Jim
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2006- Camino Portuguese
2008- Camino Frances
2009- Sanabres extension of the VDLP
2010- Camino Frances
2011- Camino Potuguese
2014- Camino Frances
2017- Camino Finisterre
I walked the section from Sarria to SDC in May as part of a European excursion. I found myself doing this for a combination of religious and cultural reasons. I have been very respectful of the camino and carted out every bit of stuff I used along the way and properly disposed of it. I mainly stayed in small hotels and B&B's along the way this time because I know that the space in albergues is needed by those who cannot afford to pay for private lodging.
I found that some of the mileage markers between Melide and O Pino especially had graffiti scrawled on them in white paint, http://www.bahaifaith.org or similar. I was able to contact the Ba'hai organization and described what had happened and even suggested that they assign a group to correct this, since the camino is a UNESCO site. On some markers, it was painted over, but you could still make out the website. I received a response indicating that they will be checking into this and they do not condone this sort of thing. I know that graffiti is done by many, but perhaps it should be emphasized by the Amigos and other organizations and friends of the camino to get out education about this so people will refrain from doing this sort of thing. Posters in the albergues, perhaps? And ditto about educating the pilgrims about not leaving trash out on the trails. I use this term loosely because I felt that many walking on the Frances were not really pilgrims, but rather hikers "going the distance." Very nice people, just the same... but in need of education about the camino's history. I spoke about this to whomever I met and quite a few surprisingly knew nothing about its history or its cultural and religious roots. Education = respect in many cases, so I am hoping that the trail does not deteriorate with the increased popularity it has seen in recent years.
I found that some of the mileage markers between Melide and O Pino especially had graffiti scrawled on them in white paint, http://www.bahaifaith.org or similar. I was able to contact the Ba'hai organization and described what had happened and even suggested that they assign a group to correct this, since the camino is a UNESCO site. On some markers, it was painted over, but you could still make out the website. I received a response indicating that they will be checking into this and they do not condone this sort of thing. I know that graffiti is done by many, but perhaps it should be emphasized by the Amigos and other organizations and friends of the camino to get out education about this so people will refrain from doing this sort of thing. Posters in the albergues, perhaps? And ditto about educating the pilgrims about not leaving trash out on the trails. I use this term loosely because I felt that many walking on the Frances were not really pilgrims, but rather hikers "going the distance." Very nice people, just the same... but in need of education about the camino's history. I spoke about this to whomever I met and quite a few surprisingly knew nothing about its history or its cultural and religious roots. Education = respect in many cases, so I am hoping that the trail does not deteriorate with the increased popularity it has seen in recent years.