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Help us save the Caminhos de Fátima

Rodrigo Cerqueira

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
3 French from St. Jean Pied Port, 3 Portuguese from Lisbon, 1 Portuguese from Porto, 1 Primitivo from Oviedo, 19 Lisbon - Fatima, 2 Porto - Fatima, 1 Coimbra - Fátima... Open the caminhos Nascente Fátima - Tomar, Poente Nazaré- Fátima, the north connection from Fátima to Ansião and Caminho Santiago central.
Please help us save from destruction the Camino de Fátima in Portugal by the Portuguese Government. Please send this press release to journalists around the world.
They are changing the way... to promote touristic places.

Associação de Amigos dos Caminhos de Fátima

Press release
The future cannot be built by disrespecting the work of the community.

The markings of “Rota das Carmelitas”, a new route towards the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima created by the Portuguese government, is destroying the work of other routes with the same destination causing misinformation, and is also acting without consideration to the work previously done by the Associação de Amigos dos Caminhos de Fátima which works on the maintenance of five routes.

setas.jpgThe Portuguese government has received funds from the European Union to implement this new route with a map designated by the CCDRC (http://www.ccdrc.pt), with touristic interests, which can generate good economic benefits to the regions involved. It so happens that in spite of having different texts, the routes intersect in some places and the markings of the new route did not ensure that, where they do overlap, they had to respect the landmark previously set by the Associação de Amigos dos Caminhos de Fátima, a non-profit entity.

For more than a decade, members of the Portuguese community, united through the Associação de Amigos dos Caminhos de Fátima, have been promoting the structured organisation and maintenance of the routes which the pilgrims take to get to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima, with five marked routes done by continuous voluntary work that does not result in any burden to the Portuguese government. Our maps are used by thousands of people from all over the world and they are accessible on our site; http://www.caminho.com.pt/mapas_e.html.

The disrespectful markings, placed on top of the previous ones done by Associação de Amigos dos Caminhos de Fátima, have inclusively been causing much confusion to the pilgrims, which we believe is not something positive. We have dozens of pilgrims calling us and asking where the routes of the map of the Municipalities Association are, as shown on the attached photos and on which you can see, on landmarks, the official logotype of Caminhos de Fátima overlapping the markings previously done by our Association.

To add to the confusion, an association was created by the Municipalities which is called Associação Caminhos de Fátima, very similar to ours which is named Associação de Amigos dos Caminhos de Fátima. For the last 11 years, volunteers of the Associação de Amigos dos Caminhos de Fátima have been working to expand the routes towards Fátima, which were in a state of abandonment. We enumerated five routes, that were restored and where more than 8.000 arrows were painted in Portugal and Spain. Maintenance of these routes is done by us, we guide and advise pilgrims and our aim and objective is to encourage the emerging of new shelters to accommodate them.

The Routes of Fátima are considered immaterial heritage, integrated into local communities and empowered by the members of those communities.

We are aware of the importance and the economic potential resulting from the European Union’s funds for the structures surrounding the route, “Rota das Carmelitas”, nevertheless, the future cannot be built by disrespecting the work of the community.

We know that difficulties abound along the Camino, lack of infrastructures, shelters’ improvements, and resting areas. We know that a lot can be done when there are funds available and political interests involved. We don’t want the project of Rota das Carmelitas to stop. We just want to be able to proceed, with respect to human dignity and to our work, which is based on the ongoing voluntary marking of the routes and the guidance of the pilgrims from around the world, heading to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima.

Communication has a crucial role when the information is assured, but mainly that the information is precise and does not result in double understanding or confusion. It is important to think about the inconvenience caused to individuals and seek to resolve this dilemma urgently.

Regardless of the touristic meaning that may be associated to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima it is also a place where people across the world move towards to, having faith as their guidance. The difficult walking route must be preserved, the path requires attention, physical preparation and mental disposition. It is our responsibility to ensure that there are no inaccuracies in the information given to the pilgrim, which might cause problems to their physical and mental disposition.

Pilgrims of different nationalities are witnessing the situation through videos which can be watched on our website http://www.caminho.com.pt.

Historian and journalist Maria Alice Campos explains, in her video, the dangers of what is taking place. .

Besides all this, the spiritual meaning of Fátima transcends religion, it reaches the heart of all people with different devotions, with the simplicity of their demonstrations that indicate their quest for Peace, symbol of the image of the Holy Mother that sees and begs her children wisdom to be in Peace, in all their ways.

Contact:
Associação de Amigos dos Caminhos de Fátima
Rodrigo Cerqueira - President
Tel: +351 913131300
e-mail: info@caminho.com.pt
www.caminho.com.pt
 
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The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
What is happening at the moment is very bad. We wanted to walk from Tomar on Thursday this week, but everybody in Tomar told us to take the bus to Fàtima. We tried to walk in any way, but to our surprise, there was no way markings on the road that was shown to us by the lady at the municipal information office, so we had to take the bus eventually.
 
