jdickson
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Francis 2014, Camino Portugues 2016
I just completed the El Camino in October. It was wonderful and beautiful and difficult. At the time I thought how can anyone want to do this several times. Now that I am home and reflecting, I would go back and walk again without question. I loved every minute of it. I have one issue though that nags at me still and was with me almost the entire walk from SJPP...the trash. I was saddened and disgusted by all the trash, bottles, toilet paper, human waste and garbage left by pilgrims along the entire way. I was also saddened by the graffitti on the El Camino posts and signs. It seemed such an insult to everyone, but especially the people of Spain who were so welcoming and kind and helpful along the way. How could people be so inconsiderate and thoughtless in such a beautiful country. We picked up what trash we could and certainly didn't contribute, but there was little we could do as we walked. What right do we as pilgrims have to deface the "way," trash the environment, and insult the hosts of such a historic and sacred path. Frankly, in many areas, the signs were not necessarry, one just needed to follow the trash. The entire walk I told myself I would comment on this when I got home so that, hopefully, others will not contribute to it as they walk in the future.