1993 numbers

[davidson]

I've been thinking about the reason for higher numbers of pilgrims in 1993.
Although I'm not at home and can't access my materials, i'm wondering if i
remember correctly about holy years:
as you know, they occur every 6 -- 5 -- 6 -- 11 years.
if my memory serves, 1965 was a holy year after 11 years' pasing  (Franco's
regime built lots of fountains that we still use as we walk the road)
i also think 1982 was holy year,
which means that 1993 was the first holy year in 11 years.
The European Council made the Pilgrimage Road its first cultural itinerary of
Europe in ca. 1987 -- which also means that 1993 was the first holy year after
such an important and european wide number.

the kilometer stones in Galicia were part of Valin~a Sampedro's efforts to
gain more attention for the pilgrimage. These Galicia markers were already in
place in 1987, but other markings were few and far between in the 1980s, until
the Euopean Union got involved.

I suspect the occurrence of the 1993 holy year after 11 years' passing + the
Euopean Union's work in publicizing the Road had some fair amount to do with
the increased numbers of pilgrims.

linda davidson