Sacred Journeys Around the World

3. St. Patrick’s Way

Armagh to Downpatrick, Ireland

Missing a new season of Game of Thrones? Begun in 2015 by a Camino de Santiago veteran walker, this 82-mile trail through stunning scenic landscapes in Northern Ireland follows the footsteps of St. Patrick. It not only highlights the legacy of the ancient patron saint, but passes through magical woodlands that influenced C.S. Lewis when he envisioned Narnia as well as through the Mourne Mountains, a filming location for Game of Thrones.

4. Madonna del Ghisallo

Lombardy, Italy

Who said pilgrimages can only be completed on foot? Cyclists pedal 5.84 miles from Bellagio on Lake Como toward the mecca of the bike world, the 17th-century Madonna del Ghisallo chapel dedicated to the patron saint of cyclists. The chapel’s shrine to cycling legends includes bikes ridden by Tour de France victors, as well as jerseys from some of the world’s best riders.

5. St. Olav’s Path

Selånger, Sweden to Trondheim, Norway

Escape the crowds on El Camino and head to Scandinavia to walk the world’s northernmost pilgrimage. This 350-mile trail from the east coast of Sweden to the west coast of Norway traces the last journey of Viking King Olav in 1030. It transverses deep forests and mountains and ends at Nidaros Cathedral where the sainted king is said to be buried.

6. The Abraham Path

Şanlıurfa, Turkey to Hebron, West Bank

With the goal of sharing the hospitable side of this region with foreigners, the 12-year-old Abraham Path connects places associated with the Biblical figure Abraham—a revered patriarch in Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Walk with local guides in Turkey to Abraham’s birthplace, and with Palestinian guides from the northern West Bank to his tomb in Hebron, connecting with locals and fostering cultural understanding along the way.

7. Mount Kailash Kora

Darchen, Tibet

Seek enlightenment or merely extraordinary views while circling Tibet’s most sacred mountain—holy to four religions. Mt. Kailash looms about 22,000-feet high, and the circuit—or kora—has taken pilgrims through challenging, high-altitude trails and along the breathtaking glacial Manasarovar Lake for more than 15,000 years.

8. 88-Temple Pilgrimage

Shikoku, Japan

For over 1200 years, white-robed henro, or pilgrims, have followed the footsteps of the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi on the rural island of Shikoku. There is no single correct way to complete this about 750-mile sacred walk; it was designed without an official beginning or end. Whether or not you get a stamp from all of the 88 temples, soak in Japanese culture in age-old onsen —natural thermal baths—that dot the trail.

[SŁOWNICZEK]

an introspective journey – wyprawa w głąb siebie

a revered Viking king – czczony król wikingów

seek a shaman’s healing – udać się na szamańskie leczenie

nondenominational trail – bezwyznaniowy szlak

loop path – szlak w postaci pętli

remote wilderness area – odległe obszary dzikiej natury

ancient cleansing ritual – pradawny rytuał oczyszczający

physical ailments – dolegliwości fizyczne

money woes – problemy finansowe

stunning scenic landscapes – zapierające dech w piersiach krajobrazy

envision – tworzyć wizję, opracowywać

shrine – dosł. relikwiarz, sanktuarium, tutaj: muzeum [kolarstwa]

transverse – przecinać

foster cultural understanding – budować wzajemne zrozumienie kultur

seek enlightenment – poszukiwanie oświecenia

white-robed henro – ubrani na biało henro [japońskie określenie pielgrzyma]

onsen – onsen [tradycyjna łaźnia japońska]

Task 1

Listen to the recording and answer the following questions:

On which journey …

1. … will you be able to experience many kinds of healing?

2. … can you visit places in the Middle East associated with a patriarch common to Christianity, Islam and Judaism?

3. … can you visit filming locations of a famous TV series?

4. … will you enjoy gorgeous mountain scenery—if you don’t have fear of heights?

5. … will you learn about Nordic culture and history?

6. … can you ride a bike instead of walking?

