• Get your Camino Frances Guidebook here.
  • For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)
  • ⚠️ Emergency contact in Spain - Dial 112 and AlertCops app. More on this here.

Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Gareth is struggling.. :-)

ivar

Administrator
Staff member
00123.JPG

http://albergue.caminodesantiago.me/pho ... hoto%3A227
 
Join our full-service guided tour and let us convert you into a Pampered Pilgrim!
I have absolutely no sympathy: he clearly has the 100km stone nearly to himself. The day we walked past this on June 30, you were lucky if you could even take a photo of it for the crowds. I would only be sympathetic about his exhaustion if he had spent the last seven hours scrubbing the graffiti off that stone, and clearly he has hasn't been doing that.....
Margaret
 
Join our full-service guided tour and let us convert you into a Pampered Pilgrim!
He is clearly worse than me... :D

I had been looking so forward to reaching that stone: The graffiti was a real disappointment.
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Before almost all the graffiti:
 

Attachments

  • DSCN0986.JPG
    DSCN0986.JPG
    56.9 KB · Views: 1,970
talking about graffiti and completely off subject ......... + MAMI 11.9.09 +

just wondering if anybody else found this objectionable.
 
coober said:
talking about graffiti and completely off subject ......... + MAMI 11.9.09 +

just wondering if anybody else found this objectionable.

No objection here. Actually, with a picture of a graffiti filled marker in the first post, and a picture of the same marker in the penultimate post, this is one of the few threads to stay on track... :lol:
 
Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

€60,-
falcon269 said:
Before almost all the graffiti:
I think they got Gareth to clean that one last time he was there......
Margaret
 
my apologies. I didn't make myself clear. + MAMI 11.9.09 + was (is) graffiti written with a black texta or paint pen many times along 90% of Camino Frances. I found it objectionable and I just wondered if anybody else who was on the Camino late September through October was of the same opinion.

The attached picture is a typical example, which, coincidentally was taken just after the 100km marker.
 

Attachments

  • mami.jpg
    mami.jpg
    55.5 KB · Views: 1,877
coober said:
my apologies. I didn't make myself clear. + MAMI 11.9.09 + was (is) graffiti written with a black texta or paint pen many times along 90% of Camino Frances. I found it objectionable and I just wondered if anybody else who was on the Camino late September through October was of the same opinion.

The attached picture is a typical example, which, coincidentally was taken just after the 100km marker.

I walked the Camino in Sept /OCT and I also found this graffiti quite objectionable. I found it written along the way from at least Ronscesvalles.

Hi Coober, I think I stayed at Ruitelan with you and also at a few other alberques after that. We know we have graffiti in Aust but I did feel quite disappointed to see it all along the Camino.
Sandra
 
Join our full-service guided tour and let us convert you into a Pampered Pilgrim!
It is possibly these folks:

http://casamamimx.blogspot.com/2008/06/ ... dbook.html

The mix of capitals and lower case and the cross are very similar. It is interesting that they (or whomever) feel the cause so compelling that they would deface an internationally recognized holy object, the Camino. It is reminiscent of the Baha'i graffiti that fortunately has seemed to have disappeared. Lots of emails to Baha'i two years ago had an effect. Maybe lots of emails to the Casa MAMi are appropriate.
 
Well, I was intending to post a new thread on this +MAMI11.09.09+ subject this week, but now the issue has come up, I can clear up the whole mystery!
We had been walking (or rather meeting up at the end of the day) with a couple from Madrid (probably in their late 50's/early 60's). He explained that this mother had died on the 11th Sept this year, when they were just starting their Camino from Roncevalles. After the funeral, they returned and started off again. I don't remember where we first met them, but I do remember that we were sitting in a bar, which had loads of graffiti all over the walls, when he suddenly got up, took out his pen and wrote the famous MAMI graffiti, which was then photographed by his wife. At the time, I didn't think more about it, because ALL the walls were totally covered with graffiti.
We normally walked ahead of them and they only overtook us in Rabanal, so we didn't realise to what extent he had been defacing the Camino. After Rabanal, we never saw them again, but by this time, as we were walking one day behind them, we realized that he had been continually defacing way markers, commercial signs, stones, you name it, he defaced it. Adriaan at one moment took a photo to use as a complaint, but unfortunately we lost one whole week of photos (that one included). I made a calculation that by the time they reached Santiago, he must have written MAMI at least 500 times, because they appeared on average about 3 for every km! Anne
 
Gee, what a way to memorialize your loved one... by scribbling their name and death date all over the place! How declassé.

