Pilgrim numbers (was: Michener)

[Howard Murphy]

In a message dated 03/12/01 20:50:02 GMT Standard Time, macsquartaYAHOO.COM
writes:

>  I remember reading about how the Camino basically disappeared for
>  many years as far as use goes.  <<
Hello Mac,
Yes, it did. If you do some research you will soon find places to ask your
questions and find some answers too. Thanks to the Internet there is no lack
of sites covering the full history of the pilgrimage, many university web
sites about Santiago de Compostela are also available.

In 1952 I was given a book about the Santiago Pilgrimages it caught my
interest but no further information was available to me. Over the years I
managed to find two other books, then earlier this year I used a search
engine that turned up site after site.

<< walked it in the seventies and often didn't see people for days. >>
I understand that there are still a number of similar routes today such as
the Northern Route. (See the journal of Kwi Howard in archives)

<<Does anyone know what sparked the growth in the Camino (other than Shirley
> McClain) or is there any other reason?>>
When you look into the reasons you will gain more a more factual answer not
based on any particular author. But before leaving  the above claim re
Shirley Mclain, take note of the writings and followers of the Brazilian
writer Paulo Coelho, the number of Brazilians walking the Camino is very
high.
>
>  But think about this point when you talk about an entire town opening up to
>  facilitate pilgrims...  what were your needs when you walked the Camino and
>  what would their needs be? >>
 Look at the official number of pilgrims over a year and work out how much is
spent
by these same pilgrims as they walk from village to village, town to town.
You ask about needs, the most basic needs are food, water, vino, gifts to
take home
and books, badges, pins as souvenirs
>
  idea of what is to come... imagine how much food you would carry with you.
> Do you think that these people bought food every day?  My guess is that
they
> would  usually buy enough food for several days (and my point also includes
the
> fact  that we consume much more food now >>

I can see that many of your questions do not take into account the often vast
difference in the value of money brought into an area by travellers and those
of the inhabitants with lower incomes. Visit a Third World country today, and
it is so evident in their eyes that any Westerner is a millionaire.

<< and so when you mention that an entire town would begin just to
facilitate the pilgrims means something very big to me.>>>

In what way?
We have seen coal-mining, steel mills, cross-roads on trade routes, oil sites
and how vast towns and city's have arisen to cater for the needs of people,
trade and machines.

I travelled the Camino during a busy September and October and often I
shuddered to think of the numbers of pilgrims walking in the height of the
most popular months.
Kind regards
Howard

Hmcellardykeaaol.com