[Gocamino] Medieval Pilgrims;

[Rosina]

Hello you all,
I took advantage of being in Washington D.C. last week to run into the delightful National Gallery Museum (where the entrance is free for all, all the time!), and was quite bowled over by two startling surprises.   In the gift shop, I found, for the first time in the USA, Camino calendars prominently displayed and, it appeared, selling briskly. They are wall calendars, about 12 x 12 inches and they are about the prettiest and most evocative that I've ever seen anywhere. They are distributed by an outfit called Tushita, Inc. USA - tushita.usa at tushita.com - ISBN 978-3-86765-335-0. and are entitled "The year 2010. CAMINO DE SANTIAGO Way and Destination."
As though such find were not enough, walking on to the bookstore there was, in pride of place, a just published book about the Camino written by medievalist professor Kathleen Ashley of the University of Southern Maine, and admirably illustrated by Marilyn Deegan who is Professor Emeritus in the Humanities at Kings College in London.  The name of the book is "BEING A PILGRIM" Art and Ritual on the Medieval Routes to Santiago
(ISBN 978-0-85331-989-4). And what a book it is!
The narratives of the culture, geography, and social and architectural infrastructure of the pilgrimage are richly complemented by riveting sections on visiting the Saints, the wonder of the towns, legends folklore and miracles, the musical journey and the ritual endings of the Pilgrimage in Santiago.. The illustrations and photographs are incomparably revealing and fascinating in major and minor details. And a lot of them cover things  that I never knew nothing about.  The presentation is such that even someone not cognizant of the Camino will be enthralled by it.. The book is large, about 10 by 12 inches, and weighty since its 261 pages are printed in that heavy glossy paper of art books.It costs $60. and is worth every penny. I haven't been so impressed by a Camino book since Linda Davidson's ten years ago.  In fact, after reading the first part of the book, and leafing through the rest, quite unconsciously I went to fetch my old walking stick and stood it besides my bed.  
And to have found these treasures at the National Gallery in D.C.  Wow!
Adding these publications to the recently completed encyclopedia put together by our very own Kathy Gower it certainly does seem that Christmas has come early this year.

Now, it seems that preparations for the PBS Camino documentary are proceeding apace. The producers will be getting directly in touch with those of you who expressed a willingness to be in the documentary.  Filming, I am told, will commence on the Camino around April of next year.

Hugs!

Rosina