What follows is my attempt to chronicle and recreate a few of experiences in Spain and France this summer for those interested. Focus primarily will rest on history and religion, and in particular the history that lives in the churches and castles that line the pilgrim roads to Santiago Compostella in Spain.

The Muslim conquest of the Holy Land in the Seventh and Eighth centuries caused the traditional pilgrimage to Jerusalem to become increasingly dangerous. As the Middle Ages unfolded, the journey across the Pyrenees and into Spain to the traditional burial place of St. James became the dominant pilgrimage route. The results were dramatic. The first great wave of Christian churches in the Middle Ages sprung up along the pilgrim roads - the age of Romanesque was born. Architecture, spirituality, culture and politics would all be dramatically affected by the great mass of Medieval Christians on the road to Compostella.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Small World

One of my historical interests is the Spanish Civil War, and I am reading on the trip a book by, probably, the most famous writer of the war, Jose Maria Gironella. He fought in the war and is recently deceased. Anyway, at the monastery at Montserrat, who do we meet? Gironella's cousin (the man to my left)! He spoke excellent English, we had a very interesting conversation about Spanish history, and I am sure we will keep in touch.

Also, who can take credit for this chance meeting? None other than Isabel, who was smiling at his wife throughout breakfast.
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