Kinda good to know it too will disappear after not too long.
 
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
I am very happy to learn that it is a one time vandalism and is not something that will continue to be done as some of the other graffiti seems to be.
 
My own pet hate was that every town or region seemed to want freedom from Spain and thought the best way to go about it was to scroll on everything,but why all the fuss are not the brightly painted yellow arrows daubed on everything themselves a form of graffiti?
what the couple did was a way of dealing with their grief and not for us to criticize.
I'm more concerned that Gareths boots look far to clean!
Ian
 
sagalouts said:
I'm more concerned that Gareth's boots look far too clean!

You're right, they are very clean AND shiny. Do you carry dubbin with you, Gareth? If so, have you re-packaged exactly the necessary amount into some very light weight container?

Bridget
x
 
Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

€60,-
He carries a new pair for every day. That's why he is struggling.
 
sagalouts said:
what the couple did was a way of dealing with their grief and not for us to criticize.

I think that most of us have lost loved ones over the years, but that didn't (I hope) encite us to going around defacing, over hundreds of kms. public and private property along the Camino. I, for one found it very bad taste and as I walked on and saw yet another MAMI graffiti, I groaned and thought, Oh no, not another one. On at least one occasion he wrote on what was, until then, a completely clean way-marker concrete post, complete with shell (this in Galicia). I was getting very upset, particularly because I knew who had been doing this act.
There are plenty of other ways to remember your mother. Anne
 
I've just worked out why the boots are so clean - Gareth has collapsible rotor blades in his backpack and he travels all the way in the position you see him in on the marker post, only 3 or 4 metres up in the air with his blades whirring above him like a microlight helicopter.

I haven't worked out yet how it is powered though?
 
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-
This was taken June 2007, hardly a mark on it. Terrible how things have changed...
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0957 100kms to go! (Small).JPG
    IMG_0957 100kms to go! (Small).JPG
    46.9 KB · Views: 1,367
And another taken 3 months later in September 2007.
 

Attachments

  • 100km to go.jpg
    100km to go.jpg
    80.9 KB · Views: 1,354
What would it take to clean it. What would you need?
Maybe some of us could pick up something to clean it with before getting there.
Perhaps it would be presentable until the next Pilgrim with cleaning material comes along.
I will make the effort...but I will not be there until April.
 
Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

€60,-
I imagine it gets regularly cleaned and/or replaced, then gets graffiti-ed all over again. Those of you who have seen it 'clean' might just have come by after a cleaning/replacement operation.
Sad to say, we also saw a group of three from Malaga who carried a pen specifically for the purpose of adorning their names and the date over every available surface. We had found them quite a friendly, likeable trio until we discovered what they were doing, then it became harder to see them in a 'likeable' light.
Margaret
 
In May 2008, all the above graffiti was there plus more! I tried cleaning it at that time with isopropyl alcohol, chlorine bleach, soap, and acetone. None worked. Lacquer thinner, paint thinner, or carbon tetrachloride might work. Internet searches for a solvent for magic marker are not particularly productive. Maybe the industry is keeping secrets!

When it is cleaned, they probably use a water power washer.
 
its a lump of concrete!! the worse building material known to man its ugly, I think it looks better adorned, a celebration of the spirit.
this post starts with a pic of Gareth a man who last year had a downer on germans and thought that mass should be compulsory for all walkers, now if Gareth can lighten up-------------
Ian
 
Join our full-service guided tour and let us convert you into a Pampered Pilgrim!
The first edition came out in 2003 and has become the go-to-guide for many pilgrims over the years. It is shipping with a Pilgrim Passport (Credential) from the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
I don't like graffiti vandals splattering their childish egos on public property, especially. If they had something to say then at least it would be understandable. But it usually takes the form of illiterate scribbles, suggesting an IQ of shoe size. In some cities they now scratch bus and train windows. They have scored their names in the marble of the Taj Mahal.

