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Let's see if this works.I use the icon at the top of the posts to show all the emoticons rather than typing the smile etc. Are you using a phone and not a computer? Maybe Ivar can help.
It appears we have success! Thank you for the tip. Now, anyone have one for staying logged in? Was able to do so until about a month ago, again in Ipad.Let's see if this works.Used to work using the ones in my Ipad until the last few days. Fingers crossed.
Let's see if this works.Used to work using the ones in my Ipad until the last few days. Fingers crossed.
I Started at St jean on the 8th of August 2015 and finished on the 10th of September 2015, First I did not come across this so called everyone is friendly on the Camino scenario and in the Albergues and pilgrim meals gatherings, what I saw a lot of was people being rude and not caring anything for there fellow pilgrims, it was all about them and what they wanted to do ie getting up at 3.30am shining torches banging about packing there bags jumping down from top bunks instead of using ladders and if you said anything to said persons you got abuse,I found older American pilgrims the worse for this followed by young Spanish ones. A lot of people seemed to think the Camino was just for them and seemed to resent your presence and never seemed to want to chat or to be friendly. I also witnessed cheating on a big scale people taking buses taxis and cars from town to town and only walking short distances or just doing the bits that suited them the worse part for this was from Sarria to Santiago biggest culprits Spanish pilgrims who then collected there Compestella and had no shame about cheating to get it. I walked the full 760 kms to get my Compestella and had to wait 3 hours outside the pilgrim office before I got in as there were so many people there so this myth about the friendship is not all true but saying that I did meet some lovely people made friends with some very friendly Italians and a Japanese man and some younger Americans and really enjoyed my time on the Camino seeing some beautiful villages churches, Cathedrals and lovely Spanish people and countryside, the only real problem I had was blisters but got some Benzadine to cure those, anyway I am now at home reflecting on my Camino, would I do it again, yes I would but in a few years time. buen Camino to everybody just starting out on there Camino ...........Tony
I will not discuss about the "cheating" and rhules. Each himself knows best what you can do and what is his limitations. What was me surprise at this year's Camino is associated with ordinary etiquette: yelling, leaking trash (you do not need yellow arrows - follow bottles and bagsCould someone please post the list of rules that govern the Camino? I am seeing some terms bandied about here that have no basis in reality. In fact it appears that if someone fails to walk the Camino according to this phantom set of rules they are to be considered less a pilgrim than someone who knows the phantom rules. So will those of you who know them please share?
Until I see this list of rules published by the Spanish Government or UNESCO or the Catholic Church then I can only conclude they don't exist in the real world.
Perhaps they are contained in Emaraud? The Bible? The Spanish Constitution? A Papal decree? Please help me to know them so that as I prepare for my 8th Camino I too can pass judgement on random groups of age appropriate pilgrims!
With tongue firmly planted in cheek I wish you all a buen Camino.
Could someone please post the list of rules that govern the Camino? I am seeing some terms bandied about here that have no basis in reality. In fact it appears that if someone fails to walk the Camino according to this phantom set of rules they are to be considered less a pilgrim than someone who knows the phantom rules. So will those of you who know them please share?
Until I see this list of rules published by the Spanish Government or UNESCO or the Catholic Church then I can only conclude they don't exist in the real world.
Perhaps they are contained in Emaraud? The Bible? The Spanish Constitution? A Papal decree? Please help me to know them so that as I prepare for my 8th Camino I too can pass judgement on random groups of age appropriate pilgrims!
With tongue firmly planted in cheek I wish you all a buen Camino.
I reflected on this concept of 'cheaters' and 'proper' Pilgrims as I walked the last 100 kms.
I came to the conclusion that it was all a load of BS!
Every day I walked, I asked for guidance and tolerance. And every day I met fantastic people and learned something of value. Every day!
Exaaaaaacctly, Robo, exactly. Well said. (And yes, people do do things that are not in the spirit of the Camino. But thankfully, whether to get stuck in all my judgements about them or not is a matter of choice. Bottom line is that they are who they are and they'll inevitably feel the end results of their actions.)
