Pokemon stops on the Camino?

[SooYunKim]

Just out of curiousity,
Are there Pokemons or Pokemon stops on the Camino?

 

[VNwalking]

Who knows? I hope not.
And kindly but in all honesty, this may not be the best place to ask that question, @SooYunKim.

 

[Sue M]

I bet there are. I expect Santiago Cathedral has got one.

 

[beiramar]

Of course there are. All those cities and villages you walk though are not sacred places that exist for you only.
Spain is just a regular European country, people live in all these places and many of them play pokemon, search for geocaches or whatever you find unfitting.

 

[SabsP]

Well one positive thing about this Pokemon madness ( my personal humble opinion ) is that the young ones , say 14 or 15 years old are finally moving again...and walking the streets in search of that yellow virtual creature.
I think my young neighbour walked for the first time in his life in order to " brood a Pokemon egg " .So yes the game has the advantage to get a couch ridden adolescent active....
And maybe these walks will inspire one or two of them to keep walking and maybe walk a Camino.

 

[Felipe]

Well, pokémons strategically placed in some places maybe could avoid pokéfan pilgrims being lost in a certain Camino sensitive stage (you know which). Call that "virtual signposting".

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Just wait for the increase in rescues now that people will miss arrows more then ever as they walk the Camino staring at their phones rather than looking for arrows ;0).

 

[Saint Mike II]

I bet there are. I expect Santiago Cathedral has got one.

Maybe! But "shoosh" please do not tell anyone!!

 

[VNwalking]

All those cities and villages you walk though are not sacred places that exist for you only.

Of course they're not. And at the same time the Camino is a sacred path for many of us--one that's open to everyone, even those searching for geocahes. Especially the 'geocache' called 'un-augmented' reality.

And kindly but in all honesty, this may not be the best place to ask that question, @SooYunKim.

I can see how you might have misunderstood my comment--apologies if I caused offense--I meant (and no doubt I'll be corrected if I'm wrong) that most folks here have probably never played Pokemon. How would we know?
So play to your heart's content, but don't bother asking apples about oranges.

 

[Pingüigrino]

I think no. They can´t get a Pilgrims credential, thus they are not allowed to be hosted at regular albergues.

 

[notion900]

@SooYunKim I've seen one!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Are there Pokemons or Pokemon stops on the Camino?

Good question.

Now, just shoot me...

 

[VNwalking]

But @Robo, don't you know? Pokemon is a life. It's called "Augmented Reality."
(Really--look it up. Anyway I'm no fun so don't ask archaic me; Real Reality is enough of a joy and challenge--one that doesn't benefit from faux augmentation.)

@notion900
Eeeeee...the real ones are bad enough, but 1.4kg?!?
(Runs and hides--pass on this kind of augmentation............)

 

[HikeTall]

Pokemon on the Camino? Gosh, I hope NOT! I saw a guy playing Pokemon go walk into a lamp post here in NYC the other day. I wanna walk the Camino to get away from that sort of thing. Lol.

 

[Deleted member 43985]

Wow... this is going to take the 'Mindfullness on the Camino' conversation we had some time ago to a WHOLE new level... Well, I've always said each to their own so guess I need to apply that here too. Pokemon away if it makes your Camino better.

 

[Tincatinker]

Please avoid personal comments or take your conflicts to PM. Moderator

 

[NualaOC]

Hi @SooYunKim, most of us here won't know the answer to your question as we're of a different generation. You may also find a little impatience in our answers, probably because of concerns that Pokemon activities may not be appropriate on a pilgrimage route.

Personally, I would find gaming (I don't know if that's the right terminology!) somewhat offensive on quiet trails or at 'special' places. It wouldn't annoy me in a larger town or city - especially if locals were also doing it. I would probably find it quite entertaining.

Buen Camino!

 

[Sirage]

Don't do this . Pokemon is not good for your mental health. Certainly not on a Camino. Time to leave your other life and just be where you are. Talk to the people nearby. They might talk back.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Don't do this

By all means, do your camino our way.

 

[Sirage]

By all means, do your camino our way.

Touché. Perhaps I was being dogmatic. It would be a sad day if there were rules and standards for the Camino.

This forum is about information, advice and opinions. I wonder if there are human behaviours that could test the tradition of no rules?

