[Gocamino] 2006 stats

[blaroli at aol.com]

Hello you all,
For those of you who have asked:  The pilgrims' office does not, and cannot, provide satistical information directly to whose who may ask for it. However, if you are an active member of the Archicofradia and do pieces of work for them, its Sociology Department may give you the information in advance of its publication  in the Archocofradia' quaterly magazine "Compostela".  The year-end edition being readied now contains every bit of information that I got and then some. 
I do not know why the official site of the Archdiocese has ceased to make the figures available on their website. I suspect that this is owing to the huge cuts in subsidies to religious organizations that the new Zapatero Socialist government in Spain has put into effect.  I do know that the pilgrims' office is terribly shorthanded and pretty much dependent on volunteers.
Here in Austria, believe it or not, the citizens pay a church tax!. About 80% of Austrians are Roman Catholic and the rest are Lutherans and they do not seem to mind paying the tax which has been periodically put to a referendum. This tax ,(unthinkable in the U.S.), probably accounts for the fantastic shape of the churches, monasteries, etc., in this country, and the fabulous services that they provide to Camino pilgrims.
 Furthermore, giant successful companies like Swaroski turn over a percentage of their profits to monasteries, etc..
In Spain, however, religion-related organizations, like the Pilgrim's office, are having a pretty hard time.
The, very aptly called, "golden-hearted Vienese" appear to have an easy going and affectionate relationship with their churches, which probably accounts for their remarkable attachment to the Camino.
At present, there is an exhibition (with music, natch!) of Camino photographs and paintings. It is amazing to me how differently we see the same things. Fortunately, there is a book of the exhibition and after I get home  (Bah, humbug!) to New York next Sunday I'll see how I can send copies of the most interesting works to our techie guru, Dave, for possible posting here.
They have also published, among many others, an absolutely delightful Camino book called "Im Zeichen der Muschel . Geschenkbuch zum Jakobsweg" (In th sigtn of the shell. The gift of the Camino). The book has a cut through the pages in the shape of a shell and a  bronze shell inside the cut out!. While it is, of course, in German, it does have a lot of beautiful, and different illustrations.
 
I'll send the rest of the information about 2006 pilgrims that you have asked for before I leave.
 
Big hug! 
 
Rosina