Hi Tony reading your views on someone who had come across the same kind of pilgrims I came acrossI Started at St jean on the 8th of August 2015 and finished on the 10th of September 2015, First I did not come across this so called everyone is friendly on the Camino scenario and in the Albergues and pilgrim meals gatherings, what I saw a lot of was people being rude and not caring anything for there fellow pilgrims, it was all about them and what they wanted to do ie getting up at 3.30am shining torches banging about packing there bags jumping down from top bunks instead of using ladders and if you said anything to said persons you got abuse,I found older American pilgrims the worse for this followed by young Spanish ones. A lot of people seemed to think the Camino was just for them and seemed to resent your presence and never seemed to want to chat or to be friendly. I also witnessed cheating on a big scale people taking buses taxis and cars from town to town and only walking short distances or just doing the bits that suited them the worse part for this was from Sarria to Santiago biggest culprits Spanish pilgrims who then collected there Compestella and had no shame about cheating to get it. I walked the full 760 kms to get my Compestella and had to wait 3 hours outside the pilgrim office before I got in as there were so many people there so this myth about the friendship is not all true but saying that I did meet some lovely people made friends with some very friendly Italians and a Japanese man and some younger Americans and really enjoyed my time on the Camino seeing some beautiful villages churches, Cathedrals and lovely Spanish people and countryside, the only real problem I had was blisters but got some Benzadine to cure those, anyway I am now at home reflecting on my Camino, would I do it again, yes I would but in a few years time. buen Camino to everybody just starting out on there Camino ...........Tony
Hi Tony reading your views on someone who had come across the same kind of pilgrims I came across
when I did my second Camino in July/August this year,I posted a blog on this forum,but I later deleted it ,seems I was getting to much stick,from some of the do gooders who think no pilgrims do any thing wrong,but I have met a few and seen what they get up to,the rude ones not caring,those that like to wake the rest of the others up at some stupid time in the early hours, plus the rest of it, etc etc and like those that only walk from Sarria,to Santiago and get the Compostella,(which should be changed) dancing and making a racket with mp3 players along the way,when true pilgrims walk most or all of the way,carrying a large pack,get pain and blisters and when they seek a bed in an Albergue after Sarria, there is none left, due to the part time pilgims taking them all,some of the do gooders wont like my views but thats life,,,some of the pilgrims I met was pleasant and nice,and some I hope never see again,as there is good and bad in all people,will I do the Camino frances again yes,because I liked meeting the Spanish People and there Country,now I suppose I will get a few comments from those who think no pilgrims do anything wrong ..
Hi Tony reading your views on someone who had come across the same kind of pilgrims I came across
when I did my second Camino in July/August this year,I posted a blog on this forum,but I later deleted it ,seems I was getting to much stick,from some of the do gooders who think no pilgrims do any thing wrong,but I have met a few and seen what they get up to,the rude ones not caring,those that like to wake the rest of the others up at some stupid time in the early hours, plus the rest of it, etc etc and like those that only walk from Sarria,to Santiago and get the Compostella,(which should be changed) dancing and making a racket with mp3 players along the way,when true pilgrims walk most or all of the way,carrying a large pack,get pain and blisters and when they seek a bed in an Albergue after Sarria, there is none left, due to the part time pilgims taking them all,some of the do gooders wont like my views but thats life,,,some of the pilgrims I met was pleasant and nice,and some I hope never see again,as there is good and bad in all people,will I do the Camino frances again yes,because I liked meeting the Spanish People and there Country,now I suppose I will get a few comments from those who think no pilgrims do anything wrong ..
As a point of clarity....it was infered above that the Spanish government had some involvement with the requirements for earning a Compostella.....it does not.
The Compostella is issued by the Cathedral of Santiago with full authority of requirements and issue.
I fully understand what you want to say. The term "true pilgrim" I do not like, I think it is wrong. However, I have 11 months of the year a little tired of "be open-mind to seeing the good that presumably exists...." and I wish the company of people who are closest to me on the way we experience the world@m108 I don't think it is wrong to express your feelings about your experience. Sometimes the problem is one of how we express ourselves in a post on the forum. I judge all the time whether I like the people I encounter, and whether I want to be near them. However I think that is different from judging their worth as human beings or their status as pilgrims. So, it is probably good to avoid words such as "true pilgrims" which suggest that we are qualified to understand the other person's situation. And also, I need to remind myself from time to time to be more open-minded to seeing the good that presumably exists in those annoying people!
Of course not!Is it really so wrong to express that opinion?
