Not to Santiago and back again
La Grande Randonnée
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This is the web site for the book Not to Santiago and back again.
An unusual travel book about a walk from the Netherlands to the Pyrenees and back again to the Netherlands. The journey is described in the light of the history of Europe, with the crusades and the formation of modern Europe as pivotal points.
A walk that in the end turned out to be about the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, about God, money, war and Europe. About the European Constitution and unification. About standards and values. About freedom.
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Caminante, son tus huellas el camino, y nada más;
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In March 2003 I left the Netherlands. It was to be almost a year and a half. A walk. I wrote as explanation : I do not know where I am going, although the initial plan is to walk to Santiago the Compostela. That is the plan, but don't be surprised if I turn left or right halfway and end up somewhere else. The pilgrim routes are old and it may be that I decide the goal is no longer a goal. I left on 31st march 2003 and arrived back on 2nd July after walking roughly 3,500 kilometers. Along the border of the old feudal France to Le-Puy-en-Velay and from there to Roncevalles along the route of Saint-Jacques (Via Podiensis). Then back via Vézelay (Via Viziliacensis) to the Netherlands (See the route).
I walked roughly 3,500 kilometers. I walked through beautiful countryside and met beautiful people. I travelled for 15 months and still think it too short. The heat, the sweat, the fatigue. And above all the space and the hospitality. It was a great experience.
During that period the United States of America fought a war with Iraq. During that period Israël did not change and the war in the Middle-East is still just as lethal as it was. During that period, Europe created a Constitution, had doubts about that Consititution but accepted it eventually, after an attack in Madrid. During that period, I walked from Beekbergen (NL) to the south of France and crossed the Pyrenees. On the ancient pilgrim routes from Le Puy-en-Velay to Santiago Matamoros.
A travel book about Christianity, religion, Islam, war and peace. From crusades, cloisters and Cluny to modern times. Specifically, the history of France and religion. The relationship between the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and the present. My interpretation of that history. An enquiry about Europe, her history and where we are now. The church and the new European states want to refer to Christian values in the preamble to the Constitution. What are those Christian values? Does Europe see human value in every individual?
On God, money, war and Europe.
On the Constitution and unification.
On standards and values.
On freedom.
Not to Santiago and back again.
Some say a slightly venomous book.
Some think it is wonderful; others are irritated by it.
It was time for a change, which became my pilgrimage.
The motto above indicates it was not a classic religious pilgrimage.
It was not a classic tourist trip.
The book that came out of it is not a classic account
Not to Santiago and back again does not exist in English. However, after I discussed it with Derek Stubbs, he became interested and he has worked with me on translating some extracts which can be read here in the English section of the site. If you are interested in translating the whole book, please contact me.
If you want to buy the book, please refer to the Dutch section of the site.
Copyright © 2004-2010
You can contact me via E-mail.
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