Remember... "To criticize others is to condemn yourself." Just a reminder of an oft-heard saying on the Camino... Other than the Catholic Church's rule about the final 100 Km there are no "official starting places" for any of the Caminos. However, over the ages - this "thing of ours" has been going on since the 800's, plus or minus a few decades - there have emerged many TRADITIONAL STARTING POINTS.
If you do historical reading on the origins of the
Camino de Santiago you learn that the original starting place from which to head to Sanitago de Compostela was typically the threshold of your home, local church, or local cathedral (after receiving a blessing from the local priest or bishop). Bear in mind that this all pre-dates the Protestant Reformation in 1525, et. seq. So, when we speak of Christians, we are speaking of Catholics as there was only one Christian church at the time.
Fast-forwarding to the present day, the traditional starting places of one's home or local church, have been supplanted by several "traditional" starting places. The advent of mass-transportation likely led to this practice. Over the long life of the
Camino de Santiago, these places were usually places where several sub-Caminos joined the major
Camino Frances (St, Jean Pied de Port), or where one could obtain transportation by boat, horse coach or eventually trains or buses (Roncesvalles). Sarria was likely chosen because of its round-number (100 km - actually 111 km) proximity to Santiago, combined with the fact that it had road and rail connections to major points.
In fact, if you want to talk about starting points for a Camino, 2014 is the 800-year anniversary of the pilgrimage of Saint Francis of Assisi (Italy) to Santiago de Compostela. Significant celebrations are planned for the coming year. While it is not a Holy Year, as was 210, the popularity of Saint Francis over the centuries and the current Pope - his namesake - will likely cause a surge in 2014 pilgrim numbers.
In the year 1213, Francis departed Assisi, Italy on foot and walked north, through the various kingdoms and assorted fiefdoms of what is now Italy. He turned west to walk through what is now the Italian Rivera, into what is now France, and then across the French Riviera, through Provence and across southern France. In 2014, he crossed the Pyrenees into what is now Spain using the eastern Somport Pass into the then Kingdom of Catalonia. Once in Spain, Francis turned west across Catalonia into the Kingdom of Navarra, following the Camino Aragones to Puenta la Reina, where the Camino Aragones flows into the main
Camino Frances. As you exit Puente la Reina, you walk through the same, Roman-era portal as Francis. Once out of town and over the bridge, the brief section of crumbled Roman road is the same path Francis walked on 800 years ago. How cool is that! Because one did not ride a plane, train or bus to return home in the year 1214, after he arrived at the Cathedral in Santiago, Francis did what all other pilgrims of their day did. He turned around and walked home. It took him another year. He arrived back in Assisi sometime in 2015.
As regards the issue of "leap frogging" (using public transportation to jump over a portion of Camino) or "slack packing" (having one's rucksack toted ahead) allow me to expand. Unless and until you factually know why someone has opted for one or both of these impact reducing methods, you ought not judge. If you look at the arrival statistics, year-to-date at Santiago, you will see that 61 persons arrived at the Cathedral in WHEELCHAIRS. Clearly, they had at least one "helper" or companion, and logically, they must have used one service or another to make this possible. 'nuff said on that point... One does what one must do to accomplish the pilgrimage according to their own conscience.
I personally had serious foot problems after about four days walking from St. Jean that interfered with walking and required minor surgery at Burgos. I was compelled by infection and pain to use a bus to "leap frog" over parts of the Meseta to get the medical attention I needed.
There are many, many pilgrims who, having faith (of any type), are doing this pilgrimage despite the chronic illness, infirmities, and injuries along the way. Their reasons are personal, as are their reasons for choosing some of the effort assistance methods available. They are not doing this for recreational, social, or fitness reasons. They are doing it because they are people of faith, and over the centuries faith has often been rewarded.
Everyone does the Camino in their own way, as best befits their capabilities and station in life, I am also reminded the Pope John XXIII personally walked at least a portion of the Camino back in the 1950s. Over it's long history, Popes, Kings, Queens, heads of state and other persons or high social standing have become pilgrims on the Camino. For any number of reasons they would have had to have assistance along the way. In the current day, not everyone must stay in a dormitory albuergue to be a pilgrim. There are often very good reasons for staying in alternative lodging. It remains an individual decision - needs must.
