[Gocamino] Yellow Arrow "Dumped"

[Blaroli@aol.com]

Hi Patricia,

Its written somewhere in the Gospels that  "many are called, but few are 
chosen". The same thing goes, I think, for pilgrims.
Many  have taken advantage of the Camino and its pilgrim-meant benefits for 
hundreds of years. In the middle ages there were caravans of prostitutes, 
robbers and con-men pretending to be pilgrims all over the Camino.  The Camino in 
some places was such a cover for robbers, and even murderers, that in some 
duchies  that the death penalty was decreed in some cases for fake pilgrims.
 
There is a fascinating book called "Picardias del Camino"  (Shenanigans in 
the Camino) that chronicles  the  frequent miscreants i n the Camino way back 
when.
If anything, it appears that the abuses are far, far less now than they used 
to be.

The computerized net of communications that it is being established 
throughout the albergues in the Camino Frances (which is where most of the abuses seem 
to occur), is meant to help albergues to be aware of pretend-pilgrims looking 
for a free bed and such..

I, for one, do not share your pessimism in  the least.  Many, many members of 
 The Camino Friends Associations from Andalucia are investing their vacation 
time, their labor and even their money building albergues and rest-stations 
for pilgrims all over the Via de la Plata. Similar efforts are being made in 
both the Primitive Way and the Northern Way. But these routes are not as well 
populated  nor as abundant in conveniences as the French Route.  It would appear 
that if one wants the "comforts", so to speak  of the French Route, one must 
put up with the unworthy types that such ease attracts.

Because the French Way has become familiar through the myriad of books, 
tapes, DVDs, etc., about it, it is, by far, the chosen route by most.  I would 
advise prospective pilgrims to try the other routes, even if they have to "rough 
it" a little.  They will find them incredibly rewarding, even if the stages 
between albergues are longer and most  albergues are quite Spartan, to say the 
least.   (Pope John XXIII walked the Northern Route, as did  Pope John Paul II 
when he  was a young priest). 

Both Popes were avid followers of soccer, as most of the world peoples are.  
The World Cup seems to be the only human endeavor where, literally, all men 
are equal to prove themselves.  Perhaps it will interest you to know that the 
Brasilian Camino list-serv  informs than tens of thousands of Brasilians have 
promised the Apostle Santiago to walk the Camino if their country's team wins 
the World Cup. You might remember that Ronaldinho did so two years ago.

Big Hug

Rosina