Message about the Botafumeiro
While the Botafumeiro was out of commission, several tourists went to the Cathedral to complain that they had paid travel agencies to see the Botafumeiro and that their money had not been refunded.
The Archdiocese had not know that this sort of thing was happening.
Everytime the botafumeiro goes up it costs the Archdiocese about 240 Euros, and while some religious groups and Camino Associations have contributed to the cost, those travel agencies that were charging hapless tourists have never done so.
Upon investigation, it has turned out that not only travel agencies but even tour guides have charged "extra" when the Botafumeiro goes up.
Because of this, the Cathedral has adopted a new measure by which the Botafumeiro will go up thirty times a year as it has done until now, but there will be a charge any other time.
The spokesman for the Cathedral, Jose Fernandez Lago, commentged that the Cathedral of Santiago, unlike many others, does not charge tourists a visitng fee, despite the enormous expense to maintain it.
The chief of the tiraboleiros, Sr. Armando Raposo, reported that it looks like all the problems with the new rope have been solved.
From Rosina