I am so disappointed to see that such selfish idiots are now defacing the camino. I can't believe that anyone would excuse or encourage this. :arrow:
 
I think the stele is granite, not concrete. Casual observation seems to show that most of the markings are by the Spanish, so maybe it is a cultural thing they should work out with guest pilgrims pretty much staying out of it. The biggest downside problem I see is that it seems to condone egoistic behavio(u)r, which sets an atmosphere for litter, other graffiti, etc. On the other hand, Gareth is an excellent, if temporary, adornment. What happened to all the rocks that were on top of the marker? Are they now embedded in Gareth's abdomen?
 
falcon269 said:
Gareth is an excellent, if temporary, adornment. What happened to all the rocks that were on top of the marker? Are they now embedded in Gareth's abdomen?

Ah-ha! The extra weight of the stones in his tummy was too much for the micro-helicopter which has broken off from it's power pack/rucksack and flown off by itself. That explains the look on his face.
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
sagalouts said:
My own pet hate was that every town or region seemed to want freedom from Spain and thought the best way to go about it was to scroll on everything,but why all the fuss are not the brightly painted yellow arrows daubed on everything themselves a form of graffiti?
what the couple did was a way of dealing with their grief and not for us to criticize.
I'm more concerned that Gareths boots look far to clean!
Ian
Gareth responds:
http://albergue.caminodesantiago.me/pho ... hoto%3A579
:)
 
KiwiNomad06 said:
I imagine it gets regularly cleaned and/or replaced, then gets graffiti-ed all over again.

Yes, that´s certainly what happens. The graffiti is quite different in the various photos I have of the 100km stone. Graffiti is always a problem, but nothing new: you find it all over the ancient catacombs in Rome. I've been more concerned lately with the proliferation of commercial advertising on the Camino. That has certainly grown very much in the year since I did my last Camino from Worcester to Santiago. Just walking this last stretch from León to Santiago in the past fortnight, I noticed a lot more commercial advertising on the Camino, targeted at pilgrims; particularly the competitive trade now beytween private albergues.

One curious thing I noticed starting at León was a long series of a graffito
with a red heart motif, an example to be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.es/garethomas/L ... 9422119874
When you arrive at the drinks stall - just before Astorga - of a hippie type fellow who calls himself the Casa de Dioses, you find that he has a heart motif on his stall and his sello. All such graffiti ceases after that point. I wonder if... :wink:

Gareth
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
sagalouts said:
now if Gareth can lighten up...

Oh really! I would have thought that my posts on this forum have been consistently frivolous and pointless most of the time... Lighten up? How much lighter can we get...? Puts on comic nose and falls off chair

Gareth
 
Compare my May 2008 photo with Gareth's. You can see the older markings in mine still faintly visible in Gareth's, and the graffiti I saw on the clean stele in 2007 were there in 2008, so it is not cleaned annually!
 

Attachments

  • P4270035.JPG
    P4270035.JPG
    46.3 KB · Views: 947
  • 0012 (2).JPG
    0012 (2).JPG
    51.9 KB · Views: 951
At the risk of getting things thrown at me can I just put another point of view....

I think most (admittedly not all) of the graffeti on the camino ENHANCED my trip not lessened it. I think it's pretty natural for those on such a journey to want to sign their names leaving a bit of themselves on the trip. I also think many days on my walk have been improved by reading the odd phrase, some song lyrics, someone's thoughts written somewhere along the camino. Reading the names/dates of those gone before is interesting! The graffetti on the back of the toilet doors in the albergue at finisterre is some of the most profound philosopy I've ever read! Really!

I've got some great graffeti photos from the camino, there was some fantastic artistic graffeti in Logrono when I was there earlier this year (not camino related at all) There was a really nice prayer written on a fence post near Monte Del Perdon that inspired me to keep going when walking late one evening. I love the messages that are written to other pilgrim/friends walking behind. It's human, it's interesting! One of the best things about the camino is the people and this is how people express themselves!

I understand there are downsides, I realise sometimes someone has to go and clean the graffetti, put up new signs etc. I think some things should be sacred and I was pretty shocked at the pic in this thread of graffetti on a cross (defaced religious symbols is maybe a step too far) and I do think that there is such a thing as overkill (bahai comes to mind!)

I'm not saying that all graffeti is great but I am saying that I would find the camino a far sadder and emptier experience without all the graffeti and I hope I am allowed to share that opinion with you.
 
New Original Camino Gear Designed Especially with The Modern Peregrino In Mind!
On the way out of Logrono.
 