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Hi Rodrigo, I hope that you get recognition and respect from the Portuguese government I have stayed at your place in Porto de Luz and the hospitality shown by you and Padre Rui is to me what is special about the various Caminos they are a place to show the very best in human nature, good luck.

Mike
 
Muchas gracias Don Rodrigo for the heads up. Team Sailor (my wife and me) plan to walk El Camino Portugues from Lisboa to Santiago in the not so distant future and our original plan is to walk to Fatima. Again, Don Rodrigo, muchas gracias for all you do. To all caminantes, no pares de caminar.
 
What is happening at the moment is very bad. We wanted to walk from Tomar on Thursday this week, but everybody in Tomar told us to take the bus to Fàtima. We tried to walk in any way, but to our surprise, there was no way markings on the road that was shown to us by the lady at the municipal information office, so we had to take the bus eventually.
Sorry for your experience. There is a Caminho between Fatima and Tomar it was opened 3 years ago. Please check: http://www.caminho.com.pt/mapas_e.html
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Hi Rodrigo, I hope that you get recognition and respect from the Portuguese government I have stayed at your place in Porto de Luz and the hospitality shown by you and Padre Rui is to me what is special about the various Caminos they are a place to show the very best in human nature, good luck.

Mike
Thanks a lot Mike for you kind words all the best from Portugal
 
Muchas gracias Don Rodrigo for the heads up. Team Sailor (my wife and me) plan to walk El Camino Portugues from Lisboa to Santiago in the not so distant future and our original plan is to walk to Fatima. Again, Don Rodrigo, muchas gracias for all you do. To all caminantes, no pares de caminar.
Thank you “Don Sailor” you and your wife are welcome to Portugal
 
Sorry for your experience. There is a Caminho between Fatima and Tomar it was opened 3 years ago. Please check: http://www.caminho.com.pt/mapas_e.html
I can confirm .... the Caminho Nacente between Fatima and Tomar remains unaltered , and well marked in both directions ...
I have just walked Fatima to Tomar ...
Thank you Rodrigo and your association for the work involved
 
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Whilst walking the CP north from Tomar , just after Alvaziere , the route. Markers have been changed to new ones showing ‘Rota Carmelitas’ and the useful ‘older’ ones have been destroyed, and replaced with new ones, which because they are designed to be read ‘both ways’ need to be placed on a straight path , consequently the critical markers at turns/junctions have been eradicated !!C63A70EC-C795-418D-83A6-DFB5ADCEF3C3.jpeg
 

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I don't understand why they can't just leave the previous signposts/markers/waymarkes/arrows as they were and just add their own? this is super confusing for everyone walking!
 
We tried to find the first Fatima marker in Tomar, which was supposed to be on the electric box on the Praça de Republica across the street from the church, it was not there, it was painted over to destroy it. When we spoke to the lady in the Tomar municipal information centre, she was unable to give us any information on the route to Fatima, and advise us to rather take the bus to Fatima, which we eventually did after spending the whole morning of Thursday 4, May trying to find our way out of Tomar towards Fatima. We walked for about 5 kilos on the road, as descrbed by some of the locals, but could not find a single sign of Fatima. However, in and round Fatima, we experienced al lot of blue arrows and new Rota Carmelitas signs, up to Coimbra.
 
Whilst walking the CP north from Tomar , just after Alvaziere , the route. Markers have been changed to new ones showing ‘Rota Carmelitas’ and the useful ‘older’ ones have been destroyed, and replaced with new ones, which because they are designed to be read ‘both ways’ need to be placed on a straight path , consequently the critical markers at turns/junctions have been eradicated !!View attachment 42371

Hi Jotown
In my previous post (graphic scheme) you can see that the Portuguese Gorverment (Turism) changed the path to Fátima ignoring the existing path, hundreds of blue arrows, the albergues, thousands of pilgrims that used this path, the printed guides and the volunteer free work of our pilgrim Association. http://www.caminho.com.pt (Its the power of the European Union money). The big problem is when the project is finished and it runs out of UE money. They will not maintain the Rota Carmelita. like they didn't maintaing the CPI Caminho de Santiago Interior (3 albergues closed) or the Path of Zêzere River (the Bush closed the path).
Because you are walking to Santiago probably you didn't notice what they are doing to the painted arrows.
setas_tapadas.jpg
The new path (Rota Carmelita) enters the Caminho de Santiago in Conimbriga and runs in the opposite direction. Because it runs in the oppasite direction they changed the name of the Caminho the Santiago to "Rota Carmelita". Its like changing the name of a river because you are going up.
After Ansião the path to Fátima lives the Caminho de Santiago, and follows to Caxarias http://www.caminho.com.pt/mapas_e.html along the beautiful river Nabão.
nabão.jpg
The Rota Carmelita makes the pilgrims climb the mountain to arrive in Alvaiazere...
They also changed the Caminhos the Fátima logo that was created 20 years ago.
Now it looks like a cross in a graveyard.
logos_f.jpg

Its a lie that the Carmelite nuns have ever walked in this path. Its creation of the Turismo de Portugal.
I hope I was able to explain why we complain about this political project.

