I just read Karla's blog.... :evil: and I'm sorry guys, but her story doesn't reflect the realities of the camino, but more someone who is ill-prepared to experience anything that isn't HOME!
I get annoyed at English speaking people who get pissed off when they travel to foreign countries and complain that 'no-one spoke English'! Why are some of us English speaking people so arrogant? How hard is it to carry a small phrase book or learn some basic words from the country you are travelling in?
I have traveled widely all over the world.....I've learnt to say hello, thank-you and can smile in at least 10 languages!
Remember, the camino for the most part is in Spain, they speak Spanish there, not English, so why should signs be in both languages or why should the people have to learn English to speak to you?
The camino is for people who for one thing have a sense of adventure......most also want to experience another fellow human being's culture, language, food, customs....and learning those few foreign words, eating those weird and wonderful meals that we don't even know what it is (I'm sure I've eaten bull frog in China and definitely know I ate Cock's combs in France), laughing with the people when they have no idea what you're miming as you don't know the words (I have stood in front of a taxi in China going 'choo, choo' and doing a 'train moving along the tracks' dance to let the driver know we wanted to go to the train station), this is the spirit of adventure!
here ends my tirade, sorry guys
, just pissed off with Karla and her narrow look on the world. I know the rest of you are fabulous, adventurous, wonderful pilgrims, prepared or unprepared as the case may be!
Jane.