Task 2

Watch the video and answer the following questions:

1. How many Americans have served in Iraq and Afghanistan?

2. Why did a group of American war veterans decide to visit Lourdes?

3. What happened to the soldiers presented in the video—James Pierce, Zachary Herrick and William Fisher?

4. Where is Lourdes located?

5. Why has Lourdes become one of the holiest Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world?

Task 3

Describe the issue presented in the article. Use the expressions listed below. They will help you give structure to the text analysis.

key words:

sacred journeys

pilgrimages

collocations with positive meaning:

sacred circuit

stunning scenic landscapes

magical woodlands

extraordinary views

collocations with negative meaning:

stressed-out times

over-touristed trail

physical ailments

money woes

action verb phrases:

escape the crowds

follow in the footsteps of somebody

perform ancient cleansing rituals

foster cultural understanding

Record your text analysis on a voice recorder or practice delivering your presentation in a group setting.

Examples:

Whatever your religion—if any—or …

While any hike can be transformative, traveling …

Follow in the footsteps of …

Task 4

Translate the sentences below using the suggested word or phrase. (see Key).

(offer … reflecting) Niezależnie od religii, jaką wyznajemy – jeśli w ogóle – wyprawa w głąb siebie może dać podróżnikom szansę spędzenia czasu na refleksji w naturze.

(deepening … connections … have) Ten 200-milowy bezwyznaniowy szlak jest poświęcony pogłębianiu więzi z samym sobą i naszym wspólnym kościołem – Matką Ziemią.

(walk along … sit) Zamiast na przepełniony turystami szlak Inków wybierz się na świętą pętlę 14 lagun, które znajdują się na wysokości 13 000 stóp w spowitym mgłą paśmie górskim Huamani w Peru.

(perform … seeking … recover) Szamani i uzdrowiciele wykonują starożytne rytuały oczyszczające w lodowatych lagunach dla tych, którzy próbują dojść do siebie po fizycznych dolegliwościach, zawodzie miłosnym czy problemach finansowych.

You can use your translations in your presentation of the topic (in Task 6).

Task 5

Continue the translation using the suggested word or phrase. Remember: It’s not about translating these sentences perfectly—there are a number of possible ways to translate each sentence. This task aims to teach you TO THINK IN ENGLISH. By working on your translation of a sentence, you can change it to get closer to the sense of the original (see Key).

Kto powiedział, że pielgrzymki mogą be completed tylko pieszo?

Rowerzyści pedałują 5.84 miles od Bellagio nad jeziorem Como w kierunku mekki of the bike world, XVII‑wiecznej kaplicy Madonny del Ghisallo poświęconej patronce rowerzystów.

Ucieknij przed tłumami on El Camino i udaj się do Skandynawii, aby pójść na the world’s northernmost pielgrzymkę.

Ten 350-milowy szlak ze wschodniego wybrzeża Szwecji na zachodnie wybrzeże Norwegii traces ostatnią podróż of Viking King Olav in 1030.

Przecina głębokie lasy i góry i kończy się w katedrze Nidaros, gdzie the sainted king is said to be pochowany.

You can use your translations in your presentation of the topic (in Task 6).

Task 6

Now it’s time to put forward your views on the issues. Record your speech on a voice recorder or practice presenting your opinion in a group setting.

Consider the issues raised in the text from these viewpoints:

Travel: Communing with nature

An introspective journey can offer travelers …

Enjoy extraordinary views while …

Religious: Pilgrimages

For instance, in Peru’s mist-covered …

Follow in the footsteps of …

Cultural: Around the world

If you’re interested in history, head to Scandinavia to …

Soak in Japaneses culture in …

Fot. Robin Carleton/Getty Images, Sebastian Castaneda/Anadolu Agency/Abaca/Newspix.pl, MyLoupe/UIG/Getty Images, Damien Simonis/Lonely Planet/Getty Images, St. Olavsleden, David Landis/Abraham Path Initiative, Feng Wei/Moment/Getty Images, Taro Karibe/Getty Images