Prevue July-August 2017 - 60

Galicia, Spain
An unparalleled cultural journey for groups in need of a little magic
[ON LOCATION] JOHNALEE JOHNSTON

P

ainted yellow arrows veer within Spain's hilly highlands
and coastal plains, but all point to The Way. The eight
main pilgrimage routes of Camino de Santiago cut
across the country like arteries, pumping seekers into
the UNESCO World Heritage city of Santiago de Compostela
and its cathedral where the remains of St. James the apostle are
purportedly held. The Camino has been traversed by Christians
and those of other faiths for more than a millennium. Today's
nearly 280,000 annual trekkers, including a growing number of US
corporate and incentive groups, walk the storied road for reasons
that are as varied as Spain's history and landscapes. That doesn't
matter, says Juan Pensado Barbeira, Tourism Galicia's group
director for Camino de Santiago. Whether attempting a deeper
connection with the divine, escape from the daily grind or to
experience the first European Cultural Route, most begin "the walk
as tourists and end as pilgrims."
"More and more people realize that The Way is a meeting
place; a space where ideas, different beliefs, cultures and even
religions are shared with other people," Pensado Barbeira explains.
"We live in such a hurry. Always running in search of success and
money; always busy and without time for relationships. Sharing
something as simple as a walking trip, with only the essentials,
allows people to disconnect from the world and just
be themselves."
Our six-day trek across Galicia, in northwestern Spain,
revealed more than a few interpretations of The Way.

60 | prevuemeetings.com

THE FRENCH WAY
Even on the quietest stretch of road where only the chirping
of crickets, clickety-clack of walking poles and the occasional
buen Camino, or "good Way" greeting, can be heard for miles,
a complete disconnect from the world is hard to find. Our guide,
Diego Lamas, says this is actually a good thing. "The Camino
was made by breaking bread and drinking wine with locals and
peregrinos (pilgrims)," after all. "You can be pilgrims and have very
good gastronomy at wonderful prices-you don't have to be hard
on yourselves." We walk a few miles of the Camino here along a
country dirt road with vast green fields, sporadic wildflower color
pops, curious horses and a sweet smelling eucalyptus forest. "It's
not a competition," Lamas says. "You walk and your mind stops
chatting; you lose notion of time-kind of like yoga." Groups that
are bold enough to walk the entire French Way, which is the most
walked of all routes, will cross nine wine regions, each with their
own culinary specialties. Entire villages often make their living
by renting out rooms within their homes and selling homemade
cheeses, wines and other delectables to the pilgrims who pass.
Many restaurants also put a modern spin on this tradition of sharing
by offering free WiFi and affordable three-course pilgrim's menus.
We stopped by O Mirador, overlooking the Mino River in the
village of Portomarin. The restaurant not only offers free WiFi, but
daily menus reflecting the best of Galician gastronomy, including
a special "brew" of coffee beans, lemon and orange skins, orujo
(a transparent spirit distilled from wine), sugar and honey to drive


http://www.prevuemeetings.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue July-August 2017

Prevue July-August 2017 - 1
Prevue July-August 2017 - 2
Prevue July-August 2017 - 3
Prevue July-August 2017 - 4
Prevue July-August 2017 - 5
Prevue July-August 2017 - 6
Prevue July-August 2017 - 7
Prevue July-August 2017 - 8
Prevue July-August 2017 - 9
Prevue July-August 2017 - 10
Prevue July-August 2017 - 11
Prevue July-August 2017 - 12
Prevue July-August 2017 - 13
Prevue July-August 2017 - 14
Prevue July-August 2017 - 15
Prevue July-August 2017 - 16
Prevue July-August 2017 - 17
Prevue July-August 2017 - 18
Prevue July-August 2017 - 19
Prevue July-August 2017 - 20
Prevue July-August 2017 - 21
Prevue July-August 2017 - 22
Prevue July-August 2017 - 23
Prevue July-August 2017 - 24
Prevue July-August 2017 - 25
Prevue July-August 2017 - 26
Prevue July-August 2017 - 27
Prevue July-August 2017 - 28
Prevue July-August 2017 - 29
Prevue July-August 2017 - 30
Prevue July-August 2017 - 31
Prevue July-August 2017 - 32
Prevue July-August 2017 - 33
Prevue July-August 2017 - 34
Prevue July-August 2017 - 35
Prevue July-August 2017 - 36
Prevue July-August 2017 - 37
Prevue July-August 2017 - 38
Prevue July-August 2017 - 39
Prevue July-August 2017 - 40
Prevue July-August 2017 - 41
Prevue July-August 2017 - 42
Prevue July-August 2017 - 43
Prevue July-August 2017 - 44
Prevue July-August 2017 - 45
Prevue July-August 2017 - 46
Prevue July-August 2017 - 47
Prevue July-August 2017 - 48
Prevue July-August 2017 - 49
Prevue July-August 2017 - 50
Prevue July-August 2017 - 51
Prevue July-August 2017 - 52
Prevue July-August 2017 - 53
Prevue July-August 2017 - 54
Prevue July-August 2017 - 55
Prevue July-August 2017 - 56
Prevue July-August 2017 - 57
Prevue July-August 2017 - 58
Prevue July-August 2017 - 59
Prevue July-August 2017 - 60
Prevue July-August 2017 - 61
Prevue July-August 2017 - 62
Prevue July-August 2017 - 63
Prevue July-August 2017 - 64
Prevue July-August 2017 - 65
Prevue July-August 2017 - 66
Prevue July-August 2017 - 67
Prevue July-August 2017 - 68
Prevue July-August 2017 - 69
Prevue July-August 2017 - 70
Prevue July-August 2017 - 71
Prevue July-August 2017 - 72
Prevue July-August 2017 - 73
Prevue July-August 2017 - 74
Prevue July-August 2017 - 75
Prevue July-August 2017 - 76
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/MarchApril2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/JanuaryFebruary2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/NovemberDecember2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/SeptemberOctober2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS/fl2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/visitflorrida
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/januaryfebruary2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/SeptemberOctober2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/julyaugust2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS/clubmed
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/marchapril2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/JanFeb2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/novemberdecember2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/septemberoctober2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/july_august_2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/may_june_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/march-april-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/jan_feb_2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/nov_dec_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/sept_oct_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/prevue/july_august_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/may_june_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/march_april_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/prevuejan_feb_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/Nov_Dec_2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/sept_oct_2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/july_aug_2010
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com