El Camino de Santiago... an ancient path of pilgrimage

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1 The Camino with Amy & David Wilinski El Camino de Santiago... an ancient path of pilgrimage This walk of the ages across the Spanish country-side is a sacred journey of personal reflection, while also allowing you to experience sacred sites including magnificent cathedrals, ancient Celtic and pagan sites, holy wells and small village churches. This journey has been designed to inspire, support, and serve personal transformation and spiritual awakening while exploring the Camino towards Cape Finesterre the end of the world," where Spain meets the Atlantic Ocean. The Camino holds the promise of a quiet space in which you can refocus your awareness and witness your world and personal circumstances through the eyes of your True Self. Led by spiritual teacher, Amy Wilinski, you will travel through time and space with tailor-made meditations, rituals and ceremonies. Our Spanish guide will share the history of the Camino, Celtic culture, myths and ancient legends. We offer the environment to go deeply into your spirit, heart, emotions and mind to find answers to your questions; even to questions you didn't know you had. Overview Dates: October 2-12, 2017 Itinerary: Madrid - Sarria - Santiago de Compostela - Finisterre Duration: 11 Days and 10 Nights You will earn the Compostela Certificate! Distance: 129 km / 80 mi. (Average of 10 miles/day) Price: $3695/person based on double occupancy, $600 single supplement Save $100 by paying with check or bank transfer

2 Enjoy our TLC along The Way Ceremonies & Meditations with Amy Wilinski & Spanish Guide Guaranteed Botafumeiro ritual (censer) at the Pilgrim's mass Overnight at the magnificent El Parador de los Reyes Católicos We take you to the End of the World Cape Finisterre Luggage Transfer & Private Support Van Snacks & Drinks along The Way Superior Accommodations at Rural Guest Houses Surprise Evening in Compostela! To prepare for the tour may we recommend The Pilgrimage by Paulo Cohelo and the movie, The Way. Day-to-day Itinerary Day 1: Madrid - Astorga - O Cebreiro -Sarria Our meeting point will be at a centrally located hotel in the city of Madrid at approximately 8:30 am. From there the group will be transferred to the city of Sarria in our private vehicle. During the transfer we will make several interesting stops. We will visit the beautiful city of Astorga, situated in the province of León. This city was originally a Celtic settlement which later became one of the Roman strongholds in the region given the title of "Urbs Magnifica" ("Magnificent City"). We will have a welcome lunch in Castrillo de los Polvazares, a town considered to be an important artistic-historical center that is also located in the province of León. Here we will be treated to the most traditional dish of the region: 'El Cocido de Maragato'. Another necessary stop is O Cebreiro, which is the beginning of the Camino de Santiago in Galicia. In this town, located 1300 meters above sea level, we will see 'Las Pallozas (constructions of stone and hay) presumably of Celtic origin. Finally, before arriving in Sarria, we will visit Antonio Bello, the Alchemist of Crystals. His sacred geometry tries to recover the magic-religious relationship that the ancestors of the area had with crystals and stones. Night in Sarria 2

3 Day 2: Barbadelo - Portomarín (18.5 km / 11.5 mi) We start our Camino today! We begin our camino together in prayer and meditation as we step onto the path that has been traversed by pilgrims for over a thousand years. As we journey through this stage we will come across many little villages and towns of which the most interesting are Barbadelo, Ferreiros, Vilachá and Portomarín where we will see many important monuments such as: The church of "Santiago de Barbadelo" famous for its beautiful architecture, the Romanesque portico at the church of Ferreiros, the legendary 100 km marker and the fortified church of St. Nicholas in Portomarín. We will also have the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Miño river valley right outside the town of Vilachá. Night in Sarria Day 3: Portomarín - Airexe (17.6 km / 10.9 mi) Today's journey will take us through the towns of Portomarín, Gonzar, Ventas de Narón and Ligonde until we reach Airexe. We will have the opportunity to visit the church of "Vilar de Donas", considered to be one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture on the Camino and linked to the Knights Templar. Night in Palas de Rei Day 4: Airexe - O Coto (16.2 km / 10 mi) Most of today's stage will be through beautiful, magical forest paths. We focus on our connection with Mother Earth and the forces of nature as we walk mindfully each step of The Way. We pass by the towns of Palas de Rei, where we can admire the Romanesque portico of the church of San Tirso, San Xulián and Casanova before finally reaching the hamlet of O Coto. Night in Palas de Rei Day 5: O Coto - Castañeda (14.5 km / 9 mi) In today's stage we will cross the border that divides the provinces of Lugo and La Coruña via an ancient Roman road. We will enjoy true jewels of the Camino such as the church of "La virgen de las nieves" in the town of Furelos and the churches of Sancti Spiritus and Santa Maria de Melide in Melide, a town famous for its octopus which we can sample in one of its many "Pulperías" (establishments specializing in octopus). Night in Arzúa 3

