Discount for the unemployed

[Deleted member 3000]

At times, life is just too ironic:

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Operator offers pilgrimage trips

Posted 15th Mar 2011

Every year, the Camino Way in Northern Spain is visited by 5 million people, many of whom take the ‘pilgrimage’ to Santiago de Compostela for intensely personal reasons. Some are trying to reconnect with nature, some are reviewing their life choices, some are doing it for religious reasons, some for health reasons and some, like the main character in the new film ‘The Way’ (in UK cinemas, 15 April 2011), have suffered personal tragedy.

Walking the Way is an experience like no other. ‘Pilgrims’ walk sections of the Camino Way, sometimes in organised groups, but more often alone, meeting up with fellow walkers along the Way and sharing experiences and stories as they walk. The various hotels and guesthouses along the route welcome ‘pilgrims’ into a community atmosphere, with shared mealtimes and the chance to meet with people from all over the world, or simply to be alone to reflect on the reasons they came.

People say that walking the Camino is the perfect way to reconnect with yourself; to think about life choices, to reflect on past actions, and to determine the way forward. It’s also a perfect place to go to make a big decision, and in these times, deciding where to go next following redundancy or changes in your working life, could be a great reason to go.

Follow The Camino is a specialist holiday company which offers guided and self-guided walking and cycling tours along the Camino Way to Santiago de Compostela. They organise your hotels and itinerary for you and transport your luggage for you each day so you can walk with a light backpack.

If you have lost your job in the last twelve months, and you feel you’d like to get away from it all to reflect on what you’re going to do next, Follow the Camino will offer you a 10% discount on all its basic package prices for 2011 holidays if you book by 30 June 2011.

So if you have lost your job in the last 12 months, and perhaps also lost your house as well, you can pay these people to set up a pilgrimage, most likely at several times the cost of doing it yourself, but you can get 10% off the price "to get away from it all." The most fascinating part is the hotels and baggage service that are included. When I lose my livelihood, that is the way I want to go. I wonder if they will take a post-dated personal check?

 

[Br. David]

5 million visit the 'Camino Way' ? :shock:

 

[methodist.pilgrim.98]

Do they need any genuine pilgrims as "Tour guides"? I, for one would be interested especially if they are paying good money! :twisted:

Almost unbelievable.

 

[renegadepilgrim]

There's a special place in hell for people who prey on the elderly, children and the downtrodden. Seriously. "Hi, you're unemployed and have no money, here, let me take the rest of it and I'll give you a discount!" That is so wrong on so many levels.

 

[Canuck]

There's a special place in hell for people who prey on the elderly, children and the downtrodden. Seriously. "Hi, you're unemployed and have no money, here, let me take the rest of it and I'll give you a discount!" That is so wrong on so many levels.

Caveat emptor!!!!

 

[methodist.pilgrim.98]

Some time ago a children's charity I support asked if I would like to walk the Camino to raise money for them? It was from Sarria to Santiago.

They had arranged with a tour operator to provide travel in, hotel accomodation, cars to carry your bags, breakfast and evening meal. Cost £800. Insurance would have been on top.

They promised a real pilgrim experience.

I wrote to the charity and told them they had been ripped off, even allowing for the cost of the hotel accomodation (the group would be too big a party for the municipals).

Do you know what? They never even acknowledged receipt of the letter. At that time I could have gone for around £400 all in. Not much difference, eh?