Are there any nattering nabobs of negativism in the house?

[Telluridewalker]

Reading this forum, one would get the impression that the Camino can only be a positive, unique and life changing experience*- further, we do a lot of preaching to the choir around here about what a wonderful experience the Camino is .

Many of the newbie posts are some variation on the question of "Should I go?" and, reading this forum, the answer seems to be a resounding 100% Yes!

Is there anyone reading this who finished the Camino (or started and didn't finish) and said to themselves, "Well, that was terrible" or "I'm glad that's over- never again" or would even recommend a newbie NOT undertake the Camino? Just curious.






*It was for me.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Why accentuate the negative? Sure there must be people who get there and think "I hate this". In fact a friend of mine years ago drove to St Jean Pied de Port and set out. When it started raining he stopped walking - he hadn't realised that it might mean getting wet! My own experience it that those pilgrims who have a totally negative experience are few and far between. In fact I think we have only ever seen one such blog http://karlascamino.wordpress.com/ in all of the posts on the forum.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Previously posted:

http://karlascamino.wordpress.com/

 

[sillydoll]

A local (South African) journalist who wrote for the same magazine I did, tried the Camino a few years ago and hated it - everything about it.
She wrote a scathing, though humourous, account of unkept paths, litter, dusty old villages, unhygenic albergues and uncouth pilgrims, boring food and disinterested locals.
She ended up spending time in the cities but had to go to Santiago to get her flight home. She hated the crusty, lichen covered Baroque facade of the cathedral and the touristy city.
She ended her article by saying that if she ever got the urge to try another pilgrimage walk in Spain she would have a stiff whiskey and lie down until the urge went away!
el Camino de Santiago is not for everyone!

 

[renegadepilgrim]

I'm a pessimist by nature...working on trying to fix that...I also am rather sarcastic, with a dry sense of humor that does not always translate via the interwebs...with that in mind....

I tell people to do the Camino because I think they need to experience the good and the bad...it's what the Camino is. It's not all puppies, rainbows, and unicorns....it's a lot of blisters, tendinitis, snoring, heavy backpacks and ill-fitting shoes.

I'm a realist...everyone should know the good AND the bad so they can prepare (or not) accordingly.

 

[David]

Sure, we tend to be positive but only in response to the nervousness of novices? I think back to a few threads and there seems to be quite a lot about pain and exhaustion and so on - but the main message appears to be that this is part of a process and if one endures it then one eventually walks out of that dark forest into glorious spiritual sunshine - and this is true, surely?

Those who stop early when it is hard miss that process and never do get to walk out of that forest, on the Camino or in their real lives.

Or am I wrong? :|

As for being positive .... we could write as Thomas of Kempis (15th century) wrote - and still true, very true, today :shock:

"Ah, foolish man, why do you plan to live long when you are not sure of living even a day?
How many have been deceived and suddenly snatched away! How often have you heard of persons being killed by drownings, by fatal falls from high places, of persons dying at meals, at play, in fires, by the sword, in pestilence, or at the hands of robbers! Death is the end of everyone and the life of man quickly passes away like a shadow.

Who will remember you when you are dead? Who will pray for you? Do now, beloved, what you can, because you do not know when you will die, nor what your fate will be after death. Gather for yourself the riches of immortality while you have time. Think of nothing but your salvation. Care only for the things of God. Make friends for yourself now by honouring the saints of God, by imitating their actions, so that when you depart this life they may receive you into everlasting dwellings.

Keep yourself as a stranger here on earth, a pilgrim whom its affairs do not concern at all.
Keep your heart free and raise it up to your God, for you have not here a lasting home."

Marvellous! We should get nervous pre-pilgrims to read that ! :wink:

 

[Rebekah Scott]

The people who give up and go home don´t usually come back to hang in the forum.

I have been accused of negativity, too. I hate litter, and I actively dislike (and sometimes intervene!) in some other forms of pilgrim behavior. Sometimes I tell miserable or broken-down pilgrims they ought to go home -- especially the whiners who are spreading misery like a virus to everyone around them. Now THAT is negativity!

We don´t do PR here, this is a forum, not a tourist office. One person´s "negativity" is another person´s "getting real."

Rar.
Reb.

 

[Juha]

el Camino de Santiago is not for everyone!

I think one of the things I like is that most of the ones that don't belong there have the sense to stay away.