4 Day 6: Castañeda - Salceda (17.4 km / 10.8 mi) Today's walk will take us through the lovely towns of Arzúa and Castañeda, both very closely linked to the Camino's history. In Arzúa you can see the beautiful chapel of "La Magdalena" built in gothic style and founded in the 14th century. You can also enjoy some of Arzúa's delicious cheese which was awarded Denomination of Origin. Night in Arzua Day 7: Salceda - Lavacolla (18 km / 11.2 mi) Our stage for this day will take us through the beautiful villages of A Brea, Santa Irene, A Rua and O Empalme. Along the journey we will have the opportunity to see the hermitage of St. Irene and its baroque fountain whose water is said to have curative properties. We will collect water for a ritual cleansing ceremony. Then onto the town of Lavacolla where the purification ritual needed to arrive in Santiago was performed in ancient times. Night in Lavacolla Day 8: Monte do Gozo - Santiago de Compostela (4,8 km / 2.9 mi) We are scheduled to arrive in Santiago before 11:00 am, so that those who wish to attend the Pilgrim s Mass and perform any Pilgrim rituals like hugging the Apostle Santiago can do so. We will have a guaranteed Botafumeiro ritual (censer) at the Pilgrim's mass. At 4:30, we offer a guided visit through Santiago for our group. The focus of the guided visit will be on the old city, where we will recall the history of the city and the pilgrimage to Santiago through its main monuments, squares and streets. During the visit we will enter the Cathedral where, in addition to its history and evolution, well-known traditions will be explained. On our tour we will also go to the fresh produce market, called Mercado de Abastos. Once there, the group will have the opportunity to buy typical products of Galician gastronomy (fish, seafood, veal ). In the evening: We will have a wonderful farewell surprise accompanied by a delicious dinner to celebrate our arrival. Night in Santiago de Compostela at the magnifcient El Parador de los Reyes Católicos. 4

5 Day 9: Nemiña to Lires (12 km / 7.5 mi) Today we will walk alongside the beach until we enter a beautiful eucalyptus forest. We will end the day with a sunset at Cape Touriñan, the most Western point of Spain and slightly more to the West than Cape Finisterre. You will be in awe with the views of waves breaking on cliffs and the vegetation of the area, when all the mountains are covered of yellow and blue flowers. Night in a rural manor near the coast. Day 10: Sardiñeiro to Cape Fisterra (10 km / 6.2 mi) We will walk the last 10 km until we arrive to the exciting Finisterre (End of the Earth) the place where it was believed that the world ended in the Non Plus Ultra door. It is considered the most occidental extreme of the European continent. Pilgrims will end their pilgrimage through Galicia in the Finisterre Lighthouse. It is traditional that the pilgrim burns a piece of clothing or the boots used during the Camino, throwing the ashes to the sea in sign of purification. We will perform a despacho ceremony to the waters of the ocean in gratitude for the gifts of our journey. Night in a rural manor near Finisterre. Day 11: Head back to Santiago. Your Camino through life begins! Tour Leaders Buen Camino! AMY & DAVID WILINSKI GOLDEN LIGHT HEALING LLC Amy & David Wilinski are owners of Golden Light Healing. Located in northeastern Wisconsin, their 200-acre Retreat Center offers seekers a chance to experience a deep connection with Nature while exploring training in Reiki, Shamanism, Intuition Development, Mediumship and much more. Amy and Dave lead spiritual journeys to Peru, Ireland, Scotland, Spaing, the Sacred Black Hills and Rock Island, WI. They are excited to walk the sacred Camino with you. Meals All breakfasts and dinners are included in this tour. We have carefully selected the included meals so you can have a taste of the most typical, most delicious, local cuisine. Most lunches are not included to provide more flexibility during the day and so you can experiment on your own. You can stop and eat something along the way, or have lunch at the end of the daily stage. Vegetarians, vegans, or those with a special diet (eg. gluten-free) can always find suitable options. Just let us know beforehand and we will be happy to accommodate your needs. 5

