Gil de Siloe (Burgos, 1489-93)

Tomorrow morning I set out for Paris, en route to St. Jean Pied-de-Port in the Pyrenees mountains, where I will begin a 565 mile pilgrimage walk: to Santiago de Compostela, and beyond that, the “end of the world” on the shores of the Atlantic. This beautiful alabaster image of Saint James dressed as a pilgrim was carved by Gil de Siloe, one of the great Baroque Spanish artists, whose work I hope to see when I arrive in Burgos on Holy Saturday. I had planned to leave a year ago, but broke my leg a month before departure. So 2014 became the year of pilgrimage, and God willing I will persevere for nearly 40 days and 40 nights. While part of the walk’s intention is to slip out of the modern and be immersed in the journey, I will attempt dispatches and photos when I can. I hope you will join me, dear reader, along the Way.