You know m108, I think we can all resonate with that. Really. But none of us own the Camino; it's a true microcosm of the world. And (most unfortunately) the world does not obey our wishes. So it's up to us...fight it, or let in the way the world is. Not easy...not easy at all.However, I have 11 months of the year a little tired of "be open-mind to seeing the good that presumably exists...." and I wish the company of people who are closest to me on the way we experience the world
Of course not!
And hopefully we will not be like the rude pilgrims we deplore!
You know m108, I think we can all resonate with that. Really. But none of us own the Camino; it's a true microcosm of the world. And (most unfortunately) the world does not obey our wishes. So it's up to us...fight it, or let in the way the world is. Not easy...not easy at all.
hi i will be walking part of the camino landing in santander and heading for oviedo on monday.i was wondering how to post things on this website to see are there other people walking that way around that time.thank youI think I'll be sulking for a while, then began planning the new Camino - probably not CF
Ah, but this is why we have civil society, and public television because for all of us to make it, we need to give something up for the collectivity to do well and carry us with it. Thank heavens for the CBC, BBC, and PBS and a bit of oversight on the Camino so it can survive.Of course not!
And hopefully we will not be like the rude pilgrims we deplore!
You know m108, I think we can all resonate with that. Really. But none of us own the Camino; it's a true microcosm of the world. And (most unfortunately) the world does not obey our wishes. So it's up to us...fight it, or let in the way the world is. Not easy...not easy at all.
Hi Tony reading your views on someone who had come across the same kind of pilgrims I came across
when I did my second Camino in July/August this year,I posted a blog on this forum,but I later deleted it ,seems I was getting to much stick,from some of the do gooders who think no pilgrims do any thing wrong,but I have met a few and seen what they get up to,the rude ones not caring,those that like to wake the rest of the others up at some stupid time in the early hours, plus the rest of it, etc etc and like those that only walk from Sarria,to Santiago and get the Compostella,(which should be changed) dancing and making a racket with mp3 players along the way,when true pilgrims walk most or all of the way,carrying a large pack,get pain and blisters and when they seek a bed in an Albergue after Sarria, there is none left, due to the part time pilgims taking them all,some of the do gooders wont like my views but thats life,,,some of the pilgrims I met was pleasant and nice,and some I hope never see again,as there is good and bad in all people,will I do the Camino frances again yes,because I liked meeting the Spanish People and there Country,now I suppose I will get a few comments from those who think no pilgrims do anything wrong ..
Agreed, and how I coped with the days from Melide last spring: had to go to my meditation training. But that sill does not make the behaviour acceptable. There was a time we didn't need to dig deep not to be myserable on the Camino.Words of wisdom and balance @Robo...
@ Anemone, interesting point. But there's a big difference between not judging (too idealistic for most of us) and not wasting time feeding the judging as Robo describes so well. Not feeding reactions isn't a passive 'everything's' OK stance--nor does it preclude sensible action if it's called for. But it does disentangle the kinds of miserable knotty experiences we get in when we wish others were different than they are.
And, hey, Robo, Buen Camino to you both!! (No need to explain or excuse. Who walks 100km these days (well, OK, other than us)?!
It's a rare thing and all too often it's easy to forget that--or to succumb to distance-snobbery. More is not necessarily better.)
Your last words...sad, isn't it when things change for the worse?Agreed, and how I coped with the days from Melide last spring: had to go to my meditation training. But that sill does not make the behaviour acceptable. There was a time we didn't need to dig deep not to be myserable on the Camino.
Alberta Girl I think you are ready, as even after you get back from your walk you will be looking for answers as we all change our thoughts on these matters. I am just happy you have found a way to go. Good luck & enjoy your Camino.Reading this thread has been fascinating: seeing how others cope with uncomfortable living situations or persons who try to favour themselves over others when everyone is feeling vulnerable. My perspective is a little different for a couple of reasons. I begin my first camino next week and I have been influenced by a camino veteran to take a contrasting view of some of the above issues. A friend from my church who walked the camino frances three years ago has helped me with all sorts of practical advice. For example, if you want to walk alone, just lounge around the albergue a bit in the morning and slow down to your own comfortable pace when you start to walk; a soon everyone else will be far ahead of you. She was astonished when I suggested that I was starting at St Jean because I like mountains and would take a bus whenever I felt like it (before Sarria). Her perspective on this was that she had never even considered breaking her pilgrimage after she began in Roncesvalles and she rather admired my open-mindedness. I have changed since, my sense of calling and my instinctive competitiveness urging me to walk my camino from where I start to its finish. But I do not see this as particularly desirable, just my own preference. I expect that my competitiveness will keep me on the trail through sheer bloody mindedness. But last week I turned back in the face of deep snow in a mountain pass when there was no one to please but myself. I hope that I have learned enough from this forum and from my general camino preparations that I shall be able to "walk my own walk." Buen camino to you all.
