[Gocamino] News

[blaroli@aol.com]

 Hello you all,
The news from Santiago inform that the Xunta has decided that pilgrims may stay in the Xunta-sponsored albergues for more than one night during the "slow" pilgrimage season: beginning of September 'til the end of Lent the following year.  A decision has also been made to charge 3 Euros per pilgrim per night. Those pilgrims with disabling conditions (severe blisters, ankle injuries, etc.) may stay, within reason, as long as their injuries impede their continuing on their pilgrimage.
 
Also, from January 1, 2006, to October 13, 2006, 93,490 (ninety three thousand four hundred and ninety)  pilgrims had reached Santiago meriting the award of a Compostela.  This is the largest number of Compostela-earning pilgrims for a non-Xacobean Holy Year ever recorded, and, as of today, pilgrims kept arriving and arriving.
 
The refurbishing of albergues for Winter Pilgrims skirting the peaks of O Cebreiro has been completed; pilgrims stopping there may also stay more than one night.
 
There is an impressive increase in the French Camino pilgrims who start out from Somport and take the Aragonese Route to Puente La Reina.  Apparently, the word about the wonders in such route (lovely Jaca, San Juan de la Penha, Leyre, the Pyrenees sea, etc., etc.,), has gotten out, as well as the friendliness of the locals and the non-congested conditions of the lovely, friendly albergues. There are many new albergues there and, I believe, a member of this list, Rebekhah Scott has recently started one in the environs.
 
I am personally aware of the impressive efforts made by the Andalucian Friends of the Camino Associations from Malaga, Granada, Cordoba and Seville to create albergues, and improve signs and facilities, throughout the Via de la plata, and I, for one, am not surprised in the least by the ever growing number of pilgrims on the Via.
 
We all have heard about the horrible and horribly dfestructive floods in Galicia. These were the result of the terrible fires during the Summer which destroyed thousands of acres of trees that used to hold the waters back.  The perpetrators of the arson that commenced the fires are believed to be some (non-Spaniard) contractors and developers who, for years, had been denied permits to build hotels and resorts in the areas where the fires were started.  While it is some consolation to know that the Xunta has stated that no developing permits whatever will be granted, those of us who saw the results of the dastardly arson last summer will find it almost impossible to forgive or have anything but profound disgust and ill-will for the perpetrators.....(Sometimes complying with one's Christian duty to forgive is just much too much to ask).
 
My friend Ester, who owns and runs the lovely hotel "As Artes" half a block from Obradoiro on the extension "travesia" from Azabacherias, tells me that she is already receiving reservatgions for the next Holy year which will be on 2010. This is somewhat understandable since after 2010 there will not be another Holy year for eleven years, that is, until 2021, and, undoubtedly, many of us will not be able to make it then.  Also, the Xunta seems to be going all the way out already making the preparations for 2010; perhaps the enthusiasm is an antidote for the horrors of the fires and the floods.  It sure looks like  2010 is going to be an awesome Holy Year , (and with the next World Cup on the same year I can only hope that our hearts can withstand the double excitement!)  
 
In an unrelated, but nicer, note, our techie guru, dear David, has been kind enough to make some spectacular photos reachable by all of us, and even printable!.  You may see them by going to:
                 http:/humor.oakapple.net/pictures/photoshopping.pps
 
Big hug!
 
Rosina
 
 
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