Strangest Thing on Your Camino?

[Kathy F.]

What is the strangest thing you saw on your Camino?
For me, it was probably the pilgrim I saw walking with a live chicken in his backpack.
What about you?
Just curious.

 

[mspath]

December 12, 2011
near Pontevedra



At Lugar San Amaro 6 on the N-550 roughly 12 km south of Caldes das Reis /9 km north of Pontevedra I passed this bizarre airplane. It is perhaps the oddest object I have ever seen while walking in Spain; there was no sign of why or how it "landed".

 

[Peregrinopaul]

December 12, 2011
near Pontevedra

View attachment 139771
. It is perhaps the oddest object I have ever seen while walking in Spain…

It’s all downhill from here, Margaret.

 

[Bradypus]

 

[wisepilgrim]

View attachment 139772

Not the only dino, remarkably. There is another on the Camino Inglés. Though to the best of my knowledge the only verifiable remains of the beasts (namely their footprints) is in the area of Burgos and up on the Norte in Asturias (if I remember correctly).

I would put one in my yard too if I had the space, neighbors would love it!

 

[Peregrinopaul]

I take it back!

 

[peregrino_tom]

Though to the best of my knowledge the only verifiable remains of the beasts (namely their footprints) is in the area of Burgos and up on the Norte in Asturias (if I remember correctly).

Jurassic Museum of Asturias - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[amancio]

I would say the oddest for me would be this llama I saw in Villamayor de Monjardín in april 2008, main square, drinking water off the fountain, together with a dwarf cockerel. Can you beat that?

 

[VNwalking]

I saw the dino footprints on the San Olav, and a wonderful fuente at a church about 5k away made almost entirely of Ammonites:

Those were more cool than strange.

But for non-human strange it's a tie. The dino on the Ingles or the giant ants on the Francés.

And, oh wait! The ostrich. Definitely the ostrich.

 

[malingerer]

What is the strangest thing you saw on your Camino?
For me, it was probably the pilgrim I saw walking with a live chicken in his backpack.
What about you?
Just curious.

For me, it was that ugly exhausted old devil staring at me frequently in the mirror
Samarkand

 

[mike105]

One strange thing I saw was a former Soviet army officer wearing torn up old running shoes while carrying his brand new hiking boots in his pack because he, "didn't want to get them dirty".

 

[bubba]

For me, it was that ugly exhausted old devil staring at me frequently in the mirror
Samarkand

THAT GUY SURE GETS AROUND!

 

[green_spork]

Not so much saw, but heard!
I think it was around 7am after I’d left Lugo!
I can’t remember the exact location, but I think it was a fare bit from the city
I was approaching near a major road and could suddenly hear really loud classical music coming from somewhere!
I couldn’t work out were it was coming from! There was mostly fields on either side with maybe one or two farmhouses!
It was rather surreal, hearing this really load classical music, there was no traffic on the road and I hadn’t seen anyone since leaving Lugo!
I thought maybe, I imagined it, until later that day, a pilgrim in my albergue mentioned it!

 

[frbobs]

It was on the Camino Portugues (just coming out of Fortaleza), walking on a paved road in a neighborhood. There was no water near, no swamp. There was a crawfish crossing the street. It was doing this weird "I'm going to get you" dance. Funny but odd.
https://www.amazon.com/photos/all/gallery/_iIeuJkWToqnZ0Qzo2t0Ng?type=PHOTOS

 

[Camino Lily]

I saw a young person walking with a toilet seat around the neck. Didn't make sense until later down the CF when I realized seats were gone from most bathrooms. 🤷‍♀️

 

[André Walker]

I saw a young person walking with a toilet seat around the neck. Didn't make sense until later down the CF when I realized seats were gone from most bathrooms. 🤷‍♀️

If he was the one taking them it would have been wise to make sure to walk in front of him....

 

[Bradypus]

It was on the Camino Portugues (just coming out of Fortaleza), walking on a paved road in a neighborhood. There was no water near, no swamp. There was a crawfish crossing the street. It was doing this weird "I'm going to get you" dance. Funny but odd.

Walking the Shikoku 88 temple circuit. A forest area hundreds of feet above sea level. And there was this "beware of the crabs" sign at the roadside. I saw some later. Odd!

 

[Christine Leneghan]

I saw the dino footprints on the San Olav, and a wonderful fuente at a church about 5k away made almost entirely of Ammonites:
View attachment 139781
Those were more cool than strange.

