UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT SUMMER 2017 (May 23 - June 1)

Hiking Through History: An Educational Journey on the

McKew Devitt, Senior Lecturer

Romance Languages

The Camino de Santiago is truly an amazing cultural experience. The ‘Way of St. James’ is a pilgrimage route that transverses the northern part of Spain, starting at two points at the border with France and ending in the city of in the province of . The trail offers a plethora of historical, religious, and cultural contexts to teach students about Spain and also its relation to Europe. From its origins during the times of the to its current status as UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Camino provides a unique opportunity for students who are interested in seeing Spain while following in the footsteps of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who came before them.

I have hiked the Camino several times and know first-hand the benefits it would offer students participating in a travel study course.

We will start in the city of León and finish in Santiago de Compostela 12 days later, having covered 281 kilometers, or 175 miles. We will also be spending a full day in Madrid and have time to see the Prado museum and some of the other sites the capital has to offer.

The intention for this course is to develop a travel study opportunity that would offer a once in a lifetime experience, an opportunity to see Spain from the unique perspective of the Camino. This course presents a challenge for anyone, no matter how physically fit they may be, and this should be a serious consideration before signing up for it.

Some of the major components of the course will include: studying architectural and artistic monuments along the Camino; reading books relevant to the course that range from epics like The Song of to modern-day accounts such as Paulo Coelho’s The Pilgrimage; understanding the cultural significance of the Camino from Medieval times to the present day.

Students will be required to attend 6 pre-trip meetings. In preparation for these meetings students will also be required to read the texts listed in the syllabus, write reaction papers based on their readings and questions provided by the instructor, and discuss topics with their peers. A post-trip meeting will also be scheduled where students will present their experiences from the Camino. With this in mind, it will be strongly recommended that students keep a travel journal during the trip to record their impressions. The final grade will be based on participation in the pre-trip meetings (20%), reaction papers and discussion topic questions (30%), and final presentation and paper (50%).

The course fee (to be determined) will cover all meals, lodging and in-country transportation. Students will be required to buy the airfare as a separate cost.

PRE-CLASS MEETINGS

March 30

- Introduction to the course UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT SUMMER 2017 (May 23 - June 1)

- History of the Camino in Spain; other Caminos

- The Pilgrimage to Santiago. Mullins, Edwin (photocopies)

April 6

- Arts in Spain (photocopies)

- A World Lit Only By Fire. Manchester, William (photocopies)

April 13

- Medieval Popular Culture: Problems of Belief and Perception. Gurevich, Aron (photocopies)

- The Medieval Traveler. Ohler, Norbert (photocopies)

April 20

- Poema de Mío Cid and Song of Roland

April 27

- Codex Calixtinus, Liber Sancti Jacobi

May 4

- Final preparations for the trip

May 7

- Pre-trip hike with backpacks

Travel Day

Day 1 – May 23

León – Villar de Mazarife (22 k / 15 m)

Albergue Tío Pepe http://www.alberguetiopepe.es/index.htm

Day 2 – May 24

Villar de Mazarife – Murias Rechivaldo (28.2 k / 17 m)

Mesón Las Aguedas http://www.lasaguedas.com/

Day 3 – May 25

Murias – El Acebo (32 km / 20 m) UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT SUMMER 2017 (May 23 - June 1)

Meson El Acebo http://www.gronze.com/albergues/camino-frances/albergue-meson-el-acebo-el-acebo.htm

Day 4 – May 26

El Acebo – Cacabelos (31 km / 19 m)

Hotel Santa María

Day 5 – May 27

Cacabelos – Villafranca del Bierzo (7 km / 4.3 m)

Hotel San Francisco

* Excursion to Las Médulas

Day 6 – May 28

Villafranca del Bierzo – O Cebreiro (29.73 km / 18.5 m)

Casa Carolo

Day 7 – May 29

O Cebreiro – (21.69 km / 13.5 m)

Albergue Aitzenea

* Excursion to the Monasterio de Samos

Day 8 – May 30

Triacastela – (24.5 km / 15.3 m)

Albergue Don Alvaro http://alberguedonalvaro.com/UntitledFrameset-10.html

Day 9 – May 31

Sarria – Gonzar (31 km / 19 m)

Casa García http://www.gronze.com/albergues/camino-frances/albergue-casa-garcia-gonzar.htm

Day 10 – June 1 UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT SUMMER 2017 (May 23 - June 1)

Gonzar – Melide (31 km / 19 m)

Pensión Berenguela http://www.pensionberenguela.com/inicio

Day 11 – June 2

Melide – Rúa (32 km / 20 m)

Pensión Arca http://pensionarca.blogspot.com/

Day 12 – June 3

Rúa – Santiago (20 km / 12.5 m)

Santiago Apartment (no website)

Carrera de Conde n. 7 (011-34-981-594768)

Travel Day