Xacobeo and Football and pilgrims of a lesser kind

[R. James Disharoon, CDP]

Pieter,

Although I agree with the thrust of your comments, I would think that
you have restricted your definitions too narrowly. I just did part of
the Camino without staying in a single refugio (probably my loss).
Because my wife was along as a tourist, we stayed every night in one of
the nicer hotels in town. Furthermore, the 7 - 8:00 breakfast crowd
every morning were nearly all hikers/pilgrims. I know I saw a dozen of
the same folks every morning with their backpacks ready to hit the road
after spending the night in an upscale  hotel. In some cases, I think
the hotel emptied out with the backpackers. It was not a minimum budget
crowd. Additionally, we ate out every evening (with many other pilgrims)
and I know I was dropping five to ten euros a day along the trail for
tonicas/coffee, etc.

For me, this was a "trip of a lifetime," a long term dream. We spent a
great deal more than we would have spent at home for the same period of
time. I know there is the stereotype of the pilgrim who has taken a vow
of poverty and is nearly penniless (he has my admiration - I spent some
time walking with such a fellow). But I don't think the other pilgrims
can be ignored when considering the economic impact of the Road. Most of
those hiking along the road seem to be "well-heeled" and spending money
along the way. Seventy percent of the pilgrims are Spanish. I would
assume that they are buying their gear in Spain unless they are using
the internet. Most of the hikers that I observed were using
state-of-the-art (or close to it) equipment. Even with this discussion
group, we routinely talk about $200 rucksacks and $150 hiking boots.
None of us (that I am aware of) plan on doing the Camino with a burlap
bag tied to our staff for our stuff wearing flip-flops. Having a
religious motivation to do a pilgrimage hasn't generally required
assuming poverty for the duration.

Now that is not to say that I would also be concerned about the
commercialization of the Camino. Although it would be impossible to
identify a religious pilgrim from a recreational hiker, in my
conversations along the road in September, it would appear that
recreational hikers far outweighed the religious pilgrim in spite of
what the statistics state of those requesting compostelas.

Along the same vein, we also saw a dozen or so equestrians on the road.
My wife was intrigued by the idea. Any idea what is involved in doing
the Camino on horseback? I would assume that it is not a low budget item
either.

James


-----Original Message-----
From: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage [mailto:GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU] On
Behalf Of pieter pannevis
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 3:15 AM
To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
Subject: Re: Xacobeo and Football and pilgrims of a lesser kind


Dear Rosina, good friend
And all,

Not so long ago you gave us some insight in the new "rules" to be
applied to
in and around the church of Santiago.
I shared these thoughts with some friends on another list and
unfortunately
we came to the conclusion that despite the fact pilgrims (the race this
lists and other lists are made off) there seems to be a
commercialization of
the Camino - and it will of course survive that as it survived for 1300
years - , but it is not in the interest of pilgrims.

The only thing it seems today pilgrims are good for - is to uphold (and
that's a worthy course and do not let you frighten away for not doing
it)
the pilgrimage and all things around it.

Let's be fair. Pilgrims - as we are foot pilgrims (or by bike or horse)
do
not burden the till with so much money. We're a simple kind and even if
we
spent more at home than on the Camino, this scaled material life does
very
much good to us. To me the sharing and the comradeship do count to that
too.

But let's not forget that apart from the pilgrims that "make" (in more
than
one sense) the Camino there are thousands and thousands coming with
buses
every year to see us (geeh a real pilgrim!) and to visit the shrine. Do
you
really think we pilgrims stay in the grand hotels; it's for the
tourist's
and; the main industry on Santiago is called: tourism (not pilgrimages)

If there was no money in it; the add along the football field (I've seen
it
earlier) has to be paid for and when someone pays, that one expects
revenues
and so does the local authority of Galicia does.

Pilgrims don't bring in that money!

The extension of the Monte Gozo thing in essence and appearance ( the
person
who thought that up might do in the life her after some hard footwork on
pilgrimages me thinks) is only proof that pilgrims are good for the
idea,
but have to be stowed away as soon as possible  from the crowds in
Santiago.

So there is some circumstantial evidence that we pilgrims are not that
welcome and that money is beginning to rule in these days.

Not the Camino itself as it will survive

Good friend, with that I rest my case

Greetings to you also from Don Trigo

Pieter- the Netherlands



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