[Gocamino] Embarrassment of riches

[Blaroli at aol.com]

Hello you all,
The most prestigious Camino photographic contest is the "Tema Jacobeo" 
(Jacobean Theme) sponsored by the newspaper "El Correo Gallego", the most popular 
and influential in Galicia, and the Galician Association of Friends of the 
Camino.  The judges of the contest finalists were the photography and graphics 
editors of the newspaper  and a writer/artist representing the Association of 
Friends.
The results of the contest have just been announced and the winner is the 
Brasilian pilgrim "Lady Foppa". (This pseudonym may ring a bell since this 
super-talented Brasilian authored the poem "What Now, John?" upon the death of Pope 
John Paul II.  The haunting poem and a translation thereof were posted here 
last April.)
The winning photograph,  referred to in the newspaper as a " photographic 
poem"
shows the Cruz de Ferro  during a storm, at dawn, at the moment that 
lighening illuminated the Cruz from behind.  It is strikingly dramatic. Apparently 
Lady Foppa spent the night on the Bierzo mountain during the storm, gathering 
thoughts for poems,  when she took the picture.
The photograph appears in today's newspaper.  You can see it by going to:

www.elcorreogallego.es/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id21753&
itemid=226

Also, a larger than expected number of pilgrims have been traversing the 
Camino during September, and the overwhelming majority of them have been 
non-Spaniards.  By September 20, the Sarria albergues reported,  2,051 pilgrims had 
gone by,  and about 90% of them were not from Spain.

We are having a gorgeous "Autumn in New York" day, and because next Tuesday 
is the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Italy, the 
Patron Saint of Lawyers, and the Patron Saint of so many other groups, including 
animals, there will be "Blessings of the Animals" all over the City, 
particularly in the yard of the lovely Saint Francis Church on 32nd. street between 6th 
and 7th avenues in Manhattan.  Because my little dog Christopher (aptly named 
after Christopher of "The Sopranos") is in serious need of exorcism...off we 
go.

By the Way, I just learned that both Christopher Columbus and Dante were 
members of the order of Saint Francis. In California both Los Angeles (fully named 
"Nuestra Senhora Maria de los Angeles) and San Francisco are named after the 
Saint.  At the foot of the little mountain where Assisi is located there is a 
gorgeous church called "Santa Maria de Los Angeles" inside of it there are 
both the original small church that Saint Francis and his followers first built 
and the small room wherein Saint Francis died, called the "transit" from life 
to death.  The whole church and the small  original structures are very moving 
and beautiful.  It is a pity that most people who visit Assisi go straight up 
the hill and do not visit the church which is only a couple of blocks from the 
railroad station.  Those who do are enormously impressed.

Big hug to you all!

Rosina