But for non-human strange it's a tie. The dino on the Ingles or the giant ants on the Francés.
View attachment 139776 View attachment 139780
And, oh wait! The ostrich. Definitely the ostrich.
View attachment 139779

We stayed at the ant albergue and had a great time!

 

[El Cascayal]

There is another on the Camino Inglés.

Almost got me. What a curious place, bar in front. Loved it!

 

[David Tallan]

I remember the ants, and on the Camino Portugues I saw some pretty strange scarecrows. But for me I think it has to be Frankenpilgrim on the Frances.

 

[El Cascayal]

After Monforte de Lemos on the Invierno.

 

[David Tallan]

Dinosaurs definitely seem to be a theme. I know the Camino is an old trail. Some say that it precedes the discovery of the remains of St. James. But this ism the first time I'm seeing it consistently associated with dinosaurs!

 

[Trekker One]

I think this is hard to beat for strange Camino things. This was on the Portuguese Camino, can't recall which day offhand

 

[trecile]

It was on the Camino Portugues (just coming out of Fortaleza), walking on a paved road in a neighborhood. There was no water near, no swamp. There was a crawfish crossing the street. It was doing this weird "I'm going to get you" dance. Funny but odd.
https://www.amazon.com/photos/all/gallery/_iIeuJkWToqnZ0Qzo2t0Ng?type=PHOTOS

Your link isn't working for me. Can you upload it to the forum using the "Attach files" button at the bottom of the message box?

 

[JayVee]

I saw this woman walking her friend in the parking lot outside the supermarket in Santo Domingo de la Calzada (Camino Frances) in April, 2019. I wasn't sure if I was getting a preview of the next day's butcher's special.

 

[Glenshiro]

I've posted this before, but the chap on the unicycle south of Aire sur l'Adour still cracks me up. He'd come all the way from Paris - I often wonder if he made it to SdC?

 

[amancio]

I remember the ants, and on the Camino Portugues I saw some pretty strange scarecrows. But for me I think it has to be Frankenpilgrim on the Frances.

That freaky display was there in 2006



and also in 2021
in the middle of nowhere, past a cattle farm

 

[David Tallan]

That freaky display was there in 2006

View attachment 139820

and also in 2021
in the middle of nowhere, past a cattle farm

View attachment 139821

I'm glad he was wearing a mask in 2021.

 

[amancio]

Which reminds me of Camino Ingles, on the way to Sigüeiro, 2013, we had these peculiar exhibits

 

[Tim-F]

This was on the Ingles in October 2022. It was really quite unsettling in the early morning light.

 

[Theatregal]

These folks before Cea on the Sanabres. April 2018



A dinosaur in Porto too! July 2015

 

[Tim-F]

On the Frances last May, I was staying at Hornillos in a nice room with half a dozen single (not bunk) beds. A few of us, including a nice French couple of mature years, were having an afternoon snooze. I was woken by a loud thwacking sound, and saw a South Korean woman wielding a fly swat right by the French woman's bed. The French woman had a, very understandable, 'why did you just thwack my bed with a fly swat whilst I was alseep' look on her face. The South Korean then mimed a fly, as if this was a reasonable explanation.

 

[JennyH94]

Walking out from Zamora on the VDLP last May near the industrial area I spotted an old military tank and stopped to take a photo of it. I wondered how it ended up there.

Just after I took the photo a Spanish gentleman came by and asked me if he could do a short video of me with the tank and my trailer Spot. I had to tell him where I was from, who made Spot, where I’d started walking etc. He was really interested in Spot! He then took this photo -



Cheers from Oz -
Jenny

 

[lindam]

I've posted this before, but the chap on the unicycle south of Aire sur l'Adour still cracks me up. He'd come all the way from Paris - I often wonder if he made it to SdC?

I recall sitting next to the trail with my husband, taking a break and having a snack, when we were approached by two unicycles. The best part was that as they got closer I happened to drop my apple which rolled along onto the path (I might add that it was a fairly uneven stretch of trail). One of the unicyclists easily dismounted, picked up my wandering apple and passed it back to me before heading back on his way. We shook our heads in disbelief!

 

[Yoyo]

I walked past this "crime scene" in a school yard in Vairão on the Caminho Português:

 

[green_spork]

Wished her a “Good Morning”, before I realised!

 

[amancio]

more and more things come up!
This is in Roales del Pan, Via de la Plata, just outside Zamora, a small private garden with lots of weird lifesize figures; the wicked wolf, little red riding hood, a half naked mermaid, a pilgrim, a few dwarves... just weird!

