Patrick Neary
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances, (2018)
Cross posting from my blog: http://pat-the-expat.com/2018/06/07/musings-from-the-camino/
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Well said Pat. James (not the Greater)Cross posting from my blog: http://pat-the-expat.com/2018/06/07/musings-from-the-camino/
Patrick well said! Well said! Camino- Disney, even exiting the Cathedral in Santiago through the forced upon you gift shop is reminiscent of Disneyland. Graffiti is rampant on the Camino. Is this actually done by "spiritual" perigrinos? Cruz de Ferro has become a joke, colorful banners, unwanted sediments plastered all over the pole, graffiti on ever single square inch of the chapel which is now triple chained closed I guess to prevent further decimation. I don't even want to mention the numerous tears caused by the bed battle. The battle between bars to get camino business with the yellow arrows blackened out, repainted and blackened again is just what I want to see to confuse me after trudging through ten kilometers of pouring rain! So very many books and films have been produced about the Camino which have unfortunately added to this now very popular tourist attraction including BBC's three part special and now a reality TV show in the works! So. Probably needless to say here but, I will always cherish my first Camino of several years ago but have chosen to make this one, just completed, my last. There are so many incredible spiritual experiences out there just waiting to be explored. Perhaps in 10, 20 or more years all the hub-bub will die down and the Camino will return to what it once was.Cross posting from my blog: http://pat-the-expat.com/2018/06/07/musings-from-the-camino/
I dont know enough about the history, but given travel is easier these days, I would assume the medieval pilgrims traveled from their front door all over Europe, so the spread of pilgrims would probably have been much wider across Europe. With many people flying/busing/training to SJPDP/Pamploma etc today's pilgrims are confined more to a specific area. It would be interesting to jump back in time and see what it was like to be a pilgrim then. I guess all male pilgrims.Just wondering: Would medieval pilgrims make more than one pilgrimage in a lifetime?
The thing is, many modern day pilgrims do, thus contributing themselves to the ever growing numbers on the Camino they complain about. (Are there any satistics on first timers vs. repeat pilgrims?)
So far, I have walked the CF only once and I am longing to go back, but still I am wondering:
Should we who have enjoyed our pilgrimage and obtained our Compostela refrain from walking again and again for the sake of the next generation of pilgrims so that they can have a less crowded and more meaningful Camino experience?
I dont know enough about the history, but given travel is easier these days, I would assume the medieval pilgrims traveled from their front door all over Europe.... It would be interesting to jump back in time and see what it was like to be a pilgrim then. I guess all male pilgrims.
Just wondering: Would medieval pilgrims make more than one pilgrimage in a lifetime?
The thing is, many modern day pilgrims do, thus contributing themselves to the ever growing numbers on the Camino they complain about. (Are there any satistics on first timers vs. repeat pilgrims?)
So far, I have walked the CF only once and I am longing to go back, but still I am wondering:
Should we who have enjoyed our pilgrimage and obtained our Compostela refrain from walking again and again for the sake of the next generation of pilgrims so that they can have a less crowded and more meaningful Camino experience?