Ah, but Robo doesn't stay in albergues, doesn't do supermarkets since he doesn't stay in albergue where kitchens are found, but he may bring his rice cooker this aroundQuote from Robo post
"Next year I'm only walking the final 100 kms with my wife.".......not forgetting to include all the distance going up and down the stairs in the albergues...walking to the supermarkets......to and from the bar and walking to and from your pilgrims meal......must be another few kms every day to add. plus when you remember you left you walking poles behind......all adds up
Are you going to where a belt mileage recorder?Quote from Robo post
"Next year I'm only walking the final 100 kms with my wife.".......not forgetting to include all the distance going up and down the stairs in the albergues...walking to the supermarkets......to and from the bar and walking to and from your pilgrims meal......must be another few kms every day to add. plus when you remember you left you walking poles behind......all adds up
Ah, but Robo doesn't stay in albergues, doesn't do supermarkets since he doesn't stay in albergue where kitchens are found, but he may bring his rice cooker this around
Are you going to where a belt mileage recorder?
You will never live that down--but I get it. Some of my friends turn their noses up at rice that is not perfect--and after a decade I still can't discern the difference between perfect and bad. So while Paella is rice it isn't rice.The rice cooker may indeed make it this time
And so...this is official, right?Pat will need to transport her bag anyway....
My experience in general...usually the hardest lessons to learn are the ones I end up most valuing and feeling grateful for. Granted, not at the time! But in hindsight, I wouldn't trade them for anything.On reflection, maybe that final 100 kms was the part that taught me the most ?
And perhaps some lessons are worth learning even if we don't enjoy learning them
Reading this thread has been fascinating: seeing how others cope with uncomfortable living situations or persons who try to favour themselves over others when everyone is feeling vulnerable. My perspective is a little different for a couple of reasons. I begin my first camino next week and I have been influenced by a camino veteran to take a contrasting view of some of the above issues. A friend from my church who walked the camino frances three years ago has helped me with all sorts of practical advice. For example, if you want to walk alone, just lounge around the albergue a bit in the morning and slow down to your own comfortable pace when you start to walk; a soon everyone else will be far ahead of you. She was astonished when I suggested that I was starting at St Jean because I like mountains and would take a bus whenever I felt like it (before Sarria). Her perspective on this was that she had never even considered breaking her pilgrimage after she began in Roncesvalles and she rather admired my open-mindedness. I have changed since, my sense of calling and my instinctive competitiveness urging me to walk my camino from where I start to its finish. But I do not see this as particularly desirable, just my own preference. I expect that my competitiveness will keep me on the trail through sheer bloody mindedness. But last week I turned back in the face of deep snow in a mountain pass when there was no one to please but myself. I hope that I have learned enough from this forum and from my general camino preparations that I shall be able to "walk my own walk." Buen camino to you all.
Robo
just had a look at one of your videos(leaving Portomarin) stage before Sarria watching the energetic fresh walkers joining the route........I have often heard people say to me who just do the walk from Sarria they wished they had walk from further back as they approach Santiago or shortly after.....as you know it takes a newbies a few days to get there bodies used to the swing of things....so by just doing the last minimum they miss out on a lot........and a huge experience, before you know it's over for them....remember when you don't see someone for a week or more then suddenly they appear and its like your long lost friend turning up...
foot note.
rice cooker.........how about taking a proper toaster,you could label it "tostado donativo " the amount of times you wait and wait and wait for toast on those "things they use other than a conventional toaster...
Is it really so wrong to express that opinion? since the purpose is to consider whether there is a way to get the whole thing does not turn into something that we really will not be a pleasure.
I get it.