 

[FRM]

Outside an alberque in Rabanal. They danced for well over a half hour, then the dude in the hat leading got in a car and drove away. It was great.
View attachment IMG_1635.MOV

 

[Sidknee]

Funny, but I wasn’t the one chasing the horses….on my way into Arzua Sept 2022
View attachment trim.81D20BD4-5981-459F-9E5D-08A29B52B954.MOV

 

[Sidknee]

Or…the only way to go.
View attachment trim.5345152F-C4F0-4FF8-A1F9-CC594DC4E298.MOV

 

[davestevenson]

 

[Levi]

On the Madrid Camino...a matador and three of his 'helpers' (picadors?) in all their finery, emerging from a little hotel and cramming themselves into a very small car before driving off, presumably to a bull-ring. And they checked themselves out in the car wing mirrors first.
Sadly, no photo....

 

[VNwalking]

And they checked themselves out in the car wing mirrors first

Oh. No pictures. Too bad. 🤣

 

[Bradypus]

On the Madrid Camino...a matador and three of his 'helpers' (picadors?) in all their finery, emerging from a little hotel and cramming themselves into a very small car before driving off, presumably to a bull-ring.

Made me think of these lines from "The Spanish Suitcase" - one of my favourite episodes of The Goon Show. Works best if you imagine Peter Sellers's voice.

 

[Corned Beef]

In the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral. For those starting the Francigena there, the Cathedral has its own hotel/hostal where you can book your first night. You are also able to walk the Cathedral grounds in peace once it has closed to the public.

 

[Kathy F.]

Outside an alberque in Rabanal. They danced for well over a half hour, then the dude in the hat leading got in a car and drove away. It was great.
View attachment 139840

A very shy Flash Mob.

 

[JennyH94]

more and more things come up!
This is in Roales del Pan, Via de la Plata, just outside Zamora, a small private garden with lots of weird lifesize figures; the wicked wolf, little red riding hood, a half naked mermaid, a pilgrim, a few dwarves... just weird!

View attachment 139837

Hi @amancio The whole scene looks really creepy - just the thing to make you get outta there! Were there any humans about?
Cheers from Oz -
Jenny

 

[Pelerina]

Walking out from Zamora on the VDLP last May near the industrial area I spotted an old military tank and stopped to take a photo of it. I wondered how it ended up there.

Just after I took the photo a Spanish gentleman came by and asked me if he could do a short video of me with the tank and my trailer Spot. I had to tell him where I was from, who made Spot, where I’d started walking etc. He was really interested in Spot! He then took this photo -

View attachment 139832

Cheers from Oz -
Jenny

JennyH - it’s your friend the other JennyH here - I have seen photos of Spot before, but this one is great. You can really get a good feel for how Spot is put together and how it all works. 😎

 

[amancio]

Hi @amancio The whole scene looks really creepy - just the thing to make you get outta there! Were there any humans about?
Cheers from Oz -
Jenny

this is only a small part of the whole scene, about 40% maybe, I forgot to mention the giraffe, actually! There were lots of other characters, I was there on my own at 9 in the morning on a beautiful, cool Sunday morning.
You can actually see the whole scene on Street View, they even hava a kangaroo!!!

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.es

 

[JWB]

Lady of South Korea walking with beauty toiletries attached to the backpack. Important to her!

 

[JWB]

A cow, waiting for the opening of the town hall…

 

[VNwalking]

I saw a giraffe once, too, on the outskirts of Villatuerta. A real one. 👀
I had forgotten about that!
There was a circus in town.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

A rock climbing pilgrim on the Norte.

 

[lalaone]

Oktoberfest. In May. In Pamplona. Inside the Plaza de Toros.
It made no sense, but the Bavarian food, costumes and beer were all spot on!

 

[Richmond Gardner]

La Bête?

 

[El Cascayal]

Walking out from Zamora on the VDLP last May near the industrial area I spotted an old military tank and stopped to take a photo of it. I wondered how it ended up there.

