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My intent with the original post was to acknowledge that it is possible, if not likely, that some of the elderly Spaniards I interacted with on the Camino have died in the last year due to Covid. That these random interactions are what makes the Camino special and what I treasure, and the memories of these events will last regardless. It was not to cultivate a discussion of death rates or to engage Covid deniers. My apologies if I didn’t make that clear.
frm
FRM I think you did a very good job of making it clear. I wonder too what has happened to the people living along the Way.My intent with the original post was to acknowledge that it is possible, if not likely, that some of the elderly Spaniards I interacted with on the Camino have died in the last year due to Covid. That these random interactions are what makes the Camino special and what I treasure, and the memories of these events will last regardless. It was not to cultivate a discussion of death rates or to engage Covid deniers. My apologies if I didn’t make that clear.
frm
Thank you for providing this perspective, Rebekah. It is good to hear from someone who is actually living the experience. I feel too like I can visualize your community after reading your book, A Furnace Full of God. What a beautiful piece of writing.I think some people living far away think Spain is in deep mourning, its economy crushed and large numbers of people are now missing or dead.
I live in a camino village in the middle of the Meseta. Perhaps because we are so isolated, only one of us 20 souls has contracted the virus -- and she recovered quickly. Most of us are over age 70, and nobody has died. Last year there was a bumper crop, so the farmers are OK. (the hostel and albergue not so much...)
Other towns in the district were not so lucky.
Several people caught the virus in Carrion de los Condes, Sahagun and Bercianos del Real Camino, but most of the deaths were limited to residents in the homes for the aged. The Saturday market, when it's allowed to open, is still full of very alive people. The bar terraces from Burgos to Leon are full of masked, distanced people of all ages, enjoying the winter sun.
I am not minimizing the suffering and loss experienced here. I just want everyone to know that Spain, and Spaniards, are still very much alive and lively, and ready to get all this virus business over with!
To all, my intent is to lay out a statement of COVID related facts that, “absent on the ground credible information” FRM, and other concerned individuals, may find more than just a modicum of hope that these cherished friends are likely to have survived to be seen again once this is past.@FRM - Your initial statement was crystal clear and thank you for posting it.
Rebekah - It is nice to obtain an actual "boots on the ground"/accurate update on the goingson within Spain. There has been so much speculation and misinformation over the last year. Thank you too!
A year ago today I cut my Camino short. Covid was exploding in Italy and cases were just being reported in Spain. Travel was just beginning to be restricted ... ... Who would have guessed that a year later we would still be the throws of the pandemic. Peace and love,
And I suspect this is pretty much the case in many places around this world of ours. My son, living in a London "village", reports in a similar vein. There is no doubt there has been abnormal loss of life there and elsewhere.I am not minimizing the suffering and loss experienced here. I just want everyone to know that Spain, and Spaniards, are still very much alive and lively, and ready to get all this virus business over with!
Understand. Thanks.To all, my intent is to lay out a statement of COVID related facts that, “absent on the ground credible information” FRM, and other concerned individuals, may find more than just a modicum of hope that these cherished friends are likely to have survived to be seen again once this is past.
Why am I tearing up?She had her house-dress on, and a little bolsa of goods from a shop... and she crossed in that way that blends age and ferocity, walked right up to me, put her hand on my shoulder and said:
"Poquito mas, perigrina. Poquito mas."
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