The Spanish flag and the pennant of the Antarctic route to Santiago fly over Antarctica

The pilgrimage sign will remain on the signpost at the base (Photo: Base "Gabriel de Castilla")

The flag and the pennant hanging from the pole (Photo: Base "Gabriel de Castilla")

At the Antarctic base “Gabriel de Castilla” it is customary to fly the Spanish flag which accompanied the members of the campaign team from the moment they left Punta Arenas (Chile) and set sail towards Deception Island through the Drake Passage. On this, the 39th Antarctic Campaign, the official handover of the flag took place on 27 December, when the commander of the research vessel Hespérides, Commander Julio Albadalejo, handed it over to the base commander, Major Alberto Salas.

On this occasion the ceremony also included the handover of the pennant which commemorates the launch of the pilgrimage route from Antarctica to Santiago de Compostela and the unveiling of the pilgrimage sign on the signpost at the base. The ceremony was attended by the soldiers and scientists who are taking part in the current campaign alongside the crew of the vessel and the scientific and technical personnel on board.

The commander of Hespérides had received the pennant from the Spanish Federation of Friends of the Camino de Santiago at Cartagena (Murcia) to guard and, once the vessel arrived on Deception Island, hand over to the commander of the base. It is expected to remain there for as long as it is open. As well as the pennant, the commander was entrusted with the pilgrimage sign, which will remain on the signpost indefinitely to identify “Gabriel de Castilla” as the beginning of the Antarctic route to Santiago. There is also a pilgrimage stamp as well as pilgrim passports at the base for those wishing to start the Camino there.

Major Salas was very pleased that the launch of the Antarctic route had coincided with his mission: “The crew feel lucky and privileged to be part of such an historic occasion, which transcends borders and peoples”.