- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2003 CF Ronces to Santiago
Hospi San Anton 2016.
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Indeed!
When weary after walking for 6 hours while carrying a pack all that is needed is a simple shelter with preferably a lower bunk for resting, working toilet, h shower, and when possible pleasant companions and something to eat. Nothing else is really necessary; luxury is heat in winter as well as an electric socket to charge a phone.
I do appreciate your input @Robo , So what is a Genuine pilgrim , Well Firstly I would say spirituality , then Religion and even if it is a tourist experience , you may still find one of the two?It raise some interesting thoughts @RENSHAW .
Some are probably genuine Pilgrims, whatever that means.
Who are we to judge? I don't.
I do appreciate your input @Robo , So what is a Genuine pilgrim , Well Firstly I would say spirituality , then Religion and even if it is a tourist experience , you may still find one of the two?
@ OZAJ I think you may have misconstrued or seen some one else's comments? My comment never did say 'A true pilgrim' There is no question about this , My reason in posting is asking , The poor on the camino?The Camino is for everyone who can do it and for whatever reason they are wanting to do it.
I wonder whether the OP's question is really about intention and its role in "true pilgrimage", an expression I dislike. Who are the "true pilgrims" and who are the tourists, vagrants and lost souls? Well, they are all people and for many, life, with all its vicissitudes is a pilgrimage regardless of how they approach it.
Poor people can do the CF and probably any pilgrimage route if they are resourceful and not too fussy. I have met such people on various pilgrim routes. Some have travelled with very little money, like the elderly man I met in Italy who had walked from his home in central Spain to Santiago and was continuing to Rome. All his clothes and kit had been donated by well - wishers along the way. He was not a beggar.
No it didn't say "a true pilgrim".@ OZAJ I think you may have misconstrued or seen some one else's comments? My comment never did say 'A true pilgrim' There is no question about this , My reason in posting is asking , The poor on the camino?
That's wonderful , so At last I have a sponsor to get me to the Camino , My flight will only cost €1000 euros from South Africa , I knew God will answer my prayers - WOW!! Thank you.No it didn't say "a true pilgrim".
I am surprised that you have to pay large sums for fights. After a few orujos, I can get plenty of fights for free!!
I do appreciate your input @Robo , So what is a Genuine pilgrim , Well Firstly I would say spirituality , then Religion and even if it is a tourist experience , you may still find one of the two?
How things change! Never needed a socket for a phone in the early years as I never used one! As I was moving on a daily basis , the pleasant companions were likewise something I took as I found. I think something changed when the REFUGIO which meant what it said, became an ALBERGUE and moved upmarket. Now of course the Moby goes where I go and due to age, deformity, infirmity, medication etc, its a room or nothing and I didn't say NO the first time I came across accommodation where there was a pool! I'm glad I started in 2003 however , when I was a mere 65 and it was an adventure for me before it became pilgrimage. That changed me forever and now I simply regard it all as the strands of a rope which bind together and one strand is of no more importance than another.Indeed!
When weary after walking for 6 hours while carrying a pack all that was needed was a simple shelter with preferably a lower bunk for resting, working toilet, shower, and when possible pleasant companions and something to eat.
Nothing else was really necessary; luxury was clean hiking socks, heat in winter as well as an electric socket to charge a phone.
We still have to consider those that do not have the $1000 , those who have walked from home or those people who have so little , remember this is not pointing fingers at anybody , it is merely an exercise yet there seems to be a lot of underlying guilt?As someone from afar, it takes me minimally 4 days and thousands of dollars to get to the “start line”. I enjoy every step of the Camino. Should I be punished for my “excess”? I think not.
Can money buy you a great Camino Experience?
Guys , I simply don't think we are there yet , I think that we are all have been so privileged that we cannot see just how hard it can be some people to fund themselves on the Camino.
Bunk? Luxury! When I was a lad we used to have to sleep on bare floors. Concrete? If you were lucky - we had to sleep on beaten earth and cow dung. But we were happier in those days even though we had nothing...When weary after walking for 6 hours while carrying a pack all that was needed was a simple shelter with preferably a lower bunk for resting, working toilet, shower, and when possible pleasant companions and something to eat.