6 Accommodations All of our accommodations are hand-picked to give you the best possible experience. We will stay in charming Galician manors, usually in rural areas, that used to be the homes of important people in the community in the past such as kings or noblemen. They form part of the cultural experience. Usually they are located in privileged areas surrounded with green, peaceful scenery. All our accommodations have a private en-suite bathroom. You can be sure to receive personalized attention and excellent service from the owners, who will make you feel more than at home. Walking You walk at your own pace. There is no one you have to follow or walk with. We have meeting points along the way where our support vehicle will be waiting with snacks, fruit and water and to make sure everything is OK. We also offer assistance for any unexpected circumstances or simply to relieve muscular pain or cure blisters. Don t worry about getting lost. The yellow arrows will always guide the way. Moreover, on the Camino you are never alone. If you do not want to keep walking for any reason, you can hop on the support vehicle or be taken back to the hotel. After the daily walk, and after we ve all had lunch we will head back to the hotel where we can shower, freshen up and have a much-deserved rest. Before and After the Tour Before: Our Camino starts in the city of Madrid, which enjoys easy access internationally. We recommend arriving at least one day before the starting date. We can offer assistance in booking a hotel room for nights before the tour in a centrally located 4-star hotel so you can benefit from our preferential rates. Our ground operator can also offer activities in Madrid and its surroundings for those interested. After: Our tour ends in Santiago on the last day at around 1:00 pm. Transportation back to Madrid is NOT included. You can stay in Santiago on your own or leave on the last day of the tour. We recommend flying from Santiago to Madrid, which is the best and easiest option. There are plenty of flights throughout the day, and the flight has a duration of one hour. Extra hotel reservations: If you would like to stay in Madrid or Santiago for a few days before or after the tour, our ground operator would be happy to send you a list of hotels they work with and assist you with the reservations. Means and Assistance A vehicle and guide for logistical support will be available during the entire route. It shall be of help for the pilgrims in transit and to cover any other needs that might arise along the way. It will be equipped with fruits, snacks, water, medicine, first aid kits. The luggage will be transferred from one hotel to the next using the support vehicle. For the walk you can take a small/medium backpack for a camera, water bottle, and personal belongings. You can use the one we provide, or bring your own. Mobile phones with a Spanish line will be handed out for the period of the tour for every 2 or 3 pilgrims. This will allow you to communicate with the driver or guides for any reason at all times. The number can also be given to family members back home to receive phone calls. A packing list with recommendations on what to bring along on your trip, along with a Guide to Your Camino which answers questions regarding laundry, tip, and other useful topics. Pilgrim s Kit: Upon your arrival we hand you a backpack filled with your tour program and daily itinerary, a hat, a notepad, your shell, your Pilgrim s passport (Credencial). The backpack is perfect for use on your daily walk. 6

7 Price $3595/person if all payments made by check or bank transfer SAVE $100! $3695/person based on double occupancy. $600 single supplement SPECIAL! No Interest + No Payments for 6 Months. Golden Light Healing offers PayPal Credit Plan. Contact Us for details! Looking for a roommate? No worries! We will be happy to try to find a suitable roommate for those who are travelling alone and would like to share a room. Individual travelers requesting double occupancy will be paired with a same-gender roommate. Per our Terms and Conditions, registration for the tour will be held open until 8 weeks before the departure date in order to try to match everyone with a roommate. If, by that date, we have not been able to match you with a suitable roommate, you will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. An early registration will facilitate this process. To Register us at GoldenLightHealing@bayland.net and we will send you an invoice that you may pay with check, bank transfer or credit card. A $1000 non-refundable deposit will secure your place on the tour. Balance of payment is due 8 weeks prior to departure (August 1, 2017). INCLUSIONS Private van as support vehicle Luggage transfer between stages Carefully selected en-suite accommodation for 10 nights (one night at Parador de Santiago) All breakfasts and dinners Drinks and snacks along the Camino Assistance of one local English-speaking guide Mobile phones with a Spanish line (one per room) Informational program and route map Pilgrim's kit Guaranteed Botafumeiro ritual (censer) at the Pilgrim's mass Photos of your Camino Travel insurance for the entire tour Value Added Tax (VAT) of 21% Farewell dinner and surprise in Santiago Transportation from Madrid Welcome lunch in Astorga Guided visit in Santiago Ceremonies & rituals EXCLUSIONS Meals not specified in the detailed itinerary of the tour. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. US domestic, International or flights within Spain. Transfers for independent arrival or departure. Optional gratuities for local guide, driver, meals, etc. Additional hotel nights made necessary by airline schedule changes or other factors. 7

