Camino in July - Is it too crowded? YES

[Rosina Lila]

Hello you all,
Fernando Imoz Marroquin, president of the Spanish Federation of the Friends
of Santiago Associations, reported at the Federation's meeting that 270,000
pilgrims made use in 2002 of the 150 albergues sponsored by the network of
Government and Religious organizations dedicated to this purpose, including the
Xunta de Galicia.  He added that this figure does not include those pilgrims that
used albergues sponsored privately or those who went to hostels and the like.
Sr. Imoz Marroquin stated that the number of pilgrims is expected to double
in 2004, and that preparations should begin in haste for assistance to those
enlarged numbers.  He mentioned that large tent camps (such as the one in
Roncesvalles during July and August) with the necessary facilities need to be
readied by March, 2004, at the latest.
In this respect, the "OPaxonal" park was inaugurated yesterday in Santiago.
This new park, which covers 150,000 square meters, is the largest in Santiago
and may be used for the tent camps if necessary.
As mentioned earlier, the renovations of the Santiago crypt in the Cathedral
have been completed and the crypt is now open to visitors.  The old marble
steps which had become dangerously slanted have been replaced with safe and
secure concrete blocks.  Sadly, although an effort had been made to preserve the
old steps which had been descended and ascended by millions of pilgrims, the
marble broke when removed and the steps could not be preserved.  Another
innovation in the crypt is the new look brought about by the changes made to the tombs
of Santiago's disciples Atanasio and Teodoro.  Their graves had been
heretofore enclosed in wood and cloth and are now protrected by  an encasement of
bronze and crystal.
Sr. Imoz Marroquin also reported that the darkening of the Portico de Gloria
marbles now reaches upward of 2.2 meters, owing to the touching of it by
thousands and thousands of hands;  he added that the Archdiocese and the Xunta,
with the assistance of scientists and artists, are studying the best way to
protect it (and put the statue of Maestro Mateo beyond  butting foreheads). So far
it seems that the most feasible protection would be to put copper or bronze
sheeting around it, as it has been done in other popular religious monuments in
Spanish churches.
It was also stated that the Santiago Archbishop has announced the
Archdiocese's intentions to  highlight  Latin America as much as possible in the
celebrations of the first Holy Jacobean year in the third milenium.
Lastly, it was noted that by the end of March, this year, 6,700 pilgrims had
stayed at the 150 publicly sponsored albergues.
Regards,
Rosina