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Being poor is not the same as being dishonest or a thief. Scamsters do a disservice to everyone. Putting something over on someone is not a redeeming quality.
happy to hear that you had a wonderful camino! and thanks for sharing your tale.There is a little stop in Eiras between A Gudina and Laza where you can get coffee and snacks and rest. it is donativo. The person volunteering was a Czech man who was very nice. He told me how he lost his farm and ended up in Prague with only 60 euros and a priest told him about the Camino. He says he has been walking for three years ( he looked like it). He said the owners of the place were letting him stay there for a few days and he had only been there for about a week. He wasn't sure how long they would let him stay. He told me stories about all the pilgrims that had helped him and the little miracles that happened when he needed something. He told he made money by working hard at doing chores for people in the villages as he walked the camino. He also talked about the bad toothache and how he only had enough antibiotics for a few days. Mind you, he artfully wove this into the discussion (told me to excuse his smoking that he only took up recently because he had pain from his toothache). Of course when I left I gave him an extra big donativo in his box. He thanked me and told me he could now go to Laza and get the rest of his antibiotics. He warned me about the wolves in the woods that he had recently seen and warmed me to be careful. As I walked out of town a Range Rover pulled in and the two people came out and greeted the man with a hug like they knew him. He quickly told me he had just recently met them. I really didn't think anything about it...I was in blissful Camino mode where everyone I meet I find interesting and kind. I just returned from the VdlP and happened to be reviewing a guide online to check names of the towns and wouldn't you know...the guide talks about the Czech man in Eiras that she met in March 2014. He told her he had been volunteering there for just the past few months and warned her about the wolves he had seen during the day. Well, I am not usually such a gullible person and at the time his story seemed a bit convoluted and unusual but I wasn't in a judging mode. Anyway, I obviously was scammed. It didn't take away from my wonderful Camino...I had a good laugh that I actually believed this story which now does seem far fetched! I just wanted to warn anyone else that happens to stop in Eiras. Enjoy the company and stories and leave a reasonable donativo
Being poor is not the same as being dishonest or a thief. Scamsters do a disservice to everyone. Putting something over on someone is not a redeeming quality.
There are many people who live on the Camino. They offer service or a 4-leaf clover; wire-twist scallop shells or painted stones; foul tasting coffee or crystal spring-water. These are not scammers, they are people living on the very edges of society trying to make a living. They are dependent on donativos for their tobacco and their vino, and dependent on hospitaleros who will find them work in exchange for shelter and a rummage in the "lost, forgotten or abandoned box". Some are real grafters, working hard in the only way they can, helping to make the Caminos what they are, keeping some Albergues open that would otherwise be closed.
What you chose to give was a gift given. The spirit in which it was given should not be changed by the stories of others. And none should be dissuaded from giving what they wish and will. Coffee and snacks, stories and smiles, good will: these are not scams.
I have to agree with you. There is a difference between someone who is grafting away at making a living on the edges of society and someone who is preying on those who are in a vulnerable place. Pilgrims are, by definition, vulnerable. It is that vulnerability that brings us to pilgrimage in search of whatever each of us is seeking. We have our guard down and our hearts open. It is not fair game to knowingly lie to someone in that situation. Sure, explain you are poor and need food and rely on donations. But do not pretend that you are passing through or something like the Czech man in the story has done.I am not sure I agree with my friend, Tincatinker. A obvious false story told long and often enough to show up in a guide is a scam by definition.
To repeat that he is "only there for a few days..." is a lie to entice a good hearted Pilgrim to give up cash. Taking advantage of people is never right.
I just don't see the same side of it as Tincatinker does. I guess there are always two sides to most situations.
Lots of response to my original post! Your response David was very well said and reflects what I was trying to communicate. I am not a newbie having done three other caminos. I am not insensitive to the plight of the local people. I have given away my gloves in the winter and generously given at all donativo albergues and to less fortunate pilgrims. My concern was that I gave a generous donativo for the coffee and 20€ to the man because I was concerned that he didn't have medicine for his toothache. I gave the money with an open heart and expected nothing in return...it wasn't about the money. I was just disappointed to realize that he had been so dishonest and in hind sight that he actually told many sad tales until he hit on the one that opened my wallet. I would have given the money freely if he just asked for it. The purpose of my post was to warn future pilgrims passing through. As you will note from my post, I did not say to avoid him or not leave a reasonable donativo, but just to be aware and respond with full knowledge of the truth.I have to agree with you. There is a difference between someone who is grafting away at making a living on the edges of society and someone who is preying on those who are in a vulnerable place. Pilgrims are, by definition, vulnerable. It is that vulnerability that brings us to pilgrimage in search of whatever each of us is seeking. We have our guard down and our hearts open. It is not fair game to knowingly lie to someone in that situation. Sure, explain you are poor and need food and rely on donations. But do not pretend that you are passing through or something like the Czech man in the story has done.
I am not heartless. I have worked with the homeless and volunteered in Kenyan slums. It doesn't make me a good person but it has taught me that those truly in need still have dignity while cons just take.
I had to giggle when I read this because I encountered the same guy in Samos last May. He was super nice and it was pouring rain so we were talking under the shelter of a bus stop. He had about an 8 week old puppy with him and he said that he needed food for his dog. I ran across 3 different people on the camino who were out to scam (obvious!), but I gave into this guy. He seemed genuine with his story. I am not sure if it was the truth, but I'm curious to know if he still had the dog with him (cattle dog about a year old).Lots of response to my original post! Your response David was very well said and reflects what I was trying to communicate. I am not a newbie having done three other caminos. I am not insensitive to the plight of the local people. I have given away my gloves in the winter and generously given at all donativo albergues and to less fortunate pilgrims. My concern was that I gave a generous donativo for the coffee and 20€ to the man because I was concerned that he didn't have medicine for his toothache. I gave the money with an open heart and expected nothing in return...it wasn't about the money. I was just disappointed to realize that he had been so dishonest and in hind sight that he actually told many sad tales until he hit on the one that opened my wallet. I would have given the money freely if he just asked for it. The purpose of my post was to warn future pilgrims passing through. As you will note from my post, I did not say to avoid him or not leave a reasonable donativo, but just to be aware and respond with full knowledge of the truth.
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