{"id":6509,"date":"2017-09-07T02:39:13","date_gmt":"2017-09-07T02:39:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/?p=6509"},"modified":"2017-10-23T01:06:32","modified_gmt":"2017-10-23T01:06:32","slug":"going-back-whence-we-came","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/?p=6509","title":{"rendered":"Going back “whence we came…”"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

I’m going east to explore\u00a0Spain<\/a>. \u00a0(That’s\u00a0where\u00a0Columbus<\/a>\u00a0– center – started west to explore us<\/strong>…)<\/em><\/p>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

<\/h1>\n

Within 48 hours I\u2019ll be winging my way from Atlanta to\u00a0Madrid<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0(As in\u00a0Spain<\/a>, and as indicated in\u00a0Training for the Camino<\/a>.)<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>From there I’ll be taking a train to Pamplona<\/a>,\u00a0from whence<\/a>\u00a0my brother and I will\u00a0hike 450 miles in 30 days, on the\u00a0Camino de Santiago<\/a>. \u00a0Which brings up the whole “whence we came” thing. \u00a0(As illustrated at right, and in the title of this post.)<\/em><\/p>\n

That phrase is attributed – variously – to\u00a0John F. Kennedy<\/a>,\u00a0James Baldwin<\/a>, and\u00a0Jesus<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jesus said –\u00a0in the\u00a0King James Version<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>John 8:14<\/a>\u00a0–\u00a0\u201cI know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go<\/span>.\u201d \u00a0John F.\u00a0<\/span>Kennedy put it this way: \u00a0“When we go back to the sea … we are going back from whence we came<\/em>.” \u00a0And James Baldwin said, “If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which pretty much sums up the whole idea of going on a\u00a0pilgrimage<\/a>. \u00a0As in – for example – going for a 450-mile hike on the\u00a0Camino de Santiago<\/a>. (As shown at left, in an illustration from a far earlier time.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Or, as\u00a0Pope (Emeritus) Benedict XVI<\/a>\u00a0put it:<\/p>\n

To go on pilgrimage is not simply to visit a place to admire its treasures of nature, art or history. \u00a0To go on pilgrimage really means to step out of ourselves<\/strong> in order to encounter God where he has revealed himself<\/strong>… \u00a0Above all, Christians go on pilgrimage [for example] to\u00a0Compostela<\/a>, which, associated with the memory of Saint James, has welcomed pilgrims from throughout the world who desire to strengthen their spirit with the Apostle\u2019s witness of faith and love.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The point of all this being that – in going to Spain – I’ll be going back to the place where the whole\u00a0American Saga<\/a>\u00a0really began. \u00a0(As illustrated in the painting at the top of the page.)<\/em> \u00a0That saga – the\u00a0American Journey<\/a>\u00a0– began when one\u00a0Chris Columbus<\/a>\u00a0met “Isabella I of Castile<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Ferdinand II of Aragon<\/a>.\u201d \u00a0I.e., back “whence we all<\/em><\/strong> came.”<\/p>\n

Metaphorically<\/a>\u00a0or otherwise…<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

But there is one problem. \u00a0In preparing for the trip, I found out that I know very little about\u00a0Spain<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>as it is today. \u00a0For example, I didn’t know that Spain is now both a\u00a0constitutional monarchy<\/a>\u00a0and a\u00a0parliamentary democracy<\/a>. \u00a0(One of “19 full democracies in the world.”)<\/em><\/p>\n

I also didn’t know about the\u00a0Iberian Wolf<\/a>\u00a0– at right –\u00a0but there’s more on that later.<\/p>\n

More to the point, I didn’t have much of an idea of what kind of sections or provinces of Spain that I’d be hiking through.<\/p>\n

But I know now – through the magic of\u00a0Googling<\/a>\u00a0– that\u00a0my portion of the 450-mile Camino-hike will go through the four most-northerly regions of Spain: \u00a0Navarra<\/a>,\u00a0La Rioja<\/a>,\u00a0Castilla y Leon<\/a>, and\u00a0Galicia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