Attachments

  • Graffiti.JPG
    Graffiti.JPG
    72.1 KB · Views: 879
Gareth Thomas said:
KiwiNomad06 said:
I imagine it gets regularly cleaned and/or replaced, then gets graffiti-ed all over again.



One curious thing I noticed starting at León was a long series of a graffito
with a red heart motif, an example to be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.es/garethomas/L ... 9422119874
When you arrive at the drinks stall - just before Astorga - of a hippie type fellow who calls himself the Casa de Dioses, you find that he has a heart motif on his stall and his sello. All such graffiti ceases after that point. I wonder if... :wink:

Gareth

I was going to ask about this stall, when I was there 13th October it was being looked after by a very nice young lady. The presentation of the food and drinks was immaculate and I was invited to help myself to coffee and cake (home made) for a donation. A seat nearby had comfortable cushions on it, and the overall impression was one of cleanliness, tidiness and above all friendliness.

I asked for a sello and was told with a certain amount of pride that it was the only heart sello (see photo) on the camino. There was no sign of commercialism but I am curious as to why one paid with a donation.

If anybody can tell me more it would be appreciated.

thanks
David
 

Attachments

  • Sello-Casa-de-Dioses.jpg
    Sello-Casa-de-Dioses.jpg
    14.3 KB · Views: 794
Gareth Thomas said:
Puts on comic nose and falls off chairGareth

Can you photograph your self falling off one of the km stones while dressed as a clown?

A thought re grafitti: in one of the pueblos on the Stage from Mora to Toledo on the Levante, the Ayuntemiento had cleaned all grafitti off including the yellow arrows. This was a 26 mile stage because there was no accommodation en route. Life was harder because the yellow arrows had gone - there was one junction where I had to pray that I'd chosen the path that led to Toledo.

Andy
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
andy.d said:
Can you photograph your self falling off one of the km stones while dressed as a clown?

I´d love to oblige, Andy, but as already stated I've finished the Camino and am in Santiago, so that is an impractical suggestion. Would you like me to fall off the Obradoiro dressed as the Pope? :D

Gareth
 
Gareth Thomas said:
Would you like me to fall off the Obradoiro dressed as the Pope? :D Gareth
That would be a wonderful sight for sore eyes.....but only if you can include full regalia like the Triregnum, Ring of the Fisherman and Papal Cross.
Margaret
 
Or, you could just come out in your hat and boots!! :shock:
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
elzi said:
At the risk of getting things thrown at me can I just put another point of view....

I think most (admittedly not all) of the graffeti on the camino ENHANCED my trip not lessened it. I think it's pretty natural for those on such a journey to want to sign their names leaving a bit of themselves on the trip. I also think many days on my walk have been improved by reading the odd phrase, some song lyrics, someone's thoughts written somewhere along the camino. Reading the names/dates of those gone before is interesting! The graffetti on the back of the toilet doors in the albergue at finisterre is some of the most profound philosopy I've ever read! Really!

I've got some great graffeti photos from the camino, there was some fantastic artistic graffeti in Logrono when I was there earlier this year (not camino related at all) There was a really nice prayer written on a fence post near Monte Del Perdon that inspired me to keep going when walking late one evening. I love the messages that are written to other pilgrim/friends walking behind. It's human, it's interesting! One of the best things about the camino is the people and this is how people express themselves!

I understand there are downsides, I realise sometimes someone has to go and clean the graffetti, put up new signs etc. I think some things should be sacred and I was pretty shocked at the pic in this thread of graffetti on a cross (defaced religious symbols is maybe a step too far) and I do think that there is such a thing as overkill (bahai comes to mind!)

I'm not saying that all graffeti is great but I am saying that I would find the camino a far sadder and emptier experience without all the graffeti and I hope I am allowed to share that opinion with you.


:shock: In space no-one can hear you scream...let 's go there.... :shock:
 
KiwiNomad06 said:
That would be a wonderful sight for sore eyes.....but only if you can include full regalia like the Triregnum, Ring of the Fisherman and Papal Cross.

I´ve checked out all the fancy dress shops around the Obradoiro, but I am sorry to disappoint you. (They all send their apologies.) Meanwhile, here is some explanation of my three-tiered winter hat arrangements.

http://picasaweb.google.es/garethomas/L ... 8048361634

Gareth
 
Hey Gareth - fabulous hats...and photographs. Can I ask about the coat? Does it work well? Does it weight a lot etc? How does it compare to a regular rain suit or poncho? I ask because I know some people who swear by coats/capes.

