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coober said:talking about graffiti and completely off subject ......... + MAMI 11.9.09 +
just wondering if anybody else found this objectionable.
I think they got Gareth to clean that one last time he was there......falcon269 said:Before almost all the graffiti:
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.
sagalouts said:I'm more concerned that Gareth's boots look far too clean!
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
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?
Gareth responds: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
KiwiNomad06 said:I imagine it gets regularly cleaned and/or replaced, then gets graffiti-ed all over again.
sagalouts said:now if Gareth can lighten up...
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
Gareth Thomas said:Puts on comic nose and falls off chairGareth
andy.d said:Can you photograph your self falling off one of the km stones while dressed as a clown?
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.Gareth Thomas said:Would you like me to fall off the Obradoiro dressed as the Pope? Gareth
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.
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.
Gareth Thomas said:KiwiNomad06 said:Meanwhile, here is some explanation of my three-tiered winter hat arrangements.
http://picasaweb.google.es/garethomas/L ... 8048361634
Gareth
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?
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!
KiwiNomad06 said:triple hat arrangement: you too could be a Pope one day
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