Just after I took the photo a Spanish gentleman came by and asked me if he could do a short video of me with the tank and my trailer Spot. I had to tell him where I was from, who made Spot, where I’d started walking etc. He was really interested in Spot! He then took this photo -

View attachment 139832

Cheers from Oz -
Jenny

Jenny, how does Spot work on descents and on ancient Roman roads? Please let us know a little more about your experiences using this.
Aymarah

 

[JennyH94]

Jenny, how does Spot work on descents and on ancient Roman roads? Please let us know a little more about your experiences using this.
Aymarah

Hi @El Cascayal - Spot goes anywhere that has a wide enough path for him. In places where the path is large boulders - eg some of those really rough Roman roads on the Sanabres - I’ve had to unload the cart and take the empty trailer over those large boulders, go back and collect the contents, then repack where the path is easier to navigate through. Not a problem - it never takes long.

Descents aren’t a problem either - for gentle descents my hands act as brakes as I lay my palms flat against the front of the handgrip and for steep descents I unhook myself from the waist belt and wheel the trailer in front of me supermarket trolley style in a zig zag pattern until I reach flat ground. For descents I always put my hiking poles under the bungee cords which keep the plastic cover and my umbrella secure.

For steep ascents, where there’s some “drag” I use my poles to get myself up the ascent. I take it slowly and it’s fine.

Here’s a close up of Spot last year on the VDLP - it was Banana Break time!



I’ve walked around 2,800kms with Spot since 2017. Walking with him is an absolute dream and certainly on the flat ground I’m hardly aware of him behind me - he pootles along happily. I have more energy as I don’t have a heavy weight on my back and I can easily take a lot of water as everything is stored in the cart.

As you saw in the photo with the tank, I do have a cross body bag and a very lightweight daypack that’s on my person - these contain my valuables, including an iPad mini. I never let these items leave me.

I’ve had fantastic experiences with Spot in tow, and at least one offer from another pilgrim to go into business with his creator! I have tons and tons of happy memories of caminos with Spot and will always feel very grateful to the friend who created him.

Cheers from Oz -
Jenny

 

[El Cascayal]

Hi @El Cascayal - Spot goes anywhere that has a wide enough path for him. In places where the path is large boulders - eg some of those really rough Roman roads on the Sanabres - I’ve had to unload the cart and take the empty trailer over those large boulders, go back and collect the contents, then repack where the path is easier to navigate through. Not a problem - it never takes long.

Descents aren’t a problem either - for gentle descents my hands act as brakes as I lay my palms flat against the front of the handgrip and for steep descents I unhook myself from the waist belt and wheel the trailer in front of me supermarket trolley style in a zig zag pattern until I reach flat ground. For descents I always put my hiking poles under the bungee cords which keep the plastic cover and my umbrella secure.

For steep ascents, where there’s some “drag” I use my poles to get myself up the ascent. I take it slowly and it’s fine.

Here’s a close up of Spot last year on the VDLP - it was Banana Break time!

View attachment 139908

I’ve walked around 2,800kms with Spot since 2017. Walking with him is an absolute dream and certainly on the flat ground I’m hardly aware of him behind me - he pootles along happily. I have more energy as I don’t have a heavy weight on my back and I can easily take a lot of water as everything is stored in the cart.

As you saw in the photo with the tank, I do have a cross body bag and a very lightweight daypack that’s on my person - these contain my valuables, including an iPad mini. I never let these items leave me.

I’ve had fantastic experiences with Spot in tow, and at least one offer from another pilgrim to go into business with his creator! I have tons and tons of happy memories of caminos with Spot and will always feel very grateful to the friend who created him.

Cheers from Oz -
Jenny

Wow! How interesting! Thanks, Jenny.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I have tons and tons of happy memories of caminos with Spot and will always feel very grateful to the friend who created him.

Jenny, sounds like Spot has been a winner for you! Is your friend who built the trolley @david from the forum?

 

[jeanineonthecamino]

Mine was an early, foggy morning on the Frances. The sun was still rising. Don't remember exactly where I was - but I think after the Meseta somewhere. No one else walking yet - at least - not near me. And I see in front of me, a man wandering/meandering with an axe! Of course - that put me on high alert - but at the same time, other than the fact that the was an axe in his hand and he seemed really out of place - I didn't feel unsafe at all. Cautious - yes - but he didn't bother me and I didn't bother him lol. I think he even took some steps away from the path before I passed him. He didn't seem to be watching me or anything - just meandering.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

What is the strangest thing you saw on your Camino?
For me, it was probably the pilgrim I saw walking with a live chicken in his backpack.
What about you?
Just curious.

Much better to have a live chicken in your pack than a dead one. ufff!

 

[bubba]

Not particularly strange but amusing.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I can think of two strange sights.

1) The modernist garden in Ages on the CF.