If I do the CF again (as I likely will) I'm thinking of avoiding the crush at the end by peeling off at Ponferrada and doing the Invierno...
This puzzles me, too...but maybe people get hung up on 'authenticity'?Even though we all say we hate the crowds, we all still go to where the crowds are.
Well, hopefully the crowds won't find it toooooo soon.It is beautiful and it has that real "Camino feeling" even though there are not many/any other pilgrims... (at least until the crowds find the Invierno)
Thank you, Laurie. I have to say it looks great on paper. And it goes near Las Medulas, which is a place I'd be love to spend some time.
This puzzles me, too...but maybe people get hung up on 'authenticity'?
Well, hopefully the crowds won't find it toooooo soon.Not that saying this here is helping.
[Edit: just looked at your blogposts, Laurie...it does look gorgeous! ]
Hard not to feel compassion for these people. We who have walked have had our lives so deeply enriched...they missed out on that, for whatever reason.My Compostela means so much to me. When I look at it I remember each of those 785 km I walked ( really longer because I took a few wrong turns!) I just wonder what that man thinks of when he looks at his.
I certainly understand comments about "cheating" and "tourists". A couple of Sundays ago I gave the message at church about my Camino experience and two lessons learned on these exact topics. I was going to repeat them in this post, but the video was recently uploaded so I beg your forgiveness to just post the link if you are interested. The 'lessons' start at 12:30.
Bom Caminoho
But Laurie, who has ever heard of this alternative. I learened it from you here, where as I only learned of this forum less than a year ago after 4 Caminos.Viranani, This is the most sensible response on this thread! If you find the crush of the Camino from Sarria onwards to be intolerable, consider taking a left in Ponferrada and walking the Camino de Invierno. It is beautiful and it has that real "Camino feeling" even though there are not many/any other pilgrims.
Even though we all say we hate the crowds, we all still go to where the crowds are. So put your money where your mouth is. Try the Invierno, it is very well marked and you can feel like a pioneer (at least until the crowds find the Invierno). I've walked the Invierno twice, and my blogs about it start here: http://lauriescamino2015.blogspot.com/2015/07/ponferrada.html
and here http://peregrina2000.blogspot.com/2011/06/in-ponferrada-my-last-day-on-franc.html
Buen camino, Laurie
Hi, Anemone,But Laurie, who has ever heard of this alternative. I learened it from you here, where as I only learned of this forum less than a year ago after 4 Caminos.
I Started at St jean on the 8th of August 2015 and finished on the 10th of September 2015, First I did not come across this so called everyone is friendly on the Camino scenario and in the Albergues and pilgrim meals gatherings, what I saw a lot of was people being rude and not caring anything for there fellow pilgrims, it was all about them and what they wanted to do ie getting up at 3.30am shining torches banging about packing there bags jumping down from top bunks instead of using ladders and if you said anything to said persons you got abuse,I found older American pilgrims the worse for this followed by young Spanish ones. A lot of people seemed to think the Camino was just for them and seemed to resent your presence and never seemed to want to chat or to be friendly. I also witnessed cheating on a big scale people taking buses taxis and cars from town to town and only walking short distances or just doing the bits that suited them the worse part for this was from Sarria to Santiago biggest culprits Spanish pilgrims who then collected there Compestella and had no shame about cheating to get it. I walked the full 760 kms to get my Compestella and had to wait 3 hours outside the pilgrim office before I got in as there were so many people there so this myth about the friendship is not all true but saying that I did meet some lovely people made friends with some very friendly Italians and a Japanese man and some younger Americans and really enjoyed my time on the Camino seeing some beautiful villages churches, Cathedrals and lovely Spanish people and countryside, the only real problem I had was blisters but got some Benzadine to cure those, anyway I am now at home reflecting on my Camino, would I do it again, yes I would but in a few years time. buen Camino to everybody just starting out on there Camino ...........Tony
Katharina ..I am lost now lol not sure what we were discussing lolIt's not very widely known but there are actually more than 4 roads to Santiago.
To be honest Katharina , as it was the first time i did one i only knew one route and that was from the guide which i followed so thought that was the only way , so one could jump on the bus to all these towns and get their stamps en route and that be fine , after all the walking i did lolPerhaps I misunderstood you. You said that you had issues with some people cheating "who would take the road walking route rather than the proper paths".