 

[William Marques]

As Tintaker has asked please keep you posts to the topic and help answer to the question. You do not have to respond if you are not interested in the topic.

 

[Tia Valeria]

From limited experience with our grand-daughters:-
They seem to be in more populated places, not on Dartmoor for example but many at Killerton House.
They run your phone battery down double fast especially I think where there is no 4G network.
They certainly encourage walking but they could also pick them up in the car although I don't know if they actually caught one that way.
As others have said maybe this isn't the place to get a good answer as we are not, generally speaking, players ourselves.

 

[Deleted member 34316]

For those who think that hugging a golden statue is a bit too much, there should be a nice, soft, fluffy, human-size pokemon nearby. I would give him a hug

 

[JohnMcM]

What on earth is a Pokemon? Do I need to get one for my Camino next week?
Buen Camino

 

[C clearly]

Real Reality is enough of a joy and challenge--one that doesn't benefit from faux augmentation.

You know me! I cannot resist arguing with your truism!

I have virtually (pun intended) never played a computer game (well, maybe 2 hours of my life have been spent on computer solitaire or tetris) and I don't expect to take up Pokeman unless as an act of elder rebellion! (Hmmm! There's an idea.)

From the wikipedia entry on Augmented Reality: the technology functions by enhancing one’s current perception of reality.

Well, I try to enhance my reality every day, through both technology and intellectual effort - by what I eat, drink, read, do, think, etc. Sometimes I escape into fiction or gaze at works of art, sometimes I use music to change my mood. I also find that long walks enhance my perceptions. And I get great joy from communicating with real people who are far away, for example here on the forum. Those are all augmentations to my reality, but I'm not sure if they are faux or not. I'm not sure I care.

I too have occasional discomfort about new-fangled trends and computer games, but I try to control my knee-jerk reaction to them. My first reaction to Pokeman Go was "No! Never! Keep it away from me." Then I read an interesting article by an autistic woman who pointed out what a helpful tool it was to help her interact more in the community. I realized that my prejudice needed to be examined.

I realize this thread could be problematic, and will cease and desist if necessary!

 

[C clearly]

What on earth is a Pokemon? Do I need to get one for my Camino next week?
Buen Camino

No you don't need to get one. I think the concern is that they might find you!

 

[JohnMcM]

No you don't need to get one. I think the concern is that they might find you!

Eeeeeeeeeek! Are they dangerous?

 

[cher99840]

You know me! I cannot resist arguing with your truism!

I have virtually (pun intended) never played a computer game (well, maybe 2 hours of my life have been spent on computer solitaire or tetris) and I don't expect to take up Pokeman unless as an act of elder rebellion! (Hmmm! There's an idea.)

From the wikipedia entry on Augmented Reality: the technology functions by enhancing one’s current perception of reality.

Well, I try to enhance my reality every day, through both technology and intellectual effort - by what I eat, drink, read, do, think, etc. Sometimes I escape into fiction or gaze at works of art, sometimes I use music to change my mood. I also find that long walks enhance my perceptions. And I get great joy from communicating with real people who are far away, for example here on the forum. Those are all augmentations to my reality, but I'm not sure if they are faux or not. I'm not sure I care.

I too have occasional discomfort about new-fangled trends and computer games, but I try to control my knee-jerk reaction to them. My first reaction to Pokeman Go was "No! Never! Keep it away from me." Then I read an interesting article by an autistic woman who pointed out what a helpful tool it was to help her interact more in the community. I realized that my prejudice needed to be examined.

I realize this thread could be problematic, and will cease and desist if necessary!

I've always considered you to be a clear thinking and well spoken individual, but you are outdoing even yourself today. You're on a roll; Stay the course!!

 

[C clearly]

Eeeeeeeeeek! Are they dangerous?

Apparently yes!

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

My favourite thread this summer!

 

[GreatDane]

Just wait for the increase in rescues now that people will miss arrows more then ever as they walk the Camino staring at their phones rather than looking for arrows ;0).

Maybe someone could develop a camino app that works the same as Pokeman but puts yellow arrows on your screen instead of a Dewgong. Oh wait - that's a GPS...

 

[cher99840]

My favourite thread this summer!

Not necessarily my favorite thread but my favorite comment this summer is on this thread. @falcon269 's "good question. Now, shoot me"

 

[VNwalking]

You know me! I cannot resist arguing with your truism!