Bunk? Luxury! When I was a lad we used to have to sleep on bare floors. Concrete? If you were lucky - we had to sleep on beaten earth and cow dung. But we were happier in those days even though we had nothing...
View attachment 116147
I saw a recent post a few days ago asking if May was a good month for a Camino vacation. Seriously. It is all things to all people. I happen to believe that it is a pilgrimage route. And very often people on a Camino 'vacation' discover the pilgrimage and spiritual aspect regardless of theiroriginal intent.Further more to my 'Beggar in Pamplona' Post ' I recall about 12 years ago a young man who was in his underwear fishing just after the well known Pamplona city bridge , the Gaurda took him away , obviously he was a 'vagrant' or was he?Hopefully he was taken out of town and sent on his way? He could have been from many countries away.
So often do we ask , where are the best albergues , the the best food. We spend hundreds of £ or $ for fights and we expect the 'tourist' experience , 20 years ago during my first camino it was a tad different , I just wonder if we have lost the plot?
It almost seems that those who do not have the means are vagabonds? Who is the Camino for!? Sharing and you may with pleasure come back to me.
I have the feeling that this is a before and after issue. Before the pandemic it was my experience that, by staying in municipal and parochial albergues, cheap and donativos, and taking advantage of peregrino menus, it was possible walk the Camino on restricted means - I know, I had them. In the new normal it seems that we will be staying in a lot less cheap accommodation and no doubt a lot of small bars in small villages will have gone bust or really, really struggled and in the new world meal prices have got to go up. It would be an absolute tragedy if the Camino became the resort of touregrinos walking their 10 km a day before going on to their next 5 star hotel by air-conditioned coach. We will just have to wait and see.Further more to my 'Beggar in Pamplona' Post ' I recall about 12 years ago a young man who was in his underwear fishing just after the well known Pamplona city bridge , the Gaurda took him away , obviously he was a 'vagrant' or was he?Hopefully he was taken out of town and sent on his way? He could have been from many countries away.
So often do we ask , where are the best albergues , the the best food. We spend hundreds of £ or $ for fights and we expect the 'tourist' experience , 20 years ago during my first camino it was a tad different , I just wonder if we have lost the plot?
It almost seems that those who do not have the means are vagabonds? Who is the Camino for!? Sharing and you may with pleasure come back to me.
The Buddhist 88 temple circuit on Shikoku is also 'home' to a number of homeless perpetual pilgrims who are supported by local people with gifts of food and basic shelter for the night. I was fortunate to share space and food overnight with two such men during my own journey around the island.Coming from a middle-class background, these encounters educated me about one aspect of social conditions in Spain. The pilgrim Way provides walking routes for the very poor in Spain, who follow them as part of their effort to survive.
I only managed to fund my self by begging of friends,. bouncing the credit card, the overdraft and the bank loan. My bank loan finally bites the dust, end of March. For me the funding has been bloody hard. And it has been so since 2003. Guess what, I will do it all over again, God, the bank manager and the bookies willingGuys , I simply don't think we are there yet , I think that we are all have been so privileged that we cannot see just how hard it can be some people to fund themselves on the Camino.
Let me count the ways...I don ' t know why this thread bugs me so much. Maybe because...
True. But in post #6 you referred to "genuine pilgrim." The difference escapes me.My comment never did say 'A true pilgrim'
Yes, most of us are privileged in the large scheme of the world. I am very well aware of how hard it can be for some people to fund their Caminos. However, the vast majority of the poor have far more pressing challenges than how to get to Spain.I think that we are all have been so privileged that we cannot see just how hard it can be some people to fund themselves on the Camino.
tell that to the bookies@ malingerer Thank God that someone has been there and gives credits . but you are the chosen one?
I really do not understand what you are trying to say. I cannot make the connection between the guy fishing in his underwear, the fact that many people have to budget very carefully in order to fund their Caminos, and how I could put my guilt to constructive use.@ malingerer Thank God that someone has been there and gives credits . but you are the chosen one?
