El Camino de Santiago! The scallop shells are everywhere in Compostela: draped round the necks of Pilgrims, their staffs, their children, their dogs, tees shirts, sandals and rosaries. Apparently the shell has both mythical and metaphorical meaning though it appears to be more of a souvenir offered to people traipsing through the streets. The story goes: St James' body was shipped from Jerusalem to Galicia, lost off the coast in a storm, then washed up weeks later, undamaged and covered in scallop shells. Metaphorically the grooves of the shell all come together at one point, representing the various routes pilgrims travel to arrive at the same point ( Compostela). I guess the scallop shell would work equally well for many bars around the World. There are guided tours of the Cathedral roofs in Compostela but as there are Meigas ( witches) flying all over town better safe than sorry ;O)
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