After the crucifixion and Pentecost, Saint James, one of the 12 Apostles,
went to Spain to preach the gospels. His name became Saint Iacobus, San Thiago, San Diego, Santiago. He is the patron saint of Spain and legend has it that he appeared as a ghost knight slaying Muslims (“matamoros”) and infidels—something that is no longer mentioned in the official web site of Santiago de Compostela, the city where supposedly his bones are kept. Its cathedral has been a pilgrimage mecca for thousands of years.
Santiago’s symbol is a shell, like the vermillion and gold logo designed by Raymond Loewy for Shell, the oil and gas company. Those shells contain the delicious scallops—which are actually the adductor muscle of the animal-. The most famous dish is Coquilles St. Jacques. At almost $30 a pound nowadays, I am very wary how often I buy these mollusks—but both John and I love them. Just searing them for minutes makes a great dish. What’s your favorite scallop recipe?
Back to the pilgrimage. Since the Middle Ages, the 500-mile (825-km) hike was based on fervor and dedication—even indulgence. But these days it’s all about fitness. Social media ads for immersive art shows and classical music by candlelight(*) accost me these days. After joining a medieval art online group, I started getting sponsored content for El Camino de Santiago tours (The Way of Saint James). “Are you looking for the perfect excuse to get moving and crush your fitness goals? Your activity will automatically upload to your challenge’s virtual map and leaderboard! Plus you’ll get a Fitness Tracker with heart rate and blood pressure kits and a pulse oxymeter app—compatible with both iPhone & Android.” Something that centuries ago, devout pilgrims with hypertension and worn out shoes probably never foresaw.
— New York City, 7/30/2021