All Caminos Lead to Valencia (Lliria)
From the 6th to the 8th December 2014 Lliria, near Valencia, became the destination for pilgrims seeking the way to Santiago.
200 hospitallers (the ones who run the hostels not the Crusaders) gathered to discuss all things related to Spain’s oldest tourist attraction, the Camino de Santiago, Saint James’ Way.
‘Mare nostrum, iter nostrum’ is the slogan, ‘our sea, our way’. During their stay the innkeepers analysed the good, the bad and the not so good as regards 2014, and looked for ways to improve the services they offer to pilgrims, without changing the fundamental nature of the relationship between pilgrims and hosts, one of mutual respect and collaboration.
Volunteers from the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Finland, Switzerland, France and Russia also experienced some typical Valencian hospitality, including fireworks and the inevitable paella (let’s see if they learn to make it properly on the way).
The events took place in the Centro La Salle, just north of Lliria, where the 200 chosen ones were representing a total of 5,000 volunteers who work on the various Ways to Santiago, including the Levante Way that begins in Valencia.
Ángel is an English teacher at the Colegio San Andres & San José in Massanassa, and when he realised that the Levante Camino passed by his school, he persuaded the authorities to recognise the fact by having a typical Camino symbol attached of the wall of the school.
The event was hosted by the Valencian section of the federation of Friends of the Camino, which can be found at Calle Dr Gil i Morte nº 24-3, where prospective pilgrims can obtain their passports, maps, and of course, scallop shell.
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