I appreciate your contrarian mind, C...it stops and makes me think, and to clarify.
And as you well know I'm not a luddite. I use lots of technology and value it. And I think technology that encourages imagination isn't all bad. But Pokemon's augmentation fosters behavior that can be dysfunctional--causing otherwise intelligent people to lose their connection with their bodies and physical reality.They walk off cliffs, drive into other cars, get stuck in mines, and otherwise lose situational reality to the extent that they injure themselves or others.
Of course most people don't go that far, but at the very least Pokemon doesn't foster the kind of presence and embodiment and deeper exploration that walking the Camino is about--but rather a restless seeking.

Well, whatever. It's happening. If it gets people out to actually be on the Camino they may see that simple presence is much more satisfying.

I laughed out loud (literally, not just in the lol sense) at @jozero's post, and agree with both parts of it:

Wow... this is going to take the 'Mindfullness on the Camino' conversation we had some time ago to a WHOLE new level... Well, I've always said each to their own so guess I need to apply that here too. Pokemon away if it makes your Camino better.

And as @falcon269 says:

Good question.
Now, just shoot me...

I'm really enjoying this discussion...but today I have to keep it short, because I have a life and it can suffer because of being here too long if I'm not careful.
(In case we think an addiction to the Forum is for some reason better than an addiction to Pokemon..............uhhhh...I have news for us....)

 

[notion900]

A few of these around too:

 

[Anamya]

There are Pokestops and even Pokemon Gyms on the larger cities.

If some of us use the camino for tourism, some use it to experiment wines, some do it for whatever reason, I see no problem in someone doing it to hunt Pokemons.

So many of us use the mobile for GPS, messages, internet, things that never existed a few years ago. Using it for one more thing is really a problem?

Also, so many of us decided to go on the camino because of a Holywood movie, and found out there's much more to it. What's the difference in starting the trail thinking about catching Pokemons and maybe also finding there is MUCH more to catch on the way?

As long as people and places are respected, each one can walk their camino as they believe is best.

 

[VNwalking]

What's the difference in starting the trail thinking about catching Pokemons and maybe also finding there is MUCH more to catch on the way?
As long as people and places are respected, each one can walk their camino as they believe is best.

No difference, really. So long as there is openness , respect, and sensitivity--of course.

At the same time I agree with @peregrina2000 when she says (in another thread going right now):

The Camino is also a long distance path on public property or on public rights of way that ends in Santiago. ... That doesn't, IMO, mean that the standard-free "it's your Camino" mantra is there for us all to hide beneath to justify whatever behavior best suits our self-indulgent pampering. I know this is dangerous territory -- last time I tried to explain what I meant by that -- (https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/its-not-really-your-camino.39577/),
we decided to close the thread because of its downward trajectory, so I hope that won't happen again here.

We all have to walk our own unique camino--there's no other way to do it. But, yes: it's vital that we try to maintain mutual respect and sensitivity that takes into account the impact out actions have on others.

I think 2 things are causing the snarky comments here (for which I for one apologize, having been guilty of posting a couple):

1. A simple generation gap. Lots of us grew up BC and have a different value system about the usefulness and potential dangers of IT--and particularly about social platforms and gaming. And of course everyone thinks they're right.
2. For a very long time walking the Camino was mostly a contemplative journey--and for many of us (Catholic or not) it still is. And for some of us the Camino is sacred space. So for many, the influx in the last years of large numbers of other walkers who do not share those values has been jarring, to say the least. Whether it's people doing a wine/touristic walk or playing Pokemon--when done without sensitivity, both seem equally antithetical to the kind of quiet contemplative experince many seek. So there may be a knee-jerk "Not on MY Camino, you don't!" imagining the kind of idiocy that we read about in the media (Search 'dangers of Pokemon,' for example).

All that said, it's the mutual understanding and discussion that are important here, and one of the gifts of both the Camino and the Forum--this is not the usual combative internet forum space, it's more of a virtual albergue. So hopefully we can continue to stay open, learning from each other rather than retreating to defensive positions.

 

[SooYunKim]

wow... some firery conversations. *intimidated*
I expected to see a couple of threads with short answer either yes or no
since I thought not many pilgrims are into Pokemon Go game.

