Santiago de Compostela is located on the northwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula in a region called Galicia, where most people speak a regional language--gallego--as well as Spanish.

The cathedral of Santiago (Saint James) is where the remains of the Apostle James are kept.

The Camino de Santiago is a route followed since medieval times by pilgrims, people who want to show their devotion to God.

The traditional symbol of the pilgrim is a shell (concha), which is worn on a necklace. Pilgrims would carry walking sticks with a water container on the end. They were protected from paying taxes and from being robbed by a decree of Pope Gregory. Many local residents would show their respect by offering pilgrims free food and lodging.

Modern day pilgrims are likely to carry backpacks and walking sticks. They collect stamps from each place they visit along the route and at the end of their journey they receive an official certificate from the Cathedral of Santiago.

An hórreo (left) is a little stone building on stilts which was used originally to store grain. They are very typical of Galicia.

The daughter of the house, Fabiana, who graduated from the University of Santiago in 2000. Manuel, her older brother, works for the university.

While studying in Santiago, I stay with the Gómez family, Concha and Manolo . Manolo is a carpenter. Concha is a nurse. They have a small apartment in Santiago and a nice home in a little town called Taragoña, on the Atlantic coast. During the week they live in Santiago and they spend the weekends in Taragoña. Tupi, below, spends most of her time in Santiago because she doesn't like traveling by car.

In 2002 I got to attend the "fiesta" of Taragoña, which included a soccer tournament on the beach.

The house in Taragoña is large and sunny and very pleasant. Warning: since the windows in Spain have no screens, make sure to buy a little mosquito machine (plugs into the wall) to protect you from the vicious mosquitoes!!!

This is a group of young bagpipers that was featured at the Taragoña festival.

"Churrasco" or barbecued pork (without the messy sauce) is the typical food for fiestas and special occasions.

The children have fun jumping around in the white foam at the Taragoña festival.

Bands played popular music until 8:00 a.m. These girls were chosen from the audience to imitate "las Ketchup," a group of three sisters whose song, "Asejeré," was the hit song of the summer in Europe.

The view from the kitchen window in Taragoña shows an hórreo with a more modern purpose--to support a basketball hoop!

Rianxo, the town next to Taragoña, has an open-air market on Sundays where you can buy anything from fresh produce to clothing.

The hórreo behind Concha and Manolo's house needs to be repaired. Several years ago, a law was passed in Galicia which protects all hórreos as historic monuments, so they cannot be torn down.

The harbor at Rianxo. I'm hoping the big oil spill hasn't reached Rianxo, but even if it hasn't, it seems likely that the terrible disaster has had tragic effects on the lives of many people, since fishing is the primary industry here.

Classes are held at the University of Santiago, although our program is sponsored and staffed by the University of Northern Iowa.

Some of my classmates: Andrea and Marilyn.

We affectionately call this entrance to the University of Santiago "Stonehenge."

Kay Bednarski, from Wisconsin.

You can earn up to 10 credits in the summer. Requirements for the MA in Spanish Literature include: 32 credits, knowledge of a large reading list, oral and written exams, and a research paper. You can do all this in Spain or Mexico without setting foot in Iowa!

Jocelyn's commercial for Colacao (sort of like Nestle's Quick) cracked me up.

Ruth Carmona, Maryland, finished her final exams during the summer of 2002.

Ivonne Cuadra, one of my professors

Dr. Mario Roberto Morales was a favorite professor of mine.

The fireworks (fuegos artificiales) on the Día del Apóstol (July 25) include a realistic simulation of the burning of the cathedral by the Moors 1000 years ago.

The mass for the pilgrims is held every day at 12:00 noon.

Outside the cathedral can be found street performers and music groups such as this one.

My favorite department store!!!

Macintosh computers are alive and well in Spain!

On this particular excursion we got to see how mussels are farmed.

It makes me sick to think how much of this has been destroyed by the November oil spill!!!

Shellfish and more shellfish!

After the tour, we were served fresh mussels on the boat.

Spanish food is not at all like Mexican food. Spaniards eat a lot of seafood, such as paella, a dish with seafood and rice.

The four-day excursion in 2001 was a trip to Portugal and western Spain. Isabel (left) was our guide.

We visited Coimbra and Lisbon in Portugal.

There isn't much to do on Sundays in Lisbon, but we had a good meal.

In 2000, we traveled to Madrid for our four-day excursion. In the photo at right, Joceyln, Daphne, and I pose under the bear and the madroño tree statue in the Puerta del Sol.

I like to spend a few days in Madrid when I can. In 2001 I visited the Reina Sofía art museum.

The Fuente de Cibeles is named after the goddess of fertility.

Carlos III is the king responsible for making Madrid one of the great European cities by erecting magnificent museums, fountains, and parks.

The Prado is one of the greatest art museums in the world.

The National Palace rivals Versailles in France as one of the most elaborate in the world.

The front of the Gugenheim Museum in Bilbao is graced by the famous "el Puppy."

A medieval church

How would you like to live in this little hideaway tucked into the side of a mountain?

Jennifer Cooley and her husband, Juan Carlos, both professors at the University of Northern Iowa, assisted our guide, Isabel, in leading the tour.

We visited the Cathedral of Burgos on this trip. Burgos was the hometown of El Cid, Spain's greatest hero.

A statue in honor of El Cid, a man of great honor and bravery.

I also traveled to Toledo by train to visit the cathedral and buy souvenirs. I especially wanted some Toledo T-shirts, since, well, I am from another Toledo, after all!

For more information about Spanish programs sponsored by the University of Northern Iowa, click here: http://www.uni.edu/modlangs/institutes-abroad/spprogs.htm