A pilgrimage to Jerusalem

[Tal]

Hello everyone!
I started walking from Pamplona in May 28 two years ago, got to Santiago about a month later.
Now I came up with this new great idea of walking to Jerusalem.
Surprisingly I couldn’t find any relevant information about this kind of pilgrimage (except tours, which I'm not interested in). I know that a pilgrimage in Israel (because, well, I live here) could be challenging, the old roads are probably not as well reserved as in Spain. If anyone has any information about this pilgrimage, and of course if anyone did it himself, I'll be more than happy to know!
Jerusalem is about an hour drive from my house! I refuse to believe I need to go all the way to Spain to enjoy a journey such as the Camino!

Thanks!

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Tal,
Wait, you already live in Israel and you're thinking of a pilgrimage to Jerusalem? The standard definition of "pilgrimage" means you start at your doorstep and walk toward your goal. So why not just walk to Jerusalem from where you're at? Am I missing something?

Or perhaps you're thinking of walking from someplace other than your home to Jerusalem? In that case, you have many choices and one big problem: the politics of it all. If you started in, say, Rome and walked around the Eastern Mediterranean you'd discover an Israeli passport will be a problem -- most dramatically in Syria and Lebanon. Perhaps you have another passport as well. A US passport could also be problematic. FYI there's now a travel advisory against Americans traveling in Syria. Based on info you've given it's just not clear how the political situation would affect your particular situation. If you have an Arab passport you might be in better luck.

Though I've been to Jerusalem multiple times I've also considered a pilgrimage there at some future date. I'm presently planning a walk to Rome and when that's done, Jerusalem will be the next big challenge. I'm just not sure if things will resolve themselves enough in my lifetime for me as an American safely to walk through Lebanon and Syria to Jerusalem.

Your best source for info will be blogs by folks who've walked it -- and there are some out there. Just Google them and you'll see what I mean. Good luck and happy pilgrimage!

[Tal]

Hi! Thanks for the response!

Maybe I could have done my research about definitions a little better. I refer to the journey as a pilgrimage not because of the starting point, but for the walking, the road and the whole experience of the long journey with a goal. At this case, the goal is getting to Jerusalem- walking to Jerusalem.
You are right to say that it is NOT safe in some countries around Israel. It's not even an option to discuss, hopefully one day things will be different.

As you well know, there is more than one way to get to a certain point. Obviously I'm planning to find the safest way, as well as I did when I traveled in Spain.
I wanted to know more about the way itself. Sure I can just walk, but I was hoping that there is a specific path, like the Camino, and perhaps get some tips about important places to visit and in general- facilities solutions.
I guess I'll have to plan the whole things myself, not many people walk to Jerusalem these days. Couldn’t find many blogs as well, but thanks for the tip!
Perhaps one day things will change around here, perhaps it will not, but if you are planning of walking to Jerusalem yourself one day I can assure you that as long as you'll be between Israel borders you'll be just fine

Good luck with getting to Rome!
Please share about how everything went, I would like to do it myself on day!

[unadara]

Hi Sandy
I see a few posts on Rome, where are you hoping to start such a challenging pilgrimage ? Would like to read some literature on possibilities, being Irish a start from Canterbury would be possible BUT all through France, Italy etc, are the facilities there, is it safe ? When do you think you'll get the opportunity to do this walk?
Thanks
Una

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Una ~
I have a month for walking this year, so I thought I'd do a slightly abbreviated Camino del Norte, but after 3 caminos I thought it was time to try something completely different. A couple of years ago I had investigated the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome, then as I thought about it thought this might be the year. So, I'll walk this June from Canterbury to about Lausanne, Switzerland. In a future year (to be determined later) I'll walk from Lausanne to Rome.

The whole trip from Canterbury to Rome is approx 1700 kms and generally it's done in 3 months' time. My piece from Canterbury to Switzerland will be approx 700 kms. I read somewhere that the average number of pilgrims over the entire Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome is about 250/year. There are campsites and a very few gites (albergues) in France, but nothing like the infrastructure on the Spanish caminos. I'll take a tent and stove and will plan on some campsites and perhaps some illegal (sorry, gendarmes) camping along the way if necessary. Apparently there are also some days with no services -- shops, restaurants, bars -- so a 2 day water/food supply is sometimes necessary.

Best I can tell, for us English speakers the primary resources are the Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome Home and the guidebooks by Alison Raju Via Francigena Canterbury to Rome - Part 1: Canterbury to the Great St Bernard Pass Pt. 1 Cicerone Guides: Amazon.co.uk: Alison Raju: Books . For a small donation the CPR office sends a pilgrim credential and, upon arrival at St. Peter's in Rome, pilgrims who've walked a minimum of 200 kms receive a "magisterium" certificate. Apparently the modern version of this has been given only several hundred times. The entire Via Francigena route is reconstructed from the detailed journal of Sigeric the Serious, an archbishop of Canterbury from the 10th c. who walked there and back to receive his palladium from the pope.

