Walking El Camino, the famous pilgrimage road to Santiago de Compostela, is an old European tradition, but rapidly becoming popular today too. Author Zhang Lijia started yesterday her El Camino, and will keep us updated on her weblog.
Zhang Lijia:
I am writing from Convento Santa Maria de las Carbajalas, one of the hostels for the people walk along the old pilgrim route. I´ve never stayed at a convent before.
today I obtained the passport – the credential. already I got my first stamp. so the journey has started.
many friends have asked why I´d want to do Camino. well, why not. it´s a good way to shed off a few extra pounds and it is also a journey of inquiry when i have the time and space to ponder about the deeper meaning of my life.
and the scenery along the way is beautiful.
Originally, the pilgrimage started from different European countries, but nowadays – for reasons of convenience – people take plane to train to Spain, and walk a few established routes.
Zhang Lijia might be leading the way for more Chinese tourists, who are looking for alternative ways to spend their holidays in Europe, after having visited Milan, Paris, London and other touristic hotspots for several times. A good friend of the China Speakers Bureau at the Shanghai Publishing House published last year a first book on the road Napoleon took when he left Elba to head for Paris, after his expulsion. Not surprisingly, El Camino is also on his agenda.
Not surprisingly, veteran Chinese tourists are more interested in off-beat tracks, and El Camino is one of them.
Zhang Lijia is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need her at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers´request form.
Are you interested in more work by Zhang Lijia?. Check out our regularly updated references.
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