The St. James Way in the New York Times.

Sam Michaux tells the New York Times that he walked the St. James Way four times with his grandfather. One, eighty years old and Catholic. The other, 35 years old and skeptical. Sam was first convinced by his grandfather in 2007 after the death of two of his brothers. On this first occasion he did not want to enjoy the experience, he simply accepted it as a sacrifice for his ancestors, as a kind of penance. However, Sam found the St. James Way an ideal opportunity to meditate, hear his family’s story from his grandfather, and meet other pilgrims.

Since then, they have completed several other pilgrimages with other family members. Sam’s father recently passed away and both he and his grandfather look forward to returning to the St. James Way year in 2021 in memory of their father.

Sam sums up his experience with one haunting sentence: “An experience that is more about the self than the selfie“, ie “an experience that is more about finding yourself than taking lots of photos” . And that says a lot in a travel destination that impresses with its absolutely spectacular landscapes.

El Camino, one of 52 among more than 2000 proposals.

The New York Times gathered its readers’ suggestions over a complicated year (a dark year as they define it) and focused on getting to know the places that would comfort us to post the Covid-19 pandemic to get to know with their limitations or to visit again. Of the more than 2000 proposals received, 52 “Places to Love” were chosen for 2021. Of these 52, only two are in Spain: the city of Cordoba and the St. James Way. This selection of 52 locations is an annual New York Times classic, a list of travel destinations that inspire travelers all year round.

This selection is a reminder that all the wonders of the world are still there, waiting for life to return to how it was before and to travel again in this holy year 2021 (now biennium 2021-2022) and after waiting. 11 years after the last Xacobeo, the St. James Way could not be missing on this wish list.

Buen Camino!