Santiago deaf and mute petition

[Mike Halligan]

I arrived in Santiago a couple of weeks ago. I had walked a fair distance to make up some time. Just a query - I was a short time by the Cathedral trying to settle when asked to sign a petition for a hostel for the Deaf and Dumb. Of course, money was also wanted and the young woman was quite pushy. Just wondering - is this an authentic petition or not. (I think the same petition was being used in 2010, the last time I reached Santiago.

Besides this the whole camino was a very deep experience and I think I was rattled by it this time!

 

[C clearly]

Just wondering - is this an authentic petition or not.

Likely not. In fact, it is such a well-known scan, that a genuine group would be foolish to use this approach!
See other threads such as this and this.

 

[november_moon]

This is definitely not an authentic petition. And anyone who stops to give a donation will likely be relieved of other valuables as well. Even if you aren't pick-pocketed right away, people have seen where you keep your money.

 

[RobertS26]

These petition scams are common in Europe. They usually ask people walking by in English if they want to sign a petition to stop drug abuse/save the whales/stop global warming. The scams have one of three purposes: (1) solicite donations (that never go any further than their own pockets, (2) act as a distraction while a cohort picks your pocket, or (3) gather email addresses of people who will fall for anything (thus guaranteeing a flood of emails from a wealthy Nigerian Prince who needs your bank account number to temporarily transfer his money for a few days).

The albergue for the deaf is a nice touch. Kind of keeping the scam fresh and not letting it go stale.

 

[Mike Halligan]

Thanks for the replies. I saw that people had donated large sums and realised that it was some sort of con trick. With heightened security and not being able to enter the Cathedral straight on arriving - because of the mochila! - made it a bit disappointing.

More important the Camino seems to be going from strength to strength with large numbers and the great sense of the need to keep searching.
My favourite message left by someone on a stone marker was "es a ti que tienes que llegar".

 

[DurhamParish]

"es a ti que tienes que llegar".

I hate to be the ugly American who can only speak English, but I am. I've looked up the words but it still doesn't make much sense. Can someone give me a literal translation.

Thanks

 

[domigee]

I hate to be the ugly American who can only speak English, but I am. I've looked up the words but it still doesn't make much sense. Can someone give me a literal translation.

Thanks

You may only speak English but that doesn't make you ugly!

Roughly, it means 'it is yourself you must reach' ( litt. : it is to YOU you must arrive)

I still don't condone the people who write graffiti though

 

[DurhamParish]

You may only speak English but that doesn't make you ugly!

Roughly, it means 'it is yourself you must reach' ( litt. : it is to YOU you must arrive)

I still don't condone the people who write graffiti though

Thanks domigee, I hated to miss a prophetic meaning.

And thanks for pointing out that only speaking English is not the problem in other areas, I'll have to look elsewhere to solve that riddle. HAHAHAHA

And thanks for the big laugh.

 

[Mike Halligan]

You may only speak English but that doesn't make you ugly!

Roughly, it means 'it is yourself you must reach' ( litt. : it is to YOU you must arrive)

I still don't condone the people who write graffiti though

Hi - this message was written on a piece of paper (not on one of the stone markers). It is a shame that the markers can't just be left instead of all the rubbish written on them.

The quote can be alined to "es a Santiago que tienes que llegar". I really like because getting to Santiago isn't the real destination!
I have to get to me!! It's a right old journey. Hope you are well. Regards