(My brother will be hiking further: \u00a0Over the\u00a0Pyrenees<\/a>\u00a0– from\u00a0Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port<\/a>\u00a0in France –\u00a0<\/em>and meeting up with me in\u00a0Pamplona<\/a>. \u00a0So he’ll do 500 miles and I’ll do 450 miles. \u00a0But personally I had enough mountain hiking last August. \u00a0See\u00a0On the Chilkoot &^%$# Trail!<\/strong> \u2013 Parts One <\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Two<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n

So anyway,<\/em><\/strong> the capital of the first province on our mutual journey – Navarra<\/a>\u00a0(Navarre) – is\u00a0Pamplona<\/a>.\u00a0 This – it is said – is “a quiet and pleasant city … world-famous for the\u00a0Running of Bulls<\/i>\u00a0which form part of its most famous festival,\u00a0Sanfermines<\/a>, in July.” \u00a0(And as immortalized in\u00a0The Sun Also Rises<\/a>, the\u00a01926 novel by American author\u00a0Ernest Hemingway<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"WineThe\u00a0La Rioja<\/a>\u00a0region also has one province, of the same name. \u00a0 The “smallest of Spain’s Autonomous Communities,” the first thing that comes to mind for\u00a0La Rioja<\/em><\/a>\u00a0is “probably the wine bearing the same name.” \u00a0(Memo to self: \u00a0Do more research on this topic.<\/strong>) \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Along the\u00a0Way of Saint James<\/i>\u00a0there are monumental towns of great beauty lined up: \u00a0Calahorra,\u00a0Arnedo,\u00a0San Millan de la Cogolla,Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and\u00a0Logro\u00f1o, founded already by Romans and today the region’s capital.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The next region –\u00a0Castilla y Leon<\/a>\u00a0– is not only the largest region of Spain, it’s also “the largest region of all the European Union.” \u00a0And it’s actually two regions in one: \u00a0“Castilla and Leon came together in 1983, when the regions of Castilla la Vieja and Leon were united.”<\/p>\n

The 450-mile hike ends in\u00a0Galicia<\/a>, the region “known in Spain as the ‘land of the 1000 rivers.'” \u00a0It has four provinces: \u00a0Lugo, Ourense, Pontevedra <\/em>and\u00a0A Coru\u00f1a<\/em>. \u00a0The capital of the latter province is – as we well know by now \u00a0–\u00a0Santiago de Compostela<\/a>. \u00a0And that’s\u00a0the\u00a0“final destination of the famous pilgimage way” and “certainly among Spain’s most beautiful cities.”<\/p>\n

In closing this post, I’m not sure when I’ll get to do another one before I get home \u00a0That is, I’m not sure how safe, secure and user-friendly are the “public” wi-fi connections in Spain.<\/p>\n

But in the meantime, consider the following little tidbits of information:<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

The region of Spain where my brother and I will be hiking…<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The “approximate geographical range of the Iberian wolf…\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"IberianWolf-Map.png\"<\/p>\n

And finally, an “Alpha male Iberian wolf with blood stains in its snout:”<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Just Sayin’!<\/a><\/em><\/h3>\n

* \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n

The upper image is courtesy of\u00a0Spain – Wikipedia<\/a>. \u00a0The caption: \u00a0“Christopher Columbus<\/a>\u00a0meets\u00a0Isabella I of Castile<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Ferdinand II of Aragon<\/a>\u00a0in the\u00a0Alhambra<\/a>.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Re: \u00a0“Whence.” \u00a0The Kennedy-quote image is courtesy of\u00a0<\/em>To sail or to watch \u2013 we are going back from whence we came<\/a><\/em>quotefancy.com<\/a>. \u00a0Kennedy made the comments at the “<\/em>Dinner for the America’s Cup Crews,” on September 14, 1962. \u00a0Here’s the full quote:<\/i><\/p>\n