Hi Tom, thank you for your honest contribution. I have never heard of your particular 'condition', but I have to say, of all the narratives I've read from fellow Caminoers, yours really touched my soul, & I truly believe we could all learn from you. Thank you, not only for sharing your views, outlook & 'way', but also the generosity you show & kindness you share, with those you meet on your 'way'. I'm sorry you don't 'get' anything in return, as regards a 'good feeling' when you help someone or even a 'great feeling' when you 'make someone's day'. Please don't give up. I cannot believe there is no 'reward' for all your kindness over the years & I really hope that there will be a cure for your rare condition, and you will one day, soon, feel the gratitude & elation, for all your good deeds. You're my definition of a true pilgrim & anyone who crosses your path should be honoured. We all have a purpose in life. Some of us find our purpose earlier than others. I pray that all the good you have done over the years will be rewarded soon & you will be relieved of this unusual condition. I ask your angels to continue to guide you on your 'way' & give you the resilience & hope to believe that 'your day will come'. In the meantime I send you this old Irish Blessing: 'May the road rise to meet you; May the wind be always at your back; May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rain fall soft upon your fields, & until we meet (again), May God hold you in the palm of His hand'. Take care Tom & God Bless You!I have read this entire thread - twice - with a high level of interest. My take on this issue is that poverty is at least partially a mental state.
Parenthetically - but related to the discussion - I suffer from lifelong moderate depression. One of the hallmarks of my specific diagnosis is a persistent condition called anhedonia. This is the inability to take or achieve joy or pleasure from everyday events or situations.
Intellectually, I might be pleased or satisfied that something went well, a crisis was averted, safety was reached or that someone else was happy. But, I am personally handicapped when it comes to deriving emotional or physical enjoyment.
My "happy meter" does not move beyond "meh." Most people's happiness ranges from abject misery to ebullient happiness and estatic, giddy pleasure. My meter goes from the cellar to around middle ground - or "meh." I live in a world of grey.
Does this make me "poor" when it comes to the Camino? Yes, it does according to my way of thinking. I am blessed with adequate resources to come and go more or less as I please, but, my lifelong condition (even with medication) precludes from enjoying the experience as others might do. However, it does not prevent me from returning again and again to walk Camino or to volunteer to help others.
"It is in giving that we receive," according to Saint Francis. That is how I create personal pseudo enjoyment and as much satisfaction - I help others. I try to make another person's situation better, so that they might derive pleasure. Objectively, I should derive pleasure from these activities. But the best I can do is be satisfied. My purpose is to help others out of their poverty of spirit, and to some extent to achieve a successful result on a Camino.
I make an effort daily to not judge another's motivation, financial standing or social standing when on Camino. We are all equal - pilgrims seeking pone goal - Santiago.
One can can have abundant wealth - have more money than brains - and still suffer from poverty of the spirit. Conversely, one can be materially poor and overflowing with riches of the spirit.
I suggest that the "optimum" paradigm when evaluating the question of whether the Camino is for poor people is to adopt the first rule of the Camino: "Everyone does their own Camino. NO one has the standing to question how (or why) a person chooses to accomplish their personal Camino."
Our role as fellow pilgrims is (IMHO) to support, encourage, nurture and assist other pilgrims we encounter. If they need help, we ought to help to the extent we can. This is a corollary of the Golden Rule "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
I have walked with and shared with people from all over the world and from all backgrounds. I like to think that I treat all I meet equally, with dignity and compassion. All I expect is reciprocal treatment. So far, over nearly nine years and six Caminos, that has not been an issue. I always end a Camino a better human being than when I started.
I hope this helps, and that I have not strayed too far off piste, or inadvertently hijacked this thread.
Tom
I don't buy into this at all, I think its a phrase someone uses to excuse bad service, whether you are a tourist or a pilgrim you are entitled to good service for your hard earned money, which for some of us is a modest pension. Saying if you complain you are no longer a pilgrim but a dreaded tourist is just a cop out IMO.My touchstone is "A tourist complains, a pilgrim gives thanks."
I have felt this way since comments of this sort were being made when I joined the forum, prior to my first camino. My boss at work went on a bus tour, including Santiago on the itinerary. As a Roman Catholic priest and a wonderful human being, he might well know a lot more about being a pilgrim than I shall ever know. Many pilgrims go to Santiago on bus tours or private pilgrimages by car, and other travellers may become pilgrims as they visit the holy sites in Europe and elsewhere, even as some walking tourists may.The reminder to give thanks is good, but it is a bit of an insult to the many thankful tourists out there. It illustrates that the difference between a tourist and a pilgrim is not so easily judged, and the judgement doesn't serve much purpose.
