Sinning Across Spain

Pilgrim seeks sinners for mutually beneficial arrangement. Tireless. Result-oriented. Reliable. Seven Deadlies a specialty.

On her 1,300 kilometre pilgrimage from Granada to Galicia, Ailsa Piper carried an unusual cargo. Walking in the tradition of medieval believers who paid others to carry their sins, Ailsa lugged a swag of confessions from friends, colleagues and strangers.

Although some days her load weighed heavy, Ailsa's story celebrates impossible kindnesses, the wonders of Spain and the simple but profound act of putting one foot in front of another for as long as it takes. Praying with her feet...

Audio exclusive: Ailsa Piper in conversation with Tony Doherty, coauthor of The Attachment: Letters from a Most Unlikely Friendship.