Best regards

John
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Hashahahahahahhahahahaha Gareth, love all your Picasa photos and your comments! Thanks for providing such an insight into your triple hat arrangement: you too could be a Pope one day!
I couldn't sign into Picasa to make some return comments- as I couldn't read the language - will have to sign in myself later today and see if I can work things out...
Margaret
 
JohnnieWalker said:
Hey Gareth - fabulous hats...and photographs. Can I ask about the coat? Does it work well? Does it weight a lot etc? How does it compare to a regular rain suit or poncho?

Hi John.

I first wore this Drizabone coat when I did my December Camino in 2007 - here I am on Cebreiro in the snow http://picasaweb.google.es/garethomas/W ... 0119518658 - and I thought it would be sensible to bring it for a November Camino.

There have been several days of continuous rain and I was glad to be wearing it during those days; but on the other hand, it weighs two kilos (as much as Katherine Lack´s replica 15th c. bourdon I carried last year walking from Worcester) and you just don´t need that extra two kilos! On occasions, after walking all day in the pouring rain, you end up just as wet inside it - due to perspiration - as you would have been in a useless cheap bit of plastic poncho. And it can take all night to dry out, or in an albergue without heating, not dry out at all and weigh three kilos next morning! So, to be honest, I would not say it is sensible Camino wear, no more than I am a sensible pilgrim, as you know.

On the other hand (or should I say head?) the three-tier hat arrangement is actually very sensible. Three tiers for the hat arrangement: hip hip, hooray!

Finally, I must say that you get a better lunch at La Terraza in Clapham than anything you find on the Camino, so I´m sorry to miss the CSJ meal. Enjoy! I´ll be in Madrid, waiting to fly, so I'll probably find some decent tapas... :lol:

Gareth
 
New Original Camino Gear Designed Especially with The Modern Peregrino In Mind!
elzi said:
Great hat photo! Did you carry all those hats with you AND the coat/waistcoat arrangement AND polish your boots every night!?! Am very impressed!

Yes, a variety of hats is quite normal for an Englishman abroad: I´m surprised you´d think otherwise. :shock: I have polished my boots every night. If you are walking in very wet conditions it makes sense to bring waterproofing stuff and clean your boots thoroughly every night. But I was ticked off today at the hotel in Santiago where I managed to get boot dubbin all over two towels... :oops:

Gareth
 
KiwiNomad06 said:
triple hat arrangement: you too could be a Pope one day

Ahah! Tiara! Now there´s a clever reference! How many would have spotted that... So, yes of course my Trinitarian hat arrangements do have a spiritual significance, you see?

Gareth
 
JohnnieWalker said:
Can I ask about the coat? Does it work well? Does it weight a lot etc? How does it compare to a regular rain suit or poncho? I ask because I know some people who swear by coats/capes.John

John,

you've got me thinking. I've got one of these:

https://www.jandmsewing.com/shop/Produc ... uct/Cloak/

Up til now, I haven't thought about wearing it for winter walking, but ...

Andy
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Gareth,
with all those hats, the drizabone coat, the boot polish, and all else that you needed, what weight was your backpack when you started out?
 

Most read last week in this forum

My name is Henrik and I will be coming down to SJPdP from Sweden on March 26 and start walking on March 27. I don't really have any experience and I'm not the best at planning and I'm a little...
When I hiked the Frances Route this happened. I was hiking in the afternoon just east of Arzua. I was reserved a bed at an albergue in Arzua, so I had already hiked all the way from San Xulien...
I am finalizing my packing list for Frances, and do not want to over pack. (I am 71) I will be starting at SJPdP on April 25th to Roncesvalles and forward. I was hoping on some advise as to...
First marker starting from Albergue Monasterio de la Magdalena in Sarria (113.460 km) Start: 2023.9.29 07:22 Arrival: 2023.9.30 13:18 walking time : 26 hours 47 minutes rest time : 3 hours 8...
A local Navarra website has posted a set of photos showing today's snowfall in the area around Roncesvalles. About 15cm of snow fell this morning surprising pilgrims on the way...
Hi! I’m a first time pilgrim. Is it possible to take a taxi from Astorga to Foncebadon? Thanks, Felicia

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top