I'm also bothered by this thread. Surely there can be no argument about the Camino being for anyone and everyone who is drawn to it. But that is not the same as saying it is a realistic possibility for all. Far from it, I'd say.I don ' t know why this thread bugs me so much.
I imagine that they must be ever so grateful for that.In my country, poor people have apartments with electricity and air conditioning
I don't think, that we lost anything. The (a) Camino is for anyone. If rich or poor or anything in between, if a genius or simple minded. I think the Camino you walk will catch you in some meaning, sometimes it's religious, sometimes it's spritual and sometimes it's just for the sake of it.Sharing and you may with pleasure come back to me.
Further more to my 'Beggar in Pamplona' Post ' I recall about 12 years ago a young man who was in his underwear fishing just after the well known Pamplona city bridge , the Gaurda took him away , obviously he was a 'vagrant' or was he?Hopefully he was taken out of town and sent on his way? He could have been from many countries away.
So often do we ask , where are the best albergues , the the best food. We spend hundreds of £ or $ for fights and we expect the 'tourist' experience , 20 years ago during my first camino it was a tad different , I just wonder if we have lost the plot?
It almost seems that those who do not have the means are vagabonds? Who is the Camino for!? Sharing and you may with pleasure come back to me.
Wow!The camino is not for the poor.
Some reminder of what being poor really means. You struggle to have a place to live. You struggle to have enough money to eat. You struggle to get the basic necessities of life. That’s poor.
If you don’t have food insecurity, and you have a comfortable secure place to live with indoor plumbing, you’re not poor.
Most truly Poor people couldn’t even conceive of doing something like go walk the camino, Whether they live in Europe or the Americas.
In the United States, being poor and homeless is basically illegal. And you’re treated as such. As a criminal. As possibly was the man in his underwear fishing.
Of course, I’m sure some people who actuallyare poor do end up walking the Camino, through a great effort of will and with the kindness of other pilgrims. But it wouldn’t be easy.
Also, sometimes being a vagabond can be a choice. Some of those people might walk the Camino.
(smile) which is why I also said there will always be a harsher definition of poor. There is no way to quantify that word. All we can do is use various perspectives.I imagine that they must be ever so grateful for that.
I am a little surprised though, what category do you put people who live in their cars or on the street in?
That’s a remarkable sculpture and - if ‘art’ is that which makes you think - a great piece of art.This may be hijacking the thread somewhat, so ignore if you like.
Poor folks have a difficult time making it to the camino to walk the camino, but the camino is surrounded by poor people who are living their lives on and around the camino, but as pilgrims in their land our lives intersect with them, and how we view them and treat them speaks volumes about us as pilgrims. This was brought home to me about four years ago when we were in Madrid. We were walking up to the Almudena Cathedral when I saw a street person sleeping on a park bench. When we got closer I saw that it was a bronze piece of public art of a street person sleeping on a park bench. Upon arriving at the bench I noticed there was only one piece of the person's body sticking out from the bronze blanket. It was their foot, and the person's foot had the distinct mark of a nail hole. I just stood there and cried about how many times I have seen a street person and failed to see how that person was Christ among us. I am not trying to be sanctimonious, but we need to keep our eyes open for those around us who are hurting and are poor in finances and poor in spirit. No matter where we come from, or how we do the camino,View attachment 116181 we are potentially another person's light and hope by how we interact with them.
Perhaps you weren't looking?That’s a remarkable sculpture and - if ‘art’ is that which makes you think - a great piece of art.
I try not to be sanctimonious, I’m socially liberal and give fairly freely to charity (none of which I claim makes me ‘good’ in any way) and I pretty much always give financially to folk on the street; albeit against the advice of many.
Having engaged in long conversations with some of those to whom I have offered support over the years I’m certain that I have not yet personally encountered the Almighty.
The Camino is for all. Costs are relative to your well-being, doing it. For me, I return home with more money than when I left, bc Spain is a lowcost country compared to my own.The aspiration is that the Camino is for everyone rich and poor but the reality is that it is only achievable to those who can afford it and it has always been such I imagine.
That is funny and made me giggle.Having engaged in long conversations with some of those to whom I have offered support over the years I’m certain that I have not yet personally encountered the Almighty.
