LIVE from the Camino I've always liked the Italians

[Introibo]

Surely I've said that before ? I love the Italians. I do, I do, I do.

For the past 4 days or so there's been a large party of teenagers walking the Frances route. Initially we debated where they were from, but eventually found they were from Modena in Italy.

Some were annoyed that there was a lot of them and they were slow and difficult to pass.

When I ended up in the middle of them they were praying the rosary. Italian and Latin are close friends, so I was able to pray with them. I found them to be friendly, sociable and not too noisy. At first they were amused by me, but as they realised I was praying with them, there came smiles and greetings.

I thought I'd seen the last of them when they stopped at Ribadiso and I walked on to Arzúa. I caught up with them the next day just short of O Pedrouza. I was surprised to see them at the Mass that evening in Santiago. Some looked in a shocking state. They'd put in well over 40k to get there.

Today at the pilgrims Mass they were there again and the priest who had been accompanying them co celebrated. AND...... They paid to have the boatafumeiro sparked up.

Now, I didn't walk all this way just to see that but.... It was fantsstic.

I love the Italians. I do, I do, I do.

So, the next time you see a large group in front of you, think of it as an enriching not an annoying situation

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I do not mind groups. I do mind the fact that they so often leave trails of trash in their wake.

 

[Introibo]

The route from San Payo to the other side of Monte del Gozo was littered with endless water bottles. All the same. Obviously some organised event. At one point I'd list the yellow arrows but knew k was on the way because of the bottles. Organised events should factor in the tidying up costs.

 

[Introibo]

....and after todays Mass, I love the Belgiums as well.

I'll also say how wonderful the rooftop tour this evening was. A lovely, lovely guide who brought alive the history of the cathedral and also the pilgrimage.

 

[VNwalking]

Ditto Introibo...yes...yesterday we walked into Santiago with a large group of kids from Spain. Wonderful. And to be amongst them at mass today...
(BTW, if I'd known that was you on the roof this evening I'd have waved as I walked into the Cathedral. Was up there yesterday and agree. It was fantastic, worth the price.)

 

[VNwalking]

 

[jmcarp]

Surely I've said that before ? I love the Italians. I do, I do, I do...

So do I, so much so that I married one 49 years ago, albeit a third generation Italian-American but 100% Italian on both sides of her family.

 

[Introibo]

... And today I think it was the Estonians I really liked. I've been to the pilgrims Mass three times now and on every occasion I've seen the boatafumeiro used.

A big thank you to all of the groups who have paid for it to be used!