safety et al

[Eyskens]

I read two books (among others) before I went off to the Camino-maybe
one of them is the one you read-'The Art of Pilgrimage' by Phil
Cousineau and 'Pilgrimage Adventures of the Spirit' edited by Sean
O'Reilly and James O'Reilly.  Both were excellent, but I agree that one
can 'over read' the Camino.  My experiences were nothing like what I had
read.

Jim Eyskens

-----Original Message-----
From: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage [mailto:GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU] On
Behalf Of ecaldwellabcanet.org
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 1:08 AM
To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
Subject: Re: safety et al


I agree that I felt very safe on the camino, as did many others.  But
one just needs to be smart, as James states.  As someone who travels a
lot, take it from me it is always smart to have someone at home have a
copy of your passport in case it is lost or stolen, and copy any other
information to help get you back on the road again.  I've even had photo
copies of my tickets back home.  It all deepends, one just has to be
smart.  I know of two attempted robberies, I think it's just reality...
you never know what can happen...and robberies happen everywhere.
Though again, I agree it is probably one of the safest places I know
of...

As for the foreign language thing...occasionally I forget about the
'reply' on the listserv really means 'reply all'.  I didn't want to fall
into the non-related-camino e-mails.  I will be more careful next time.

As for another book:
Pilgrims Stories, A Road to Santiago
I think that is the name of it.  I have looked everywhere in my house
for it, and can't find it to get the correct title.  After reading the
book I was very excited about el camino.  However, I think reading too
much can also be a hinder.  People will experience what the are going to
experience. And if you read too much, in my opinion, it can make you
expect things that aren't there, and put you in a different mind set.
It's hard to explain, I hope you understand.

Peace and buen camino,
Emily

Original Message:
-----------------
From: James R Eyskens jeyskensaAUSTIN.RR.COM
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2003 18:43:08 -0400
To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
Subject: safety et al


I think the Camino is overall the safest 500 or so miles anywhere in the
world, but that doesn't preclude you from taking basic precautions.  I
met an Australian in a plaza in Pamplona, who had had his passport and
credit cards taken from his rucksack.  When we talked firther, it seems
the fellow had dropped his pack by the plaza fountain and then wandered
off to find a beer or whatever.  His pack wasn't within his line of
sight.  What surprised me was that the thief left anything behind!

Both as a pilgrim and a Hospitalero, I noticed that pilgrims were
incredibly careless with their belongings, leaving rucksacks all over,
butt packs with credit cards and passports on tables in cafes and going
to the bathroom, or just going off to talk to friends.  I think the fact
that there is such little thievery speaks volumes aboutt the honesty of
the pilgrims and the citizens living along the camino.  I heard stories
in 2001 and again in 2002 of a lone woman walker being raped, but never
heard any verifying details.  I don't know if this a 'Camino rumor' or
truth.  The incident happened at Burgos, at Leon, at Hospital de Obrigo,
depending on the teller.

As far as the subject of whether or not Americans are, or should be
multi lingual seems to be a bit far off the subject, as was the spate of
criminal justice comments a few days back.  But if this happens to be
the topic of the day, so be it.

Jim Eyskens

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