Also, not all persons using mochila transport services are "slack packing" (to coin the term) or taking the easy way out. No doubt some are simply on a walking holiday. But, if you look carefully, many of these pilgrims are of advanced age with age-related issues, or have any number of medical conditions that do not permit them to carry loads heavier than a tiny day pack or a water bottle. Yet, who would deny them the chance to make pilgrimage? My own mother is 81, and has one artificial knee. She desperately wants to do the last 110 km, but is unable to do so for a variety of health and personal reasons. However, were she able to try it, I would certainly make use of luggage transport services to help her accomplish her personal dream.
Again, I personally encountered persons with various mobility impairments who had to use mochila transportation or a bus at times to cover the entire Camino. It is not for me, or I suggest for any of us to judge. When I stayed at hostals earlier this year, I regularly saw portable oxygen tanks, CPAP night breathing machines, and even one portable kidney dialysis device! Who is to judge? I am in rank admiration of anyone who refuses to simply submit to the infirmities of old age or of a chronic health condition, who "spits in the eye of the problem" sucks it up and does a Camino. As long as the intention is honorable, the rest is detail and dross...
All of this said, there are still a sizable number of people who do a Camino as a relatively inexpensive holiday, or a five-week pub crawl. It is not to me or I respectfully submit, my fellow pilgrims remaining closer to the the "ideal" of the Camino pilgrim, who they must eventually answer to. In my view, as long as what they do does not adversely affect my personal experience, or harm anyone I am with, I am content to allow them to enjoy themselves. I submit one of the BIG take-aways from a Camino is "live and let live..."
If another pilgrim's behavior, music, or actions do conflict with the more sedate, introspective "norm," there are several non-intrusive things one can do. You can speed up or slow down to put significant distance between you and them - it DOES work. When they stop for a snack, you can simply walk to the next cafe - there is usually always one not too far ahead. That is my personal favorite, especially on the final segment from Sarria to Santiago.
Also, you can choose NOT to stay in one of the
Brierley guide book daily end stages for the evening where possible. That avoids the proverbial "pig in the python" result, works wonders to reduce overall stress and anxiety, and eliminates the daily "race for a bed." This syndrome has become a bigger problem lately (as evinced in this forum) and, I suggest, the easiest way to deal with it is to walk a couple of kilometers more or less.
I do agree that for an able-bodied person who can carry their own stuff in a rucksack, and can walk the entire route, they are short-changing themselves by "cutting corners." The experience of walking a Camino is profound and life-altering. I submit that the more you can immerse yourself in the entire experience, including all the inconvenience and effort that entails, the more you will get out of it.
I am sorry if some of this sounds preachy. But, I started my first Camino earlier this year being VERY judgmental of others who did not comport with what I thought should be the "standard" for all pilgrims. Then I started meeting type I diabetics who had to carry insulin, CPAP users, cancer patients, arthritis sufferers, and persons with emotional or mental health issues, and I began to realize what the Camino was TRULY about. I quickly modified my attitude.Luckily that was BEFORE I even got to Pamplona.
Then at Santiago, I was introduced to a man from the Alsace region of France, who had several years back suffered a stroke depriving him most of the use of his right arm and right leg. His speech was impaired. Yet he managed to communicate in both French, English, and "Camino Spanish." Although I know his name, I will not mention it to maintain his privacy. He walked from Strasbourg, France, dragging his right leg along, one slow step at a time. Yes, he had help from fellow pilgrims in the albuergues to get undressed each evening and dressed each morning, and I believe he used mochila transport services. But he walked the entire route by himself using a single hiking staff for support and carrying a day pack.
For those of you with a map, Strasbourg to St, Jean is more than 1,000 km (1,059 km by foot). Then he walked the entire Camino Francis. I was humbled. I cried for him, for his sheer faith, and I felt very guilty that I had earlier sought to apply my standards on others.
Okay, soap box passed on...y'all have a nice day!
