Complementing my interests of lived devotion and local religious culture, I am also fascinated by pilgrimage as a social mechanism. Much more than just an expression of devotion or penance, people go on pilgrimage for a variety of reasons including tourism, alternative forms of prison sentencing, health, and historical interest. During my research year, I walked the Javierada to the home of St. Francis Xavier, totaling about 28 miles in one day in the snow!