You can go to Santiago on foot any way you like. It is not like say a marathon track where you have to stay on a pre-defined path, otherwise you are a cheater.
Actually, I sometimes thought that it would make more sense to follow the road in the valley (which is the original track anyway) instead of going up and down on "scenic" hilly paths or taking the higher pass instead of the most logical lower pass.
As to the 4 roads: there is medieval book which was largely unknown until a hundred or so years ago which starts with something like "there are 4 roads (from France) to Santiago" and many people wrongly believe these roads are the only "true" caminos.
So many thoughts, so little time to read every reply. I arrived in SDC around 1300 (1.00pm) today and some will recall I cycled and as much as possible followed the walkers Camino. To be honest my head is still somewhere back east of Sarria, but my behind is pleased to be here. I think I will have to wait until I get home to really one to terms with the Camino. Will close with a very big thanks to all those who provided assistance, both big and small. I will name you all later. Buen Camino. Mike
Judgement is becoming a constant theme on this thread. By the end of my camino I recognised just how much I judge others. It was, in the end, the area I felt I let myself down on most frequently on camino and somethingI never feel I conquered, but it sure helped me realise I had a problem with judgements.
Yes, the pilgrims from Sarria, the alarm setters and snooze hitters, the 4.30am crew, and my biggest frustration, those leaving nothing at donativo places who were walking like a model from the North Face store. I'm judging them still.
I noticed from Saint Jean to roughly, Estella, even the SJPP pilgrims could clatter about and wake you, it seemed to take some time for etiquette to develop but from here until Sarria (bar a few new additions at Leon) eventually 95% of people were respectful. I think the Sarria crew just don't get the time to adjust into camino life. And many were not walking for the same reason as others starting further back.
In the end, what everyone else is doing and why is none of our business and we have to accept the lot and concentrate on how we handle our own feelings/judgements.
The camino showed me a part of myself I didn't even realise I had, it's a part that leads t a lot of sadness and anger on myself!
My friend and I live in aurora ontario and plan to do the walk next year around May 2016... We just have to coordinate vacation time but sounds like we will be there the same time... Would be great to meet you
Hi Tony reading your views on someone who had come across the same kind of pilgrims I came across
when I did my second Camino in July/August this year,I posted a blog on this forum,but I later deleted it ,seems I was getting to much stick,from some of the do gooders who think no pilgrims do any thing wrong,but I have met a few and seen what they get up to,the rude ones not caring,those that like to wake the rest of the others up at some stupid time in the early hours, plus the rest of it, etc etc and like those that only walk from Sarria,to Santiago and get the Compostella,(which should be changed) dancing and making a racket with mp3 players along the way,when true pilgrims walk most or all of the way,carrying a large pack,get pain and blisters and when they seek a bed in an Albergue after Sarria, there is none left, due to the part time pilgims taking them all,some of the do gooders wont like my views but thats life,,,some of the pilgrims I met was pleasant and nice,and some I hope never see again,as there is good and bad in all people,will I do the Camino frances again yes,because I liked meeting the Spanish People and there Country,now I suppose I will get a few comments from those who think no pilgrims do anything wrong ..
hi i will be walking part of the camino landing in santander and heading for oviedo on monday.i was wondering how to post things on this website to see are there other people walking that way around that time.thank you
Ah, hierbas as de orujo, so good! So good in fact I make my own now!It takes some boldness to be included. The bottle of wine is a great introduction. So is a bottle of hierbas de orujo. Asking to join a table works a lot of the time. Tight groups might turn you down, but it has never happened to me. When you are alone at a table, invite others to join you before they take their own table.
...and 4 seasons to chose from...It's not very widely known but there are actually more than 4 roads to Santiago.
