New for 2012: Walking above Lake Como
"When you write the story of two happy lovers, let the story be set on the banks of Lake Como". Franz Liszt
Widely regarded as the jewel in the crown of the Italian Lakes, postcard-pretty
Lake Como effortlessly combines a chic and sophisticated glamour with a stunning natural beauty that would struggle to be bettered anywhere else in Europe.
New for summer 2012, our
walks at Lake Como take you high into the foothills of the Italian Alps, where you'll follow smugglers' paths, pilgrims' trails and centuries-old stepped terraces linking pretty mountain villages and showcasing the wild side of this spectacular region.
At the end of each day, you'll head back down to the Lake, passing en route exquisite, sun-soaked villas with beautifully manicured gardens rolling down to the crystal blue shores. In each place that you stay, you have lovely waterfront bars and cafes - perfect for pre-dinner aperitifs - and lively medieval squares buzzing with local life and color.
This
walking holiday departs on selected Sundays from May 6 to October 14 2012.
Labels: Italy hiking tours, Italy walking tours, Italy walking vacations, Lake Como, Lake Como vacations, Walking vacations
"The Way" a film of one person's pilgrimage on the Spanish Camino de Santiago Walk
In theaters now, "The Way" is the story of one person's pilgrimage on the Spanish Camino de Santiago - The Way of St James - one of the most ancient walking routes in the world.
Written and directed by Emilio Estevez, and filmed entirely in Spain and France along the actual Camino de Santiago, "The Way" is a powerful and inspirational story of renewal and self-discovery. Martin Sheen plays Tom, an American doctor who comes to France to collect the remains of his adult son (played by Emilio Estevez), killed in the Pyrenees in a storm while taking the Camino de Santiago. Rather than return home, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage to honor his son's desire to finish the journey. What Tome doesn't plan on is the profound impact the journey will have on him and his life.
Should you be tempted to embark on your own journey, Breakaway offers the "Camino de Santiago" walking tour. This luxury linear walk begins in Leon, Spain and in keeping with the theme of a pilgrimage, takes a route along farm tracks, paths and country lanes. In the evenings, you'll stay in a diverse range of accommodations including hilltop monasteries, converted water mills and stylish farmhouses, all packed with period features. We have included transfers after breakfast on the first three walking days, after which you'll walk all the way to Santiago. The rush of achievement on arrival is immense, and sharing in this experience incredibly rewarding.
Everyone on the Camino has a 'Pilgrim Passport' that can be stamped in bars, hotels and churches along the way to qualify for a certificate from the official Pilgrim Office in Santiago. Along with your passport, you'll notice a heart warming camaraderie with other walkers, as day by day you fall in step with people from all over the world cheered on by complete strangers wishing you "Buen Camino" ("Enjoy your walk!").
Labels: Camino de Santiago, hiking in Spain, Spain walking tours, The Way
