Fright

[Andrea Innes-Michailov]

What a nice story.  And no, you could not have done the same in the USA.
First of all it is very unlikely that anyone would have spoken to you let
alone offered to drive you anywhere.  If they did you probably whould have
had to run for your lives!  It seems that fear is such a motivating force in
our lives.  I would like to change that but I am not sure it is ecological
for me.  What does one have to believe/think/feel in order to take the time
out from his plans/schedule to stop and drive a few strangers to a hotel at
2 am?  What is the belief system behind that that we as Americans have lost?

Andrea

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage [mailto:GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU]On
> Behalf Of jim allen
> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 6:50 PM
> To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
> Subject: Re: Fright
>
>
> I can second and third Felipe's message.  My wife and I got lost
> in Pamplona
> late at night (2:00am) walking back to the apartment where we
> were staying.
> It was during the running of the Bulls in July.  A gentleman who
> spoke some
> English offered to drive us to our apartment if we would just
> walk a couple
> of blocks with him and wait for him to get his car from an underground
> garage.  Should we go with this stranger?  We did.  He had to ask
> others for
> directions and eventually found the address a short distance away.  He
> insisted on waiting until we unlocked the door and entered the apartment
> before he would drive away.  I am not sure I would have gone with
> someone in
> the USA under the same circumstances.
> Jim Allen
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Felipe Sanchez" <felipsanaOLYPEN.COM>
> To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 5:27 PM
> Subject: Fright
>
>
> > From: "Andrea Innes-Michailov" <andreaaCORP.IDT.NET>
> >
> >
> > > I can see that El Camino will be chalk full of interesting people and
> > ideas.
> > > I am scared to death but excited too!
> > > Andrea
> >
> > Andrea:  From one hyphened name (Aue-Sanchez) to another please let me
> > assure you that you have no reason to feel the least
> trepidation in regard
> > to spending time on the Camino.  My view of Spain is that they have a
> > society that functions, i.e., works.  You will find the people
> on and off
> > the Camino to be supportive not predatory.  In addition, the number of
> towns
> > and facilities along the C. Frances  is sufficient to aid you in almost
> any
> > contingency.  I really think that you will be very much at home while
> having
> > a distinctly unique and transforming experience.  The next
> paragraph might
> > be of interest to you.
> >
> > The following is an excerpt from a Camino diary by Carl Sesto
> of New York.
> > He is a photographer but has a great ability to describe in interesting
> > detail
> > his "adventures" along the Way of ST. James.  I selected the
> following as
> it
> > reflects my comments on American culture in at least one respect. "The
> > Spanish know how to party. At this hour the paseo is in full swing, with
> > families and young adults mingling with boisterous teens in the streets.
> > With hundreds of people out to enjoy themselves the noise is deafening.
> > Impromptu bands erupt every few minutes adding to the mayhem yet no one
> > seems to become violent and no one is threatened. My impression is that
> this
> > could never happen in America. There appears to be a social code of
> conduct
> > here by which everyone conducts themselves, drunk or sober, and which
> > disallows threatening others or destroying property. In my experience,
> when
> > Americans congregate and drink, they inevitably become rowdy,
> violent, and
> > destructive."
> >
> > I might append another thought or two.  While there last year I was
> > surprised and pleased to see several Spanish men with their young sons.
> And
> > I made the acquaintance of a wonderful woman from Northern Spain who was
> > hiking with her daughter.  Also, may women walked alone.  I even met two
> who
> > were on their way back to Europe proper after having traversed the route
> in
> > the normal direction.  So I advise you to forego fear, embrace
> enthusiasm,
> > feel secure, and you will live in such a way as to etch the Camino time
> into
> > the mnemonic tablets of your mind and heart. Felipe
>