ago, it is a spiritual issue and also a search for adventure." Pilgrims who have travelled at least 100 kilometres on foot or 200 kilometres by bicycle or on horseback can obtain the "compostela", the Latin certificate confirming they have completed a pilgrimage to the cathedral, as long as they collect stamps from hostels or churches along the way as proof. Yoonjung Jang, a 27-year-old statistics student from South Korea, said she decided to walk the "camino" after breaking up with her boyfriend in order to "forget everything". "Nothing has changed, but it is a very good experience", she said. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Cloistered French nuns sign record deal AFP - Monday, July 26 Court orders 'Bookseller of Kabul' author to pay damages AFP - Sunday, July 25 US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - Saturday, July 24 Black Eyed Peas' E.N.D. tour has staying power Reuters - Saturday, July 24 Bret Michaels cited for marijuana on tour bus Reuters - Saturday, July 24 News Search Top Stories BP chief likely to resign in wake of US oil spill Profile of BP chief Tony Hayward BP boss 'set to resign within 24 hours' China sends pandas into wild to bring up cubs Spain's Lorenzo takes MotoGP pole More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended BP boss 'set to resign within 24 hours' Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor in 'critical condition': publicist China sends pandas into wild to bring up cubs Solar drone lands after record 14 days aloft BP to start drilling off Libya More Most Viewed » Parachuting donkey shocks Russian beachgoers Paris Hilton caught with cannabis in handbag Germany's 'Octopus oracle' keeps perfect record More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Sunday, 25 July 2010
Egypt kills Sudanese migrant near Israel border
Iran, Brazil, Turkey to discuss nuclear fuel swap
Fifteen killed in mass panic at German Love Parade |
US economy 'gradually' improving: Geithner
Turkey, Iran, Brazil to discuss nuclear swap deal
As Cubans wait, Castro to mark revolution's start |
Putin pledges bright future to former spies in U.S. |
NATO soldiers 'reported missing' in Afghanistan
Turkish PM proposes amending sensitive army law
Congo rebels seize Indian pilot in attack on plane |
Turkey, Iran, Brazil to discuss nuclear swap deal |
AU says must replace Western partners with China |
Revolt to force Japan FA boss out of office
AU says must replace Western partners with China
Putin pledges bright future to former spies in U.S.
Khmer Rouge prison chief awaits verdict
US aircraft carrier ups pressure on NKorea
NKorea vows nuclear response to US-SKorea drills
Saudi cleric says Muslim women can respect veil bans
Stampede at Love Parade in Germany kills 15
India, EU in new bid to clinch free-trade deal
Court orders 'Bookseller of Kabul' author to pay damages
Search on for 2 US soldiers missing in Afghanistan
19 killed in Love Parade stampede in Germany
Mexico police find 51 in mass grave near Monterrey |
2 US Navy service members missing in Afghanistan
China sends pandas into wild to bring up cubs
Britain's royals post family pictures online
As Cubans wait, Castro to mark revolution's start |
Lockerbie bomber release 'wrong' but no BP link: London
BP boss could resign within days
Pandora tops 60 million users, mobile growth strong
Spain's Lorenzo takes MotoGP pole
French hostage rescue mission in Mali fails: ministry
Explosives experts in bloody dance with bomb makers |
U.S., South Korea start military drills as North protests |
Eighteen killed in stampede at German Love Parade |
Putin 'sings songs' with deported Russian spies
US, S.Korea stage naval exercise despite nuclear threats
Australian opposition promises fewer migrants
Eastern US cooks in summer heat, temps reach 100s
Beijing hits out at US comments on South China Sea
Floods close Chicago interstate, damage Iowa dam
US aircraft carrier leads drills with South Korea
China warns of more rain in flood-hit areas
Bangkok residents vote in Thailand's litmus test poll
Russian farmers suffer 'catastrophe' in baking heat
US aircraft carrier ups pressure on North Korea
Floods and landslides kill 10 in Vietnam: govt
Row over Cyprus air control poses safety risk
US aircraft carrier ups pressure on NKorea
U.S., South Korea start military drills as North protests
Deep in Colombian jungle, a first in eco gold
Markets to issue verdict on stress tests
China sends pandas into forest to bring up cubs in wild
Toyota expected to report sharp recovery in Q1: report
Global Weather-Celsius
Fewer Tibetans fleeing to the Dalai Lama
Children of prisoners in China given a fresh start
Quake strikes off Tonga, Samoa; no damage reported
Chinese miner goes from corporate star to villain
Iraq parliament to meet Tuesday but impasse lingers
Basque ETA rebels say region "on brink of change"
Fees for online news yet to succeed
Taliban claim to have killed one US soldier
Taliban say they're holding U.S. soldier and second killed |
Turkey, Brazil urge Iran to be flexible on nuclear talks
BP chief likely to resign in wake of US oil spill
German police defend safety steps at music fest |
Iran will react if ships inspected
Iran will react if ships inspected: Ahmadinejad |
Search on for two US soldiers missing in Afghanistan
Ten wounded in bombing as Bangkok votes |
Taliban: 1 missing US sailor dead, other captured
Taliban: 1 missing US trooper dead, other captured
Iran favors talks with EU after Ramadan
Bangkok explosion wounds at least nine: police
Japan rescue helicopter crash kills 5: report |
Ten wounded in bombing as Bangkok votes
Iraq parliament to meet Tuesday but impasse lingers |
Afghan gov't: Taliban kills 1 US sailor, 1 held
Australian PM Gillard on top in election debate
Japan rescue helicopter crash kills 5
Bettencourt aide denies illegally funding French party |
Khmer Rouge victims pray at prison before verdict
Swimmers seen near China oil spill: Greenpeace
Australian opposition wins TV debate
Cloistered French nuns sign record deal
Pilgrims flock to Spain's Way of St.James
Professional vodka tasters keep Polish tipple pure
US aircraft carrier leads drills with South Korea
Floods and landslide in Indonesia kill 21: official
Salt can't shake Inception at box office |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01