2) The zombie killer and the monks in Burgos.
Click the picture to read the detailed comments in the forum's media gallery.

View media item 4522

 

[Rebekah Scott]

The weirdest thing I've seen is passing through the cherry orchards in the Bierzo in the long shadows of a breezy evening. Someone wanted to keep the birds away from the trees, so they hung stuffed animals and baby dolls from the branches. By their necks. With rope.

 

[Bradypus]

Someone wanted to keep the birds away from the trees, so they hung stuffed animals and baby dolls from the branches. By their necks. With rope.

Might deter a few light-fingered pilgrims too!

 

[JennyH94]

Jenny, sounds like Spot has been a winner for you! Is your friend who built the trolley @david from the forum?

Yes, Chrissy - he is. I will always be so grateful to him as, in creating Spot, he gave me back my pilgrim life, after a fall from my mountain bike resulting in a pinned and plated collarbone prevented me from carrying a heavy pack.

Camino hugs - Jenny

 

[Peregrinopaul]

At first, I thought he was on a motorcycle.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Mine was an early, foggy morning on the Frances. The sun was still rising. Don't remember exactly where I was - but I think after the Meseta somewhere. No one else walking yet - at least - not near me. And I see in front of me, a man wandering/meandering with an axe! Of course - that put me on high alert - but at the same time, other than the fact that the was an axe in his hand and he seemed really out of place - I didn't feel unsafe at all. Cautious - yes - but he didn't bother me and I didn't bother him lol. I think he even took some steps away from the path before I passed him. He didn't seem to be watching me or anything - just meandering.

His name is Fran. He carries his hatchet, or sometimes a pocket knife or a ball of string, which he likes to show to random people. (He wanders around picking up firewood, and binds it together to burn in the winter stove.) When he's in a raucous mood he sings Spanish pop hits from the 1960s. He can be scary, but he is harmless. Sometimes pilgrims complain, but they are passing by, and this is his home.

 

[Goran]

Scary doll on VDLP.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Scary doll on VDLP.

I think it's a cute doll; must be a girl with that pink hat and white ruffled collar...but she does have big feet.😅

 

[Colette Z]

What is the strangest thing you saw on your Camino?
For me, it was probably the pilgrim I saw walking with a live chicken in his backpack.
What about you?
Just curious.

Thanks for the fun post, worth a good laugh remembering many of these strange appearances.

 

[Grateful Gert]

A pile of Bones of deceased. On the Frances fall of 2022. Stayed in an albergue connected to a church. The church needed drain tiles (piping to draw away water from the base). They had dug up around the base of the church disturbing many Graves and piled the bones in a heap in one spot in the graveyard.

 

[eeddowes]

Not strange (in Spain), but a rather delightful scene on the VDLP.
I can hear their mothers' voices : "You want to do THAT? Fine. But I'm not cleaning up after you.

 

[Goyo]

Not the only dino, remarkably. There is another on the Camino Inglés. Though to the best of my knowledge the only verifiable remains of the beasts (namely their footprints) is in the area of Burgos and up on the Norte in Asturias (if I remember correctly).

I would put one in my yard too if I had the space, neighbors would love it!

 

[Goyo]

Probably keep the neighbors’ pets at bay, too…

 

[jeanineonthecamino]

His name is Fran. He carries his hatchet, or sometimes a pocket knife or a ball of string, which he likes to show to random people. (He wanders around picking up firewood, and binds it together to burn in the winter stove.) When he's in a raucous mood he sings Spanish pop hits from the 1960s. He can be scary, but he is harmless. Sometimes pilgrims complain, but they are passing by, and this is his home.

Thanks for the background! I definitely found it odd - but like I said - he didn't do anything to scare me so I can believe what you say - that he is harmless. I could tell he was most likely local. Can you refresh my memory - what town was that? This is actually one of my best memories - I felt so safe on the Camino that I didn't let seeing him freak me out or anything - I just watched him enough to know my surroundings and kept on walking.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Thanks for the background! I definitely found it odd - but like I said - he didn't do anything to scare me so I can believe what you say - that he is harmless. I could tell he was most likely local. Can you refresh my memory - what town was that? This is actually one of my best memories - I felt so safe on the Camino that I didn't let seeing him freak me out or anything - I just watched him enough to know my surroundings and kept on walking.

If it was Fran, it was Moratinos. But there are Frans in towns all around the Ways.

