Augustine the Aleut, one of our most seasoned Mystery Worshippers, hit Europe's most famous pilgrimage route, the Camino Santiago de Compostela, first in 2002, and then again in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2016. Each year he stopped at different points along the way, visiting different churches and experiencing vastly different religious and social customs.

He braved freezing cold in the Pyrenees, snoring in the hostels, blistered feet, even Uzi-toting armed guards! In 2011 he accidentally took a wrong turn and found himself face to face with the largest relic in existence of the True Cross. But ah! In 2016 he danced the tango in Zaragoza; learned from an old grandmother in Tarazona what the one dish is that can keep countries from falling apart; received a special blessing in Hontoria del Pinar; didn't sneeze at vespers in Santo Domingo; and reminisced in Santiago about – bagpipes!

And then there were those early morning cups of fortifying café con leche, not to mention late night quaffs of brandy and vino tinto.

In this special Mystery Worshipper feature, Augustine reports on the different churches he visited en route. Click the links below for Augustine's reports, plus his introduction to the whole experience.

Introduction

> The Story of the Camino de Santiago
> 756 kilometres to Santiago
> An encounter with the True Cross
> From Zaragoza to Santiago (2016)

2016 pilgrimage

> Doing the tango at San Gil Abad, Zaragoza
> Beans and quail at Nuestra Señora de la Merced, Tarazona
> Restorative: Asunción de Nuestra Señora, Hontoria del Pinar
> Vespers at the Abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos
> Naught for comfort at Igrexa de Santo Agostiño, Santiago

2011 pilgrimage

> St John the Baptist, Montaigu
> Basilica of St Nicholas, Nantes
> Santa María la Real, Zarautz, Gipuzkoa
> Collegiata de Santa Juliana, Santanilla del Mar
> San Vicente, Potes, Cantabria
> Basílica de San Isidoro, León

2009 pilgrimage

> Santa María, Igualada, Catalonia
> Mare de Déu del Miracle, Balaguer, Catalonia
> San Lorenzo, Huesca, Aragón
> Catedral de San Pedro, Jaca, Aragón
> San Miguel, Estella, Navarre
> Santa María de la Asunción, Viana, Navarre
> Santa María del Camino, Carrión de los Condes, Castile
> Iglesia de Santiago, Triacastela, Lugo

2007 pilgrimage

> Abbey of Our Lady, Montserrat, Catalonia
> Cathedral of Santa Maria del Romeral, Monzón, Aragon
> St Amaro's Hermitage, Burgos, Castile
> San Lorenzo, Sahagún, León
> San Tirso, Palas de Rei, Galicia
> Santa María Salomé, Santiago de Compostela

2002 pilgrimage

> Abbey of Roncesvalles, Navarre
> Church of St Mary, Los Arcos, Navarre
> Church of St Mary, Rabanal, Leon
> Cathedral of St James, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia