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Thank you so much Obaya! Here are some tourist office websites for people who would like to do more research on your recommendations...

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Obaya,

Could you please explain what brings tourists to Santiago de Compostela.

I think readers who are unfamiliar with Camino de Santiago, the pilgrimage, and the history of the city would find it interesting.

Sarah. I was in England when this pilgrimage was rediscovered. It was a project by two university students in England. They found the old manuscripts and describtions in a library and their project was to see how true these writings were by going on that pilgrimage. The students found that the describtions were very accurate except for the places that pilgrims stayed at, these had been mostly upgraded. The students said that they were met by looks of "amazement" when they related what they were doing. The story and movies of their travel was on English TV. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hello again

First of all, Bob, I'm afraid you don't receive the best of the TV channels we enjoy here in Spain. As for the program you mentioned, it disappeared because the producer is now working for a different TV channel. He is producing a sitcom which most of the country is following it's called "Aqu� no hay quien viva" =No-one can live here" about neighbours living in a block of flats.

Now, let's go to the Camino de Santiago. Santiago de Compostela is a city in Galicia. Santiago is the name of a Saint and compostela is a compound of two words Campo estelae =Star field. A cathedral was built in the site and the corpse of the saint was buried there. From that moment on, people from all over Europe started coming on pilgrimage to this holy city. Those who arrived in Santiago won the Jubileo, a kind of pardon for their sins.

There are a lot of different routes to reach Santiago but, probably, the most famous one is The French way, across the Pirenees and choosing the less mountanous area, crossing Le�n, for example. But there are as many ways as European countries.

Along the way, pilgrims usually stopped to pray in the pre-roman, roman and gothic churches and cathedrals they found on their way and they lodged in special hostels for pilgrims. Ladies, knights, servants and all kinds of people used to come to Santiago when they couldn't join a crussade, for example.

The tradition was a bit forgotten by Europeans but it was never forgotten in Spain. Although, there has been an enormous increase in the number of pilgrims that follow the way to Santiago, especially during the Holy Compostelan Year. (every 4 years, more or less). Nowadays, if you decide to do this pilgrimage, you stop in special hostels that stamp you your pilgrim papers to confirm that you're doing the way. You can walk, ride a bike, a horse, etc.

All you need is follow the shells drawn in signposts and roads which signal the correct Compostelan way. It's a good way of visiting Spain.

Once in Santiago, you go to the cathedral, which is really impressive, and attend the mass where, if you're lucky, you can see the "butafumeiro" an enormous silver structure to burn incense (this was done to prevent body odour). After the mass you can go behind the altar to kiss the image of the Saint.

I hope this might help you understand the Camino de Santiago a bit better. And who knows? Maybe we'll meet on the way one of these days.

Best regards.

Thanks Bob and Obaya!

This is a good website for more information on the Camino de Santiago: http://www.xacobeo.es/xacobeo2.asp

I hear that carnival in Ourense is fantastic.

Hola obaya es la verdad, we do not get the best TV from Spain but one station is better than none so we enjoy what we have. El resto de estacions son de America Latina. Santiago "el patron de Espana" y tambien muy famoso en batalia; "Santiago Y cierra" , como las Inglesas y sus St. George and England. The route I heard about started in Holland but as you said, there are many routes. Many of the pilgramage trails of Europe have been forgotten so there are many discoveries to be made for those who are young enough and want an adventure. One thing I can say is that anyone who visits Spain will not be diappointed. Espana y sus gentes son muy graciosas "Spain and the Spanish people are wonderful". <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Bob. this may be a ridiculous question... so forgive me... but I saw the photo of all your radio equipment on Jaga's forum and I have been dying to ask you about it. Can you talk to people only in America or can you talk to people all over the world? Or is this not radio equipment for talking to people at all?

We are so thankful for the Spanish language (Mexican) channels here in southern California. Without them, we would get only limited access to football coverage. And without that, I fear my husband would leave me and hotfoot it out of America!! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hello Sarah. I do indeed talk to the whole world. A fun time for me was chasing the time change around the world during the millennium (2000). I didn't talk to every country but I did log in every continent. I did not have to change bands and propagation was good that day. The conversations we avoid are politics and religion. I have met many interesting people and it is nice to receive a card from them confirming the contact. There are many short wave listners (mostly outside the U.S.) who wish a confirmation of a chat they may have listened to. All my equipment works and I have had no complaints from my neighbors. Speaking of the left coast. I even talked with the Special Event Station for The Rose Parade. I have one other station in my garage that I operate during the winter because it consists of equipment that uses all tubes and has the added benefit of serving as a space heater. LOL <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />.
I am glad to see the people from other countries visiting this forum because they can always provide you and us other visitors with up-to-date info

Hello again

I agree with you Bob, it's better one than none. Nowadays we enjoy satellite and cable TV so American and British channels are growing popular in Spain too. You're right too as regards Santiago, the patron saint of Spain and about the cry given at battles "Santiago y cierra Espa�a". The Camino is done every year by thousands of pilgrims, no matter their age. It's not a competition, you can spend as much time as necessary to do it. And you can start it anywhere, from England, Holland, Southern Spain, etc.

Sarah, you've asked me about the Carnival in Orense. Orense is a city in Galicia (my brother lives there)and of a province too. Carnival's got a long established tradition in different villages in that area. Each village's got a peculiar carnival character disguised wearing espectacular masks. For example, in Orense city, the "pita" = hen.

People disguise themselves and wander around the city or village. You can disguise individually or in groups. People who join a group form a "Charanga", they invent critical lyrics about society, politics, religion or any other subject you can think of.

The most famous charangas in Spain are those of Cadiz (one of the most famous Carnivals too). The only problem is the Andalucian acent is difficult to understand (they normally subtitle the lyrics in TV so that the audience from other areas can understand them).

Almost every city and village in Spain enjoy Carnival from ancient times; it is a pagan tradition. It normally lasts between three days and one week. During these days, people disguise and go out, we eat, drink, meet friends (if you can recognise them)and enjoy the fiesta. The last day of Carnival is called "El entierro de la sardina" = The burial of the sardine.

It's a time to feel free. To give you an idea of how rooted this tradition is, I can tell you that during the times of the dictatorship of Franco, it was forbidden; in some areas (Asturias, for example) people kept on celebrating Carnival although you could be sent to prison or fined if you did.

I like your forum very much. I normally visit Spanish forums but when I'm looking for some information I visit forums from other nationalitites. I'm a teacher of languages so it's not too difficult for me to understand what members are saying. And it's really enriching. It makes you understand different ways of thinking.

Greetings
Obaya

Bob. The radio sounds like so much fun. I love the dual-purpose radio/heater LOL. You're right -- it is great to have people like Obaya keep us posted from home with up-to-date information.

Obaya. It's interesting that the Andalucian accent is hard for people in northern Spain to understand. I have to giggle when you say that the television normally subtitles the lyrics so the audience can understand... this sometimes happens here when there is a thick Irish, Scottish, or northern English accent on the television. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Bob. If you disguised yourself and joined a "Charanga" you could make make up critical lyricals about politics and religion and all the others topics you avoid talking about with your radio friends <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Obaya. I'm glad you like the forum. Which languages do you teach? English obviously... any others?