 

[Theatregal]

If it was Fran, it was Moratinos. But there are Frans in towns all around the Ways.

I (and my 3 companions) met Fran in Moratinos in September 2012! He did indeed show us his string. When I read your post, I had a sudden memory and checked my journal from that day - there he was. Nice to know his name now.

 

[jblaskovits]

What is the strangest thing you saw on your Camino?
For me, it was probably the pilgrim I saw walking with a live chicken in his backpack.
What about you?
Just curious.

I wonder if it was an emotional support animal or dinner!

 

[Jennifer1959]

I saw this woman walking her friend in the parking lot outside the supermarket in Santo Domingo de la Calzada (Camino Frances) in April, 2019. I wasn't sure if I was getting a preview of the next day's butcher's special.
View attachment 139817

I saw them too! Same woman, same pig!!!

 

[Jennifer1959]

I saw them too! Same woman, same pig!!!

 

[dick bird]

View attachment 139772

I'll raise you. First is just south of Cuenca, they actually found dinosaur fossils near there. Second is on the Inglés, next to the flying tractor.

 

[dick bird]

Yes, the ladies'dresses are made of plastic bottles. Possibly a message about recycling or possibly just whimsy. On the Lana this year.

 

[VNwalking]

Second is on the Inglés, next to the flying tractor.

That's the 3rd time that sneaky dino on the Ingles has managed to slip in here. I guess he wins. 🤣

 

[Theatregal]

The strangest ( and creepiest) thing I've seen was along a dirt road before Apúlia on the Camino Portuguese Coastal. Shoes, mostly single - some arranged on the side of road like they were out for a walk, some partially buried in the bank on either side of the road, some directly on the road squished by car tires. It was unsettling walking through there!

 

[susanawee]

Yes, Chrissy - he is. I will always be so grateful to him as, in creating Spot, he gave me back my pilgrim life, after a fall from my mountain bike resulting in a pinned and plated collarbone prevented me from carrying a heavy pack.

Camino hugs - Jenny

Love the look of you 'spot' Jenny. I can see what a wonderful contraption it is and how very useful for folk who can longer carry a pack. I need something so of like but, has to be able to be pushed rather than pulled. Hmm...will ask my very invevtive son and see what he comes up with. Hugs.

 

[JennyH94]

Love the look of you 'spot' Jenny. I can see what a wonderful contraption it is and how very useful for folk who can longer carry a pack. I need something so of like but, has to be able to be pushed rather than pulled. Hmm...will ask my very invevtive son and see what he comes up with. Hugs.

Hi dear peregrina Sue -

Ask your son to look at converting a collapsible golf cart, or even see if it would work as is. You may not get the support you need as you push but it’s worth a look. A walker might work too and, with a bit of jiggling, you have its seat to take a break on when you need to. Getting the walker to your starting point wouldn’t be a problem as, as you know, walkers are used worldwide and are the most wonderful mobility aid. The collapsible golf cart might even come with its own duffel bag which you could send to Ivar for storage with your non-camino things.

Camino hugs from Sydney -
Jenny

 

[jeanineonthecamino]

If it was Fran, it was Moratinos. But there are Frans in towns all around the Ways.

Thanks! Yes - it was a good memory and just trying to remember where he was. I was telling my husband about it the other day again.

 

[MichaelC]

In France I was having a coffee and a young guy walked by in complete pilgrim gear, like he had modeled himself after a medieval engraving - the hat, the robe, the staff, etc. The odd thing was that he wasn't dusty or sweaty at all, and it was a very hot day. Then more young people followed. One girl looked like she was ready for Ibiza. A guy looked like he just stepped off a yacht. There was a hippie chick, a club kid, and one dude who looked like he was meant to be at a Grateful Dead concert. And they were all perfect, and all a bit too much ... as if they were dressed by a costume designer to represent a type.

They walked around the square, then got in a van and drove off. There were no cameras, but I'm convinced they must have been part of a reality tv show. That, or they were social-media influencers on a van tour of the Chemin de Puy.

 

[trecile]

In France I was having a coffee and a young guy walked by in complete pilgrim gear, like he had modeled himself after a medieval engraving - the hat, the robe, the staff, etc. The odd thing was that he wasn't dusty or sweaty at all, and it was a very hot day

I met a guy who was dressed in all white on the Camino, and he didn't seem to get dusty or dirty either.

 

[HeidiL]

For me, the strangest thing was the Nazarenos at Easter - the very first time, when I hadn't heard of them before.