Regarding Denise Theim and ALL of the Peregrinos who have died on Camino...

[RumAndChupacabras]

The beauty (and sometimes the bane) about this AMAZING Community is the mass/volume of information.
That said, Is it possible to get an update on 'shells for Denise'?...are shells still being accepted?...if so, where (the Pilgrim's Office? At The Tree?). Also, is there something set up in place for us to honor ALL of those Camino brother's and Sister's who have given up Soul whilst on Camino?

@ivar , @peregrina2000 , @Kanga ...

 

[Rebekah Scott]

The Pilgrim Memorial Grove in Valdeiglesias, right outside of Astorga, is home to the Denise Theim memorial tree, (still heaped with shells from everywhere), and plaques and trees in honor or five other pilgrims who died along the Ways. There is no generalized memorial that I know of.

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

Thank you so much, @Rebekah Scott !

 

[t2andreo]

Natefaith or Rebekah will correct me if I am wrong, but, in the past, they have collected commemorative shells, etc. destined for this memorial at the Pilgrim House, Rua Nova #19. Somehow, the shells have found their way out to the memorial tree just west of Astorga.

Hope this helps.

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

@t2andreo 'they' being, the Pilgrims Office?

 

[t2andreo]

I edited my post. Typing on an iPhone with one thumb is not easy for me...

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

I edited my post. Typing on an iPhone with one thumb is not easy for me...

No problemo, Jefe!

 

[VNwalking]

'they' being, the Pilgrims Office?

No, it was Pilgrim House, and all the shells they collected are now at Denise's tree outside of Astorga.

Somehow, the shells have found their way out to the memorial tree just west of Astorga.

'Somehow' was @Peter Fransiscus , who very kindly took them there from Santiago.
At this point, anyone walking the Frances can leave their shells there directly.
Here:

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

@VNwalking ...this! Thank you. I read a thread or more about @Peter Fransiscus taking them but, it was not clear to me just exactly what that meant (ie, no further acceptance of shells).

 

[t2andreo]

As far as I know, shells are still being accepted.

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

As far as I know, shells are still being accepted.

Oh! Well then, I guess I still need to find out from @ivar or a Mod if Pilgrim House still accepts shells.

 

[VNwalking]

@natefaith , are you still accepting shells for Denise at PH? I was assuming not, and @t2andreo says yes. He's probably right, but just checking....

 

[natefaith]

@RumAndChupacabras yes, we can still accept shells for Denise at Pilgrim House, especially if people want to walk with their memorial shell all the way to Santiago.

Buen Camino!
Faith

 

[VNwalking]

How wonderful. There will be people who have not had the chance to walk since 2015, and who will want to leave a shell...Thank you, Faith!

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

@RumAndChupacabras yes, we can still accept shells for Denise at Pilgrim House..

LUV this, Faith! Thank you.
Thank you @VNwalking for asking!

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Depending on which party wins in the next Astorga municipal elections, the Memorial Park may get a real boost later this year. Or not!

 

[VNwalking]

With covid overturning normalcy as it has, this may have gotten pushed into the back cupboard. But inquiring minds want to know - Was there a boost? Or not?

Depending on which party wins in the next Astorga municipal elections, the Memorial Park may get a real boost later this year. Or not!

 

[Rebekah Scott]

With covid overturning normalcy as it has, this may have gotten pushed into the back cupboard. But inquiring minds want to know - Was there a boost? Or not?

I gathered some PPI friends in the district and we met with THREE city council members, one of whom is a member of the Astorga Amigos group that runs the big albergue! They informed us of several important changes, I posited a redesigned wall for the memorial plaques, everyone was in agreement that the park will be much improved over this summer.
That was 24 February. On 14 March we started shutting down the camino. On 20 March I sent some rough Memorial Grove architectual drawings (from a real architect!) to all the group members, but everyone agreed that Astorga Council was too embroiled in crisis matters to bother with a park just now.

And so it continues. Astorga is still very embroiled.
Poco a poco.
Spain is no place for people in a hurry.

 

[VNwalking]

Astorga is still very embroiled.

That that is sad to hear. Everyone will need bushels of patience to deal with this pandemic - it will not obediently disappear when we feel like we're done with it.

one of whom is a member of the Astorga Amigos group that runs the big albergue!

That's super news. Once the dust settles, and they can think about parks again, it's great to know there is an amigo in a position to make decisions.
Thanks for reporting back!