The Camino is for everyone - no labels... because none of us really know anything about what other people have, and are going thru to arrive on Camino...Who is the Camino for?
I’m going to disagree about why people stay in Albergues. Certainly, camaraderie is part of it- but I would not say that economics are irrelevant. Many mostly younger folks, can only afford to stay in albergues and there are several varieties offering different options. Starting with donativos at the lowest cost end, then municipals and finally privates - all are cheaper than a hostal or hotel room. I met many pilgrims who only stayed in albergues and who were obviously on a budget.It raise some interesting thoughts @RENSHAW .
'Tourist Experience'. I am sure there are a fair number of those on Camino, particularly in the latter stages.
From my experience though, most Pilgrims don't seem to be seeking this.
Many I think stay in Albergues for the 'shared experience' rather than economic necessity.
And I have seen little evidence of 'expecting' a tourist experience.
On a personal front, I tend to stay in fairly modest private accommodation, except for a splurge now again, maybe to stay in some interesting historical building like San Zoilo.
And then there are those with very limited means, who travel the Camino paths.
I have heard of them, but have never met any to be honest.
Some are probably genuine Pilgrims, whatever that means.
Some I have heard (on this Forum) almost live on the Camino, often through the generosity of others.
I would say the Camino is for everyone.
And is less about how much coin Pilgrims have in their pockets, and more about they have in their hearts and their motivation to walk the Camino.
Who are we to judge? I don't.
I’m going to disagree about why people stay in Albergues. Certainly, camaraderie is part of it- but I would not say that economics are irrelevant. Many mostly younger folks, can only afford to stay in albergues and there are several varieties offering different options. Starting with donativos at the lowest cost end, then municipals and finally privates - all are cheaper than a hostal or hotel room. I met many pilgrims who only stayed in albergues and who were obviously on a budget.
@Robo you as well as I would have funded a night for a pilgrim in need no doubt
So sorry to read this ... and it's so true that mental illness is often a factor in the lives of people 'on the street' or in fact in all manner of circumstances - debilitated by an illness or injury we can't 'see'. Sending good wishes.To counter the comment about beggars on the street not wanting to be there. My son has decided that begging is the smarter way to earn money than collecting bottles from trash cans and getting the deposits back. He would rather do that than go to a dr. to get well. We cannot understand how the minds of the mentally ill work. It is all very sad.
I don’t know where you live in the States, and I’m not sure what your experience is with, but , I’ve seen people living in much worse conditions than what you describe (in the USA). In big cities, in rural areas, all over. Sometimes their own fault, but often not.I think there are also interpretations of "poor". In my country, poor people have apartments with electricity and air conditioning.
I've done a lot of mountain backpacking over the years and I agree that the lighter weight of a camino backpack is much less of a burden. But if you like sleeping in quiet solitude, if you like the fresh mountain air and the high country scenery, you will acknowledge that there are unique delights in both types of experience.I hate to break you guys away from the topic of poor people. But, I am wondering
if having a bed every night while hiking is going to feel like a major luxury
to me. I have done several backpacking trips over the years where I sleep in
a tent with a sleeping pad. The luxury also comes in the form of a lighter backpack
because I don't need to bring a tent, backpacking stove, 5 days of food, etc.
So, to me, just having a mat to sleep on in even the most barren alburgue will
seem really great
I'm not expecting pristine conditions on the camino. It will be a different scenario than backpacking in the wilds
I know a few millionaires who have walked and enjoyed the experience of Albergues, it’s open to everyone from all walks of life.Further more to my 'Beggar in Pamplona' Post ' I recall about 12 years ago a young man who was in his underwear fishing just after the well known Pamplona city bridge , the Gaurda took him away , obviously he was a 'vagrant' or was he?Hopefully he was taken out of town and sent on his way? He could have been from many countries away.
So often do we ask , where are the best albergues , the the best food. We spend hundreds of £ or $ for fights and we expect the 'tourist' experience , 20 years ago during my first camino it was a tad different , I just wonder if we have lost the plot?
It almost seems that those who do not have the means are vagabonds? Who is the Camino for!? Sharing and you may with pleasure come back to me.