Of course there should be Pokemons and Pokemon stops in Spain.
They probaby are everywhere in big cities like Leon or Santiago.
What I was wondering was if anyone ever seen Pokemons/stops in the middle of the Camino like Meseta.
But no pilgrim would focus on their phone trying to catch Pokemon instead of the arrows,
so the answer would be No, I guess.
Still the image of huge Pokemon hovering over pilgrims on Meseta is funny.
Well, there goes my imagination running wild.
Also I think it would be so funny if the Cathedral in SdC has its very own Pokemon.
I mean, Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in So.Cal has one stop and a gym! LOL

Those two Pokemons Notion900 posted are probably the ones that can be found only in Europe.
I've never seen them. Cool.

Thank you for all the great conversations.

Buen Camino.

 

[Susan hopes]

I think the game does let you talk to other people. Last week I sat on the steps of a campground store and talked about the game to about 10 people who were playing, between the ages of 11 and 70. When I leveled up to 5, they all cheered me on and urged me to join their team.

I will admit, I'm not sure how it would work on Camino. There are too many other beautiful things to see and things to talk about. But maybe, for a few minutes, it might be a good start to interesting conversations.

Just because it's a virtual, electronic game, doesn't make it all bad.

 

[VNwalking]

Sorry to have intimidated you, @SooYunKim. Thank you for sparking such a lively discussion!

Also I think it would be so funny if the Cathedral in SdC has its very own Pokemon.

There are probably all sorts of beings in there we can't see....

 

[jdpiguet]

I'm afraid, but: Did the Pokémon snore during the night?

Buen Camino, Jacques-D.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Just out of curiousity,
Are there Pokemons or Pokemon stops on the Camino?

Is this a Pokemon?

 

[Annie Little]

Eeeeeeeeeek! Are they dangerous?

yes they are dangerous indeed ... to your mental health.... that is ... my personal assumptions...

 

[William Marques]

yes they are dangerous indeed ... to your mental health.... that is a truth not my personal assumptions...

If you have the facts to back that up please provide a link to them otherwise please edit your post.

 

[SYates]

Actually @Annie Little There are reports that state quite the opposite, see for example http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rahis-saifi/pokemon-gos-mental-health_b_11204184.html

BTW, I am not a Pokemon fan/player and I also think that like everything else it should be approached with a huge dose of common sense and moderation, but if it helps to get depressed people out and interacting with others, I think it is a good thing.
Seeing Pokemon players among pilgrims, sigh, not so sure about that one, but then over the last ~1000 years the Camino has survived a lot, I am sure it will survive Pokemons also ;-)

Buen Camino, SY

 

[C clearly]

wow... some firery conversations.

Yes, and I think it has been good for us to reconsider the initial prejudice some of us have had about Pokemon. And thanks for coming back to comment - i.e. not getting your feelings hurt and leaving!

 

[SooYunKim]

i.e. not getting your feelings hurt and leaving!

No, not at all!
I was just overwhelmed by all the replies
Like I said, I did not expect this many!
It's such fun to watch all the thoughts going back and forth like ping pong. :^)

 

[Tincatinker]

I was just overwhelmed by all the replies

Wow; just wait till you ask which sandals you should wear

 

[peregrina2000]

Though I'm not really sure what it entails, I can now say that yes Pokemon is in Santiago: http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/notici...mover-turismo-pokemon/0003_201608S24C2994.htm

Just out of curiousity,
Are there Pokemons or Pokemon stops on the Camino?

 

[Albertagirl]

@peregrina2000
I find myself wanting to avoid Santiago, and especially the locations of pokemon gyms etc. where these creatures and those who pursue them are dense. Yesterday, I bicyled downtown and had considerable difficulty getting home because a park where walkers and cyclists share the paths was thick with pokemon players ignoring the traffic and in an absolute daze as to their physical environment. I shall try to schedule a much briefer time in Santiago this year.

 

[pattymo97206]

While camping on the Oregon Coast a few weeks ago with my family, my adult daughter and my grandkids helped me get started playing Pokemon and it is a hoot!! That being said, for me personally there is a time and place for everything. I'll be walking across Scotland in 2 weeks and I will leave my Pokemon hunting at home, with my grandkids. I don't want to get lost in Glasgow or Edinburgh looking for Pokespots! It definitely gets people of all ages out walking and that is a good thing. It really is a hoot!!