One pilgrim who recently walked said she did not see any other pilgrims from Canterbury into Switzerland and often had to explain her pilgrimage to locals in France and other places who weren't aware of it. It's appealing to walk this pilgrimage in the earliest days of its rebirth, something like the Camino de Santiago must've been about 30 years ago.

I'm sure I'll head back to Santiago again soon. My sister, in fact, is planning a 2013 pilgrimage, and many other friends are planning theirs in the next years. The lure of Santiago is hard to resist, and I'm sure that even Rome can't compare with the friendships among pilgrims that the CdS offers.

[unadara]

Sandy
You are a mine of information, I can see some more literature coming into the house, reading for the dark winter days you understand. Before we left Santiago we bought the Guide for the French Way- down from Roscoff to Saint-Jean D'Angely with a mind to walking out our door here in Wicklow and starting a Camino to Santiago from here, down through france to join with more traditional way marked ways. The book is only available in French. I am going to Rome for Easter with a friend, a first visit and look forward to it very much. The long distance walking element is only a part of it as you well understand. I enjoyed the "structure" and the "facilities" on the CF. How did you get to talk to the "woman" who walked it ? Is there a forum ? I look forward very much to hearing about your plans and if not here will follow you on fb. Any plans for me are on "hold". A sister is receiving treatment for agressive melanoma and it is a difficult time for us all. But I returned from my Camino with a strength I haven't felt in many years and my family are grateful for it, the "Camino" provides. Lovely to have this "forum" too.
Regards
Una

[netia]

Hi Sandy...and Una : )

I'm planning to walk La Via francigena also, but sadly I'll miss you Sandy as i plan to start walking in May. I'm hoping to walk from Canterbury to Rome, with a friend, so we really have to leave in May to try and avoid the worst of the summer heat in Italy. We can't leave any earlier, as Great Saint Bernards pass is closed until June.
I have been in touch by email, with an italian girl Cristina, who walked the entire VF last year and the Italian leg again this year. She is very much involved with the way marking of the Italian leg and indeed the preservation of the whole Via francigena.
She has been very helpful, providing me with answers to all of my questions to date and is happy to help out where ever possible. I'm sure you have already found her blog which she wrote while walking last year..but if not go to http://www.globetrotter-life.com/ViaFrancigena.htm
She suggested the best guide to use is the Lightfoot Guide but they are rather bulky. I have purchased both the guide you mentioned and the Lightfoot guides and together with the information on Cristinas blog I hope to do lots of researching before we leave .....and hopefully arrive in Rome safely and without to many disasters
Very exciting!! Going to be such a different experience to the wonderful Camino Frances but as you say Sandy, great to be able to walk the VF in its early stages of it's rebirth. It seems that it's gaining lots of popularity, so in a few years time will be very busy.
Bye for now,
Netia
Una.....hope your Camino was wonderful : )

[HuskyNerd]

Sorry to miss you! We've started a VF section on this Forum, so I hope you can share updates with our readers. Thanks for the tip on the blog -- I hadn't read it yet. I wonder what day you're starting in May. I'm actually starting at the end of the month -- I think the 28th. Anyway, I'll look forward to your updates!

[unadara]

Netia
My Camino was the most wonderful privileged experience. I gained a new inner strength, unfortunately I found on arrival home I need to draw on it every day (BUT I have it)!
So for immediate future I will be reading and being with you all in your plans, and will "be here now" at home where I'm needed.
Now I have a new blog to read, new books to order online (my collection is growing), and if opportunity presents itself I might get a short camino experience in "next year".

[netia]

Oh..that's great about the VF section! We haven't set our dates yet but meeting on thursday to discuss. Probably the last week in April or first week in May. I hope to write a blog, as i did on Camino frances...so Sandy, if you are able to view it as you walk, we can forewarn you of any problems! By the way, how do you attach your blog site to your posts, as Una has done? Una you did tell me, a few months ago, when you were reading my blog but I have lost your instructions : ) From now on I will post on La Via Francigena's special new site!

[HuskyNerd]

Fabulous! I'll look forward to your blog posts with great anticipation. Thank you, Netia. Are you as excited as I am?

[netia]

Fabulous! I'll look forward to your blog posts with great anticipation. Thank you, Netia. Are you as excited as I am?

Yes Sandy, I'm full of anticipation....but also there's a little bit of fear there as well, as this way is far less travelled than the Camino Frances..... and as you know lacks the infrastructure. I've started walking again, well actually never really stopped after the camino in September : ) and planning is in motion of what I need to carry etc. We have a start date now..23rd April : ) Very exciting!!