I’m not sure that I actually understand your question or premise.So often do we ask , where are the best albergues , the the best food. We spend hundreds of £ or $ for fights and we expect the 'tourist' experience , 20 years ago during my first camino it was a tad different , I just wonder if we have lost the plot?
It almost seems that those who do not have the means are vagabonds? Who is the Camino for!? Sharing and you may with pleasure come back to me.
A couple of years ago @Kathar1na posted some fascinating statistics compiled by Roncesvalles on pilgrims who walked in 1987. A much younger demographic than today with students being the vast majority of walking pilgrims. And with only one pilgrim declaring themselves to be non-religious. I just looked at those figures again and saw that over 1/3 of Compostelas were issued to pilgrims who had not journeyed on foot. My own first Camino was slightly later in 1990 but what I recall of that time pretty much reflects the picture painted by these stats. A very different situation from today.From what I know, in earlier years it attracted (from outside Spain and from Europe) mainly students and people with an interest in art and history, often with a high level of education - that’s how a friend described it who went in the 90s.
I only managed to fund my self by begging of friends,. bouncing the credit card, the overdraft and the bank loan. My bank loan finally bites the dust, end of March. For me the funding has been bloody hard. And it has been so since 2003. Guess what, I will do it all over again, God, the bank manager and the bookies willing
Buen Camino
Samarkand.
I’m going to disagree about why people stay in Albergues. Certainly, camaraderie is part of it- but I would not say that economics are irrelevant. Many mostly younger folks, can only afford to stay in albergues and there are several varieties offering different options. Starting with donativos at the lowest cost end, then municipals and finally privates - all are cheaper than a hostal or hotel room. I met many pilgrims who only stayed in albergues and who were obviously on a budget.
I am soooo happy that you have responded Reb , regards to Paddy as well and a hug to Ruby from me. I think that . the Lord Jesus is a good mention here and what would he have done! Getting a little religious now. I think of all the Donativas need a medal , The Church on the Camino will always help, a comforting reminder and my goodness , have they helped me?The poor are with us always. One reason we strive to keep donativo albergues alive is so people of limited means have a dry place to lay their heads at night. For a long time the poor were pushed back into the streets again by "bargain hunters" who used the albergue system as a cheap holiday bunk, but this has eased as private accommodations offer the "value for money" crowd more perks for very little money.
I help to run donativo albergues. Occasionally we do have truly impoverished pilgrims stay, people who can't even swing the usual 5 euro fee for a municipal... they can stay anyway. So can the well-heeled person in the next bed, who savors the privilege of not having to spend any for his bare-bones albergue bed.
Each of them lives with his own kind of poverty.
Only one of them will complain in following days about the housekeeping or plumbing or hospitaleros at the albergue... and the hygiene and poor clothing choices of the "bum." (Real Pilgrims don't wear old blue jeans and sneakers, and carry a duffle instead of a backpack.)
I am always surprised to hear about how pilgrims treat the poor who travel the trails and use the albergues.
Jesus had a lot to say about rich and poor people. Guess which side he always upholds?
So true, and a poigant expression of the fact that wealth is not necessarily a blessing. Not to know how you will manage to eat or sleep tonight is no blessing either, but it can be a doorway into deep wisdom and compassion - unlike wealth which generally isn't.Each of them lives with his own kind of poverty.
'Are grateful,' works better for me than 'satisfied,' because when things are a bit 'interesting' I can still access gratitude, but not necessarily satisfaction.Pilgrims (and the materially poor) are satisfied. Tourists complain.
I have met plenty pilgrims who complained about bad service, and rightly so, and plenty tourists who didn't complain.Pilgrims (and the materially poor) are satisfied. Tourists complain.
Just sayin -
Tom
I am working my way backwards through this thread. I have work to do, but I am captivated by the video. Thank you.The Camino can be done with very little if one especially if the person is from Spain or France. One just had to accept many hardships. I have attached a link to a series of videos showing a young man walk from Roncevalles to Santiago with less than 20 euros in his pocket.