Please helps maintain the Caminho de Fátima and send an email to the Sec. de Estado do Turismo Ana Godinho, Portuguese Government Complain about this problem. info@turismodeportugal.pt
Following this path of the Rota Carmelita soon we will have Tolls or Taxes for pilgrims.

I wish you a "Bom caminho".

Rodrigo Cerqueira
 

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Hi Jotown
In my previous post (graphic scheme) you can see that the Portuguese Gorverment (Turism) changed the path to Fátima ignoring the existing path, hundreds of blue arrows, the albergues, thousands of pilgrims that used this path, the printed guides and the volunteer free work of our pilgrim Association. http://www.caminho.com.pt (Its the power of the European Union money). The big problem is when the project is finished and it runs out of UE money. They will not maintain the Rota Carmelita. like they didn't maintaing the CPI Caminho de Santiago Interior (3 albergues closed) or the Path of Zêzere River (the Bush closed the path).
Because you are walking to Santiago probably you didn't notice what they are doing to the painted arrows.
View attachment 42390
The new path (Rota Carmelita) enters the Caminho de Santiago in Conimbriga and runs in the opposite direction. Because it runs in the oppasite direction they changed the name of the Caminho the Santiago to "Rota Carmelita". Its like changing the name of a river because you are going up.
After Ansião the path to Fátima lives the Caminho de Santiago, and follows to Caxarias http://www.caminho.com.pt/mapas_e.html along the beautiful river Nabão.
View attachment 42387
The Rota Carmelita makes the pilgrims climb the mountain to arrive in Alvaiazere...
They also changed the Caminhos the Fátima logo that was created 20 years ago.
Now it looks like a cross in a graveyard.
View attachment 42389

Its a lie that the Carmelite nuns have ever walked in this path. Its creation of the Turismo de Portugal.
I hope I was able to explain why we complain about this political project.

Please helps maintain the Caminho de Fátima and send an email to the Sec. de Estado do Turismo Ana Godinho, Portuguese Government Complain about this problem. info@turismodeportugal.pt
Following this path of the Rota Carmelita soon we will have Tolls or Taxes for pilgrims.

I wish you a "Bom caminho".

Rodrigo Cerqueira

I have already sent two complaints in !!
For pilgrims leaving Tomar climb up to Convento Santo Cristo, and the way to Fatima is well marked !

Hope this helps everyone
 
We tried to find the first Fatima marker in Tomar, which was supposed to be on the electric box on the Praça de Republica across the street from the church, it was not there, it was painted over to destroy it. When we spoke to the lady in the Tomar municipal information centre, she was unable to give us any information on the route to Fatima, and advise us to rather take the bus to Fatima, which we eventually did after spending the whole morning of Thursday 4, May trying to find our way out of Tomar towards Fatima. We walked for about 5 kilos on the road, as descrbed by some of the locals, but could not find a single sign of Fatima. However, in and round Fatima, we experienced al lot of blue arrows and new Rota Carmelitas signs, up to Coimbra.

We are sorry for your trouble. You can find detailed information about the Caminho that connects Tomar Fátima (Caminho Nascente) in our website http://www.caminho.com.pt/mapas_e.html
We already explained the local Turismo of Tomar about this path. But they didn´t care.

Please complain about your problems in Tomar and help us maintain the Caminho de Fátima by sending an email to the Sec. de Estado do Turismo Ana Godinho, (Portuguese Government) Complain about this problem. info@turismodeportugal.pt

Thanks a lot and bom Caminho.
Rodrigo Cerqueira
 
We tried to find the first Fatima marker in Tomar, which was supposed to be on the electric box on the Praça de Republica across the street from the church, it was not there, it was painted over to destroy it. When we spoke to the lady in the Tomar municipal information centre, she was unable to give us any information on the route to Fatima, and advise us to rather take the bus to Fatima, which we eventually did after spending the whole morning of Thursday 4, May trying to find our way out of Tomar towards Fatima. We walked for about 5 kilos on the road, as descrbed by some of the locals, but could not find a single sign of Fatima. However, in and round Fatima, we experienced al lot of blue arrows and new Rota Carmelitas signs, up to Coimbra.

Hi Pk Smit
I just received this to photos from Tomar. They show the first arrows. Maybe because of scaffolding you didn’t notice them. This means that you will return to do the Caminho Nascente :)
A big pilgrim hug.

A30DEA3A-1421-43A9-8D31-666E7C9C92AE.jpegE19C1B37-7C80-48A5-BC46-D977C01E7207.jpeg
 
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