8 Traveler s flight insurance. Items of a personal nature and incidental expenditures. Single supplement charge, if requested ($600 additional fee) TERMS & CONDITIONS A minimum of 8 participants is required for this tour to operate. It the trip is cancelled due to an insufficient number of participants you will receive a full refund of your land costs paid to Golden Light Healing. All reservations are subject to availability. Golden Light Healing and Gothic Image Tours reserves the right to vary the itinerary according to the prevailing conditions and circumstances at the time of the tour. Please note: This tour requires hiking and walking on uneven terrain and participants will need a medium fitness level to fully participate. Persons with health or psychiatric problems may find this program physically or mentally trying. We recommend that in case of doubt, a physician or mental health professional be consulted. COSTS All prices are per person based on double occupancy. $3595 if all payments are made by cash, bank withdrawal or check - discounted price; $3695 payment with credit card or through PayPal. Single occupancy accommodation is available for an additional $700. A $1000 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your reservation. Final payment is due 8 weeks prior to the starting date of the program (August 1, 2017). CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS Written cancellation notice is required. Cancellations received by August 1, 2107 are refundable of all monies paid minus the $1000 non-refundable deposit. Cancellations received after August 1, 2017 are non-refundable and all monies paid are subject to forfeit. We highly recommend purchasing trip insurance in case of unforeseen circumstances. REFUNDS FOR UNUSED SERVICES No refunds will be made for no-shows or any other unused services irrespective of whether they form part of the inclusive tour price or are in respect of pr e-booked optional arrangements. TRAVEL INSURANCE Travel Insurance is strongly recommended to provide coverage for loss of deposit, cancellation fees, lost baggage, medical expenses and other potential travel-related losses in certain circumstances. We personally like to use TravelGuard.com as you can combine the cost of the trip and your flight. Most travel insurance companies require purchase of travel insurance at the time of your initial travel reservation or shortly thereafter. The scope of coverage is subject to the terms and conditions of the insurance policy. Golden Light Healing is not responsible for air tickets or additional travel arrangements booked through any source. Cancellations due to travel advisories, acts of war or terrorism, acts of God, Natural disasters, strikes, technical problems, political upheaval or any other circumstances outside the control of Golden Light Healing are not the responsibility of Golden Light Healing. Cancellations for any of these reasons will not be eligible for any form of refund. RESPONSIBILITY CLAUSE By agreeing to utilize the services of Golden Light Healing LLC (hereafter GLH), the tour participant agrees that neither Golden Lig ht Healing LLC, nor Amy or David Wilinski, nor its affiliates will be liable as per the terms and conditions stated herein. GLH is not responsible for any changes in schedule, strikes, delays, acts of governments, acts of God, fires, riots, theft, pilferage, epidemics, quarantine, medical or customs regulations, accident, loss, injury, or damage to you or to those travelling with you, in connection with any accommodation, transportation or any other services, resulting directly or indirectly from any occurrence or conditions beyond its control, including defects in vehicles, breakdown in equipment, thefts, delays or cancellation. Neither shall be liable for any delay, inconvenience, loss of employment, upset, disappointment, distress or frustration, whether physical or mental, resulting from the act or omission of GLH. In addition, neither GLH nor David or Amy Wilinski shall be liable for any damage, loss, claim, cost or expense arising out of personal injury, accident, death, loss, damage or delay of baggag e or other property. Golden Light Healing LLC cannot be held responsible for the late arrival of passengers at airports or resorts due to weather, acts of God or any other incident outside their control, nor are they to be held liable for payment or any refund for unused hotel accommodation or meals occasioned by such late arrivals. Golden Light Healing LLC and suppliers contracted for services reserve the right to refuse to accept or retain any person whose behavior is deemed likely to affect the smooth operations of a tour, or adversely affect the enjoyment or safety of other passengers. GLH, its agents, and suppliers shall be under no liability to any such person for refund, compensation, repatriation or any other matters arising. Golden Light Healing is not responsible for circumstances beyond its control including trip cancellations resulting from the inability for journeys to depart as scheduled, such as cancellations due to acts of war and/or terrorism, war, God, or nature. PRIVACY POLICY Golden Light Healing recognizes that privacy is important. In order to provide you with the services that we offer, we will collect some personal information from you which will only be used to facilitate your travel with us and will never be sold, rented or given to any third parties other than airlines, hotels and ground handlers who partner with us in providing you travel services, and then only for the purposes of your trip. We will always safeguard your personal information to the best of our ability. We will also need to collect payment information in order to process checks and/or credit cards. This information will only be collected through secure means using proven third-party tools and will not be stored or retained Golden Light Healing. 8