El Camino de Santiago sin nada
Don't let appearances fool you. In 2018 I kept running into one of those poor looking pilgrims. Something didn't seem right. A small older Asian man. Clothes were street clothes. Other Asian pilgrims seemed to keep a distance. He joined me while I was sitting for dinner. He was a bit different and confided to me that he was an Catholic Archbishop. I thought sure but from that point on when ever I ran into him, I greeted him with an informal "Padre". He seemed to enjoy it. Some time later I attended a pilgrims mass and they had a special visitor leading the service, the Archbishop. In his vestments he was a different person. Now everything made sense. We would still run into each other from time to time. My regret, as a Catholic I never asked or received a blessing from him.Further more to my 'Beggar in Pamplona' Post ' I recall about 12 years ago a young man who was in his underwear fishing just after the well known Pamplona city bridge , the Gaurda took him away , obviously he was a 'vagrant' or was he?Hopefully he was taken out of town and sent on his way? He could have been from many countries away.
So often do we ask , where are the best albergues , the the best food. We spend hundreds of £ or $ for fights and we expect the 'tourist' experience , 20 years ago during my first camino it was a tad different , I just wonder if we have lost the plot?
It almost seems that those who do not have the means are vagabonds? Who is the Camino for!? Sharing and you may with pleasure come back to me.
I have attached a link to a series of videos showing a young man walk from Roncevalles to Santiago with less than 20 euros in his pocket. El Camino de Santiago sin nada
I unashamedly admit that reading titles or slogans such as "The Universe Provides" and "Walking the Camino without Money" is more than enough to thoroughly put me off and extinguishes any interest I may have had but your remark, @kirkie, made me curious and I started part 1 of 5. I have now watched all 35 minutes of part 1. And I was captivated, too, because it turned out to be different from what I had expected, and the protagonist is muy simpatico. Also physically very fit. It appears that he (now?) is a specialist in the area of ejercicio físico en la salud de las personas.I am working my way backwards through this thread. I have work to do, but I am captivated by the video. Thank you.
I've been watching this conversation a little leerily from the margins, with no strong intention of chiming in. But here goes.
This really spoke to me:
So true, and a poigant expression of the fact that wealth is not necessarily a blessing. Not to know how you will manage to eat or sleep tonight is no blessing either, but it can be a doorway into deep wisdom and compassion - unlike wealth which generally isn't.
But let's not confuse both simplicity and contentment with fiscal impoverishment. The camino directly fosters the first two, but does not require poverty. We are pilgrims first. And some (a small and diminishing fraction) are also walking without financial cushion of any sort. But a pilgrim is a pilgrim. That's all.
'Are grateful,' works better for me than 'satisfied,' because when things are a bit 'interesting' I can still access gratitude, but not necessarily satisfaction.
That said, it is a good point when it holds. Which is not universally
You are Laurie Lee and I claim my £5!I could trade my youthful, physical, strength and a days labour for a bed in the hay and some Sopa de Ajo. I could sing unintelligible songs in a strange language and be rewarded with a drink or a penny or two. I could rely on the incontrovertible fact that everyone I met (except the Guardia) lived lives just like mine and I wanted nothing different.
The first time I walked in Spain I had no (read very little) money, no backpack, a forged return ferry ticket that got me around the Guardia Civil once or twice but not always; and the eternal hope that there were enough good (read poor) people around that would share.
Ah, Camino, History: his story. My first venture into Spain was in 1969. I only found out about "Camino" somewhere in the mid 1980's walking in the Picos de Europa when I was asked if I was "Peregrino" - to which my answer was "No". That walk was from San Vicente de la Barquera (it's a boat thing) to Leon. When I got home I went to the British Library and discovered that "Camino" was, perhaps, pilgrimage. That there was a pilgrimage route through the Picos and that I'd, accidentally, followed it. I did some more research after that and discovered that there was this secret global organisation that owned walking in Spain and claimed to be called "Pilgrims"My heart bleeds for you!
According to your ‘Camino History’ you walked the first time in 2012 – it seems you have come a long way in those 10 years…
I would have more time for a genuinely poor person/pilgrim that one who is playing at one, I think that that is disrespectful to the people who helped him.
I am not sure. I think that it depends on who he is now. He has experienced some of the physical poverty and vulnerability of the poor. What kind of a doctor and a human being has this experience made him? It is impossible for a person supported by a financially stable family to fully share the experiences of the poor. And to live a lie in order to do so seems wrong. But where did it take him? It was an education, of sorts.I would have more time for a genuinely poor person/pilgrim that one who is playing at one, I think that that is disrespectful to the people who helped him.
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