\n

I really don’t know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it’s because in addition to the fact that the sea changes, and the light changes, and ships change, it’s because we all came from the sea. \u00a0And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. \u00a0We are tied to the ocean. \u00a0And when we go back to the sea – whether it is to sail or to watch it – we are going back from whence we came.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Re: \u00a0“American Journey.” \u00a0See also\u00a0The American Journey: A History of the United States<\/a>, the text book, not to be confused with American Journey<\/a>, the “six-part\u00a0orchestral<\/a>\u00a0composition” composed by\u00a0John Williams<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0“commissioned by\u00a0U.S. President<\/a>\u00a0Bill Clinton<\/a>\u00a0to accompany a multimedia presentation titled ‘The Unfinished Journey’\u00a0directed by\u00a0Steven Spielberg<\/a>\u00a0for the 2000 ‘Millennium<\/a>‘\u00a0celebrations.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Re: \u00a0“Back ‘whence we all came.'” \u00a0Yeah, I know, the\u00a0<\/span>Vikings Beat Columbus to America<\/a>, but they didn’t stick around very long. \u00a0See\u00a0Norse colonization of North America – Wikipedia<\/a>: \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

The Norse colony in\u00a0Greenland<\/a>\u00a0lasted for almost 500 years. \u00a0Continental North American settlements were small and did not develop into permanent colonies. \u00a0While voyages, for example to collect\u00a0timber<\/a>, are likely to have occurred for some time, there is no evidence of any lasting Norse settlements on mainland North America.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Information on the “northerly regions of Spain” was gleaned from Regions of SPAIN \u2013 All about Spain<\/a>.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

The “wolf” image is also courtesy of the\u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>\u00a0article on Spain.\u00a0 The caption, “Iberian Wolf<\/a>.” \u00a0The caption for that link indicates that the Iberian Wolf is “a\u00a0subspecies<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0grey wolf<\/a>\u00a0that inhabits the forest and plains of northern\u00a0Portugal<\/a>\u00a0and northwestern\u00a0Spain<\/a>. \u00a0The 2003 census estimated the total Iberian population to be 2,000 wolves.” \u00a0The article further indicated that “Iberian wolf lives in small packs. \u00a0It is considered to be beneficial because it keeps the population of\u00a0wild boar<\/a>\u00a0stable, thus allowing some respite to the endangered\u00a0capercaillie<\/a>\u00a0populations which suffers greatly from boar predation.\u00a0 It also eats\u00a0rabbits<\/a>,\u00a0roe deer<\/a>,\u00a0red deer<\/a>,\u00a0ibexes<\/a>\u00a0and even small\u00a0carnivores<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0fish<\/a>. \u00a0In some places it eats\u00a0domestic animals<\/a>\u00a0such as\u00a0sheep<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0dogs<\/a>.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The “La Rioja” image is courtesy of\u00a0Tourism in La Rioja (Province) in Spain | Visit La Rioja<\/a>. \u00a0The caption: \u00a0“Wine with the La Rioja Designation of Origin \u00a9\u00a0La Rioja Turismo.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Note again that the map above – showing the “Approximate geographical range of the Iberian wolf” – roughly coincides to where I’ll be hiking. \u00a0See e.g. the top map in\u00a0Training for the Camino<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Also, note that the idea of\u00a0Columbus<\/a>\u00a0starting “west to explore\u00a0us<\/strong>” is a bit of\u00a0Artistic License<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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I’m going east to explore\u00a0Spain. \u00a0(That’s\u00a0where\u00a0Columbus\u00a0– center – started west to explore us…) * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * Within 48 hours I\u2019ll be winging my way from Atlanta to\u00a0Madrid.\u00a0\u00a0(As in\u00a0Spain, and as indicated in\u00a0Training for the Camino.)\u00a0\u00a0From there I’ll be taking a train to Pamplona,\u00a0from whence\u00a0my brother and I will\u00a0hike 450 miles in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6509"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6509"}],"version-history":[{"count":44,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6509\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6600,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6509\/revisions\/6600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6509"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6509"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/georgiawasp.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}