El Camino de Santiago, the Way of St James, is a medieval pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. At its height, a million pilgrims a year were walking the route. It then slowly fell into disuse. When Paulo Coelho undertook the pilgrimage in the 1980s, it had all but disappeared. Since the mid-1980s (The Pilgrimage was published 1987), there has been an exponential increase in pilgrims. 2010 is expected to see more than 200,000 pilgrims.
When July 25 falls on a Sunday it is a Jubilee or Holy Year. 2010 is a Jubilee or Holy Year. [see El Jubileo Compostelano Xacobeo 2010]
For those completing the pilgrimage, they have to create something to give thanks. For Petrus (Paulo Coelho’s guide) it was a painting, Paulo Coleho wrote The Alchemist , Catherine Ferguson gave two talks on the pilgrimage, Paul Tobey made this video and composed the music.
For Paulo Coelho, Catherine Ferguson, Paul Tobey who have walked the route and all those pilgrims walking or wishing to walk El Camino de Santiago.
Also see
Paulo Coelho on the Road to Santiago de Compostela
Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela today
Keithpp's Blog 
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