 

[JohnnieWalker]

As stated in this other thread, it seems there are already 200 geocaches on the Camino Frances:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...n-the-camino-frances-route.38324/#post-376595

As I understand it a geocache is a physical "prize" whereas a pokemon is virtual. I suspect like Geocaches and Macdonalds Pokemons are on their way - so to speak.

 

[mdelag]

WOW @SooYunKim you really started a thread !!!! ...it has been very interesting for me to read all these posts. My oppinion is that even if there are pokemons in the Camino, and anyone starts walking with the intention of finding pokemons, don't think it will last very long, the magic and the vibes of the Camino will involve him or her.
This has been one great "thread" !!!!
PS. @Tincatinker loved your reply !!!!
Buen Camino to you all !!!!!!

 

[Sheilajg]

@SooYunKim I've seen one!

View attachment 28628

hilarious. love this, thanks.

 

[kinnear]

Just out of curiousity,
Are there Pokemons or Pokemon stops on the Camino?

I asked this somewhat "tongue in cheek" of a recent pilgrim who had just discovered the fun of "trivia" in his post Camino depression. The issue is maintaining sufficient battery charge as you will know how quickly this is used playing Pokemon Go.

 

[jbear]

@Kathar1na Reminds me a bit of looking for the frog at the university in Salamanca.

 

[stevenjarvis]

Really ? Hilarious debate in the context of religious pilgrimage !

 

[Leanne caitlin]

Just out of curiousity,
Are there Pokemons or Pokemon stops on the Camino?

Yes there's plenty. I hatched 2 snorlax and caught hundreds of pokemon. Just don't run out of pokeballs before you go off road. Happy hunting.

 

[SYates]

Yes there's plenty. I hatched 2 snorlax and caught hundreds of pokemon. Just don't run out of pokeballs before you go off road. Happy hunting.

And don't loose sight of those yellow arrows ;-) Buen Camino, SY

 

[Felipe]

Could this be one?
Last seen in Burgos...no idea where it could be right now. Seems fast...

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

The Churches (and the churches) seem to be in two minds about this: while the famous Cathedral in Cologne in Germany is reported to have requested the owners of the Pokemon Go game to make the Cathedral a Pokémon free space and they complied, the BBC reports that churches are encouraged to welcome gamers because it gives them "a great opportunity to meet people from their area who might not normally come to church". That's a bit like the hope or belief that the revival of the pilgrimage to St James will bring back the lost sheep or entice new sheep to join the flock.

I'm trying to understand how Pokémons appear and people gather in the first place. It seems to have something to do with the underlying map used by the game makers where landmarks like churches or pieces of public art etc seem to play a prominent role due to the maps used, and these are based on data collected from players of a previous game called Ingress.

I find it weird, btw, to talk of enhanced reality. Just a PR thing, of course. It's more enhanced virtuality than the other way round.

I read that some one put one at Arlington Cemetery (and its removal had been requested). I don't mind people playing the game on the Camino, but I think places of worship or places that honor the fallen (e.g. cemeteries, monuments to fallen soldiers/leaders) should be off-limits because those are not places for playing games (for example, signs at Arlington remind you this is not a place for running, horseplay, etc)--out of respect.

and I suppose this goes for any unthinking behavior, even when not related to Pokemon...I remember being in the Crypt beneath Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena, and seeing a distraught young man trying to stop tourists from walking all over the tomb at which he was praying. Sometimes we forget the human emotions tied to the places we visit.

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

http://money.cnn.com/2016/07/12/technology/pokemon-go-holocaust-arlington/

What were the creators of this game thinking? And why is there no headslap emoticon? Auschwitz? 9/11 memorial?
Sigh. At least it sounds like they respond quickly to requests for removal...

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Norway's prime minister Erna Solberg caught playing Pokemon Go in parliament
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...er-erna-solberg-caught-playing-pokemon-go-in/

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

Norway's prime minister Erna Solberg caught playing Pokemon Go in parliament
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...er-erna-solberg-caught-playing-pokemon-go-in/

the fact that those two politicians were playing pokemon during debates and hearing on defense makes me feel a little better about the choices (term used loosely) I have in our upcoming election. I was sad to read about the death associated with the game.

 

[Marion-SantiagoInLove]

I'm afraid, but: Did the Pokémon snore during the night?

Never heard of Ronflex, have you?

Lots of Pokemon snoring on the Way!
*Picture that when you dorm neighbor makes the albergue shake at night!*