I Started at St jean on the 8th of August 2015 and finished on the 10th of September 2015, First I did not come across this so called everyone is friendly on the Camino scenario and in the Albergues and pilgrim meals gatherings, what I saw a lot of was people being rude and not caring anything for there fellow pilgrims, it was all about them and what they wanted to do ie getting up at 3.30am shining torches banging about packing there bags jumping down from top bunks instead of using ladders and if you said anything to said persons you got abuse,I found older American pilgrims the worse for this followed by young Spanish ones. A lot of people seemed to think the Camino was just for them and seemed to resent your presence and never seemed to want to chat or to be friendly. I also witnessed cheating on a big scale people taking buses taxis and cars from town to town and only walking short distances or just doing the bits that suited them the worse part for this was from Sarria to Santiago biggest culprits Spanish pilgrims who then collected there Compestella and had no shame about cheating to get it. I walked the full 760 kms to get my Compestella and had to wait 3 hours outside the pilgrim office before I got in as there were so many people there so this myth about the friendship is not all true but saying that I did meet some lovely people made friends with some very friendly Italians and a Japanese man and some younger Americans and really enjoyed my time on the Camino seeing some beautiful villages churches, Cathedrals and lovely Spanish people and countryside, the only real problem I had was blisters but got some Benzadine to cure those, anyway I am now at home reflecting on my Camino, would I do it again, yes I would but in a few years time. buen Camino to everybody just starting out on there Camino ...........Tony
welcome, RobAs a 50 something American I am appalled at the behavior of more and more of my people in foreign countries. Several years ago in Mexico, I had to admonish some younger Americans on their attitude of entitlement in a foreign country. It even happens in my own neighborhood. I'm sorry you had to experience this but I simply don't think things will change as our society as a whole is corrupted. I will do my part, next April on the Northern Route, to change hearts and minds about Americans.
Hmmm.....As a 50 something American I am appalled at the behavior of more and more of my people in foreign countries. Several years ago in Mexico, I had to admonish some younger Americans on their attitude of entitlement in a foreign country. It even happens in my own neighborhood. I'm sorry you had to experience this but I simply don't think things will change as our society as a whole is corrupted. I will do my part, next April on the Northern Route, to change hearts and minds about Americans.
As a 50 something American I am appalled at the behavior of more and more of my people in foreign countries. Several years ago in Mexico, I had to admonish some younger Americans on their attitude of entitlement in a foreign country. It even happens in my own neighborhood. I'm sorry you had to experience this but I simply don't think things will change as our society as a whole is corrupted. I will do my part, next April on the Northern Route, to change hearts and minds about Americans.
I think many of us are ashamed of our fellow countrymen, or irritated by the behaviour of others, on foreign holidays. The Camino hopefully brings out the best rather than the worst in people and can be our chance to revise previous impressions.As a 50 something American I am appalled at the behavior of more and more of my people in foreign countries. Several years ago in Mexico, I had to admonish some younger Americans on their attitude of entitlement in a foreign country. It even happens in my own neighborhood. I'm sorry you had to experience this but I simply don't think things will change as our society as a whole is corrupted. I will do my part, next April on the Northern Route, to change hearts and minds about Americans.
Or stop where you get to and come back to finish when the Camino calls again. And it willmost of us do have the limitation of the fact that we have a plane ticket with a date on it. i'll have 35 days...if i run short of time (which may happen if things go really wrong) i'll need to take a bus in the middle to catch up with myself.
Can't. I'm meeting someone along the way. I believe I'll have time. But I don't have that luxury this time.Or stop where you get to and come back to finish when the Camino calls again. And it will
So sorry to hear about your Leukemia, but so glad to hear you will have someone to share your second part of the Camino. May this experience be all you wish it to be.Can't. I'm meeting someone along the way. I believe I'll have time. But I don't have that luxury this time.
And given that I have leukemia, while the Camino will undoubtedly call again, I may not be able to answer next time.
Do what you can, when you can. Only you know the right advice!!But I don't have that luxury this time.
Anemone, thank you for your very kind response to my post. I appreciate it very much, and am so glad your foot healed and you were able to complete your camino. That said, I posted that because of health concerns I would need to take a taxi or bus in certain places. I do not feel that I should have to explain to others what are my limitations. This is not aimed at you, but why should pilgrimage be only for the physically healthy? It doesn't feel good to be asked to detail what is my medical condition. I don't think it is "cheating" to walk only what you could while you had plantar fasciitis. What would be cheating, to me, would be to claim to have walked if you had not.
