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Global Estonian Insights: Pauliine Maasik’s Musings on the Camino de Santiago

Walking long distances shifts the primary incentive of movement away from getting from point to point quickly, as with other means of getting around. If you’re seeking mental clarity, spiritual grounding, or a physical challenge, walking long distances could put you back on track, so to speak. Especially if you have only a few possessions and a backpack with you. This is what one may find on the Camino de Santiago (also known as the Way of St. James).

Toomas Marley, Pauliine Maasik and their friend Antonio

The Camino de Santiago is a collection of seven official pilgrimage routes across the Iberian Peninsula that were first walked in the Middle Ages. At the end, in the city of Santiago de Compostela, is a shrine to St. James; one of the 12 Apostles, who is believed to have spread Christianity in Spain.

Pilgrims historically walked to this city in Galicia to atone for their sins. Though, nowadays motivations are varied. According to Mountain IQ, “28.2% of walkers were simply looking for a new challenge, 28% were walking for a religious or spiritual purpose, 17.8% wanted to walk it in order to get away from the [busyness] of their everyday lives and connect with nature.” For the remaining people, this famous pilgrimage route is travelled to learn about local culture or for other undisclosed reasons.

Pauliine Maasik, who is currently a freelance translator in the autonomous community of Galicia, first came to northern Spain in 2001, when she began working as an au pair for a local family. She had studied Spanish for two years at the University of Tartu, for which her studies included translating Galician legends and short stories. Finding work in the city of Santiago gave her the opportunity to speak Spanish, as well as Galician, regularly.

Täismahus artikkel on loetav Eesti Elu tellijatele

Igal nädalal toome me sinuni kõige olulisemad kogukonna uudised ja eksklusiivsed lood uutelt kolumnistidelt. Räägime eestlastele südamelähedastest teemadest, kogukonna tegijatest ja sündmustest. Loodame sinu toele, et meie kogukonna leht jätkuks pikkadeks aastateks.

Hind alates $2.30 nädalas.

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