Two things come to mind here.I Started at St jean on the 8th of August 2015 and finished on the 10th of September 2015, First I did not come across this so called everyone is friendly on the Camino scenario and in the Albergues and pilgrim meals gatherings, what I saw a lot of was people being rude and not caring anything for there fellow pilgrims, it was all about them and what they wanted to do ie getting up at 3.30am shining torches banging about packing there bags jumping down from top bunks instead of using ladders and if you said anything to said persons you got abuse,I found older American pilgrims the worse for this followed by young Spanish ones. A lot of people seemed to think the Camino was just for them and seemed to resent your presence and never seemed to want to chat or to be friendly. I also witnessed cheating on a big scale people taking buses taxis and cars from town to town and only walking short distances or just doing the bits that suited them the worse part for this was from Sarria to Santiago biggest culprits Spanish pilgrims who then collected there Compestella and had no shame about cheating to get it. I walked the full 760 kms to get my Compestella and had to wait 3 hours outside the pilgrim office before I got in as there were so many people there so this myth about the friendship is not all true but saying that I did meet some lovely people made friends with some very friendly Italians and a Japanese man and some younger Americans and really enjoyed my time on the Camino seeing some beautiful villages churches, Cathedrals and lovely Spanish people and countryside, the only real problem I had was blisters but got some Benzadine to cure those, anyway I am now at home reflecting on my Camino, would I do it again, yes I would but in a few years time. buen Camino to everybody just starting out on there Camino ...........Tony
Do what you can, when you can. Only you know the right advice!!
Rob,Question? My navigation skills on this site are not too good yet. Can anyone show me where to find a listing of hotels/inns along the Camino del Norte? I'm probably cheating by staying in a hotel, but I need a comfortable bed and a bath each day.
Could someone please post the list of rules that govern the Camino? I am seeing some terms bandied about here that have no basis in reality. In fact it appears that if someone fails to walk the Camino according to this phantom set of rules they are to be considered less a pilgrim than someone who knows the phantom rules. So will those of you who know them please share?
Until I see this list of rules published by the Spanish Government or UNESCO or the Catholic Church then I can only conclude they don't exist in the real world.
Perhaps they are contained in Emaraud? The Bible? The Spanish Constitution? A Papal decree? Please help me to know them so that as I prepare for my 8th Camino I too can pass judgement on random groups of age appropriate pilgrims!
With tongue firmly planted in cheek I wish you all a buen Camino.
Yes!So this cheat,hero, true pilgrim who considers himself no more than an ordinary person who has done something extra ordinary just like a quarter of a million other ordinary guys and gals per year do, will label no one but will enjoy all the experiences that the camino brings
It is, but it is worth noting that the original poster has not returned to the Forum since making the post! All the diverse views are for the rest of us!What a fascinating thread full of diverse views.
Heck no you're not. I got my own room several times on every CF that I did, and did it for sure in Santiago. Nice to have one's own bed and bath and take a break from the quirkiness of communal living in an albergue.Question? My navigation skills on this site are not too good yet. Can anyone show me where to find a listing of hotels/inns along the Camino del Norte? I'm probably cheating by staying in a hotel, but I need a comfortable bed and a bath each day.
I Started at St jean on the 8th of August 2015 and finished on the 10th of September 2015, First I did not come across this so called everyone is friendly on the Camino scenario and in the Albergues and pilgrim meals gatherings, what I saw a lot of was people being rude and not caring anything for there fellow pilgrims, it was all about them and what they wanted to do ie getting up at 3.30am shining torches banging about packing there bags jumping down from top bunks instead of using ladders and if you said anything to said persons you got abuse,I found older American pilgrims the worse for this followed by young Spanish ones. A lot of people seemed to think the Camino was just for them and seemed to resent your presence and never seemed to want to chat or to be friendly. I also witnessed cheating on a big scale people taking buses taxis and cars from town to town and only walking short distances or just doing the bits that suited them the worse part for this was from Sarria to Santiago biggest culprits Spanish pilgrims who then collected there Compestella and had no shame about cheating to get it. I walked the full 760 kms to get my Compestella and had to wait 3 hours outside the pilgrim office before I got in as there were so many people there so this myth about the friendship is not all true but saying that I did meet some lovely people made friends with some very friendly Italians and a Japanese man and some younger Americans and really enjoyed my time on the Camino seeing some beautiful villages churches, Cathedrals and lovely Spanish people and countryside, the only real problem I had was blisters but got some Benzadine to cure those, anyway I am now at home reflecting on my Camino, would I do it again, yes I would but in a few years time. buen Camino to everybody just starting out on there Camino ...........Tony
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