[Gocamino] Canonization of martyrs

Tue Oct 16 21:16:53 PDT 2007

 Patricia,
An interesting observation about dental health in Spain.? Unfortunately, I think it is true for most of Europe that lots of folks suffer from poor dental hygiene.? What I have seen in France, Italy, Britain and Belgium is just as bad as what I've seen in Spain.? I have looked into research that indicates lots of bodily sickness can stem from poor dental health including heart disease, kidney disease and a host of other maladies.? 

Now about coverage for dental care.? The Spaniards have some co-pays for dental care, but it is still very inexpensive compared to her in the US.? I experienced a bad fall while running across a street in Madrid.? I stumbled and couldn't "catch" myself and landed face first into the street.?  I broke off one of my front teeth.? Some kind soul drive me to an emergency room, tooth in hand, where a doc examined my mouth, knee and chin, as all were injured in my stupid fall.? He concluded that nothing was broken, so he send me off in a taxi to a 24/7 dental office in another part of Madrid.? This was about 9 p.m. on a Friday night, mind you.? When I got there, X-rays were taken the dentist examined me and did repairs right then and there.? My own dentist saw me two months later and thought that the work was of good quality.? I was given two prescriptions for medicine by the Spanish dentist, one to alleviate swelling and the other was an antibiotic.? He was thorough, office was very clean and they were using all precautions against contamination (I am a nurse practitioner here in California) and put me at ease.? Really a very nice guy!? Total cost for the everything was 62 Euros. I was totally finished by 10:30 p.m.? Now you know the cost would have been hundreds here in the states and at that time of day and on a Friday night no less, the wait would have been hours and hours.? The office gal did ask for European "papers" as did the pharmacist next door.? So I know it would have been much cheaper for them.? Also a minimum of forms to fill out.? He basically asked about allergies and my health history while he had me in the chair.? This is what happens when there are fewer people apt to sue health care workers and lawyers less likely to be in the position of chasing ambulances.? 
Well, 'nuff said, but I thought that I would share my story.? 
-Joanie
2006 Pilgrim

-----Original Message-----
From: Hathor821 at aol.com
To: GOCAMINO at oakapple.net
Sent: Tue, 16 Oct 2007 8:02 pm
Subject: [Gocamino] Canonization of martyrs

Hmmmmmmmmmmm....interesting topic.

Would  I be canonized by the Vatican if I die in a  fight defending my mouth 
from being kissed while doing my Camino?

I am not attacking any particular race of nationality here but it was  
evident to me that dental daily maintenance is still a foreign concept to many,  
in 
Spain.  I have more patience understanding and accepting this in the old  but 
I don't have the same feelings of tolerance for the youth.   Granted, the 
majority of all of them smoke, but come on......is the twice daily  brushing of 
the teeth for many a weekend event in Spain?  The only well  kept mouths I saw 
during my Camino were in TV....when I had the opportunity, by  sheer chance, to 
be watching TV; I am sure the well to do have beautiful mouths,  too.

A well versed Spaniard who walked with us....(he is the pilgrim who smokes)  
told me that although with all the advances in Social Medicine in Spain, 
dental  services are not covered by the National Insurance but that if you 
happen 
to  wish to have a sex change operation and you happen to be a resident of the  
Southern Provinces, the Health Department of the region pays for the sex 
change  operation and all the stuff that needs to happen  before and after the  
surgery....hormones, mental therapy and so forth.

 I think that Spain, a country I love to visit, has skipped a  few centuries  
from the XVII Century to today.  When it comes to  electricity and plumbing, 
my beloved Spaniards have really gotten very  confused!! and no better place 
to see this disparity than in the albergues and  pensions.

My Camino friend from Austin (she is a dentist)  run out of  Dental Floss and 
later commented to me that it was difficult to find  it and  that when she 
did, it was very expensive.  Her own survey  of the usage of dental floss 
resulted, I think, that l00% of those asked had  never used it.

And....while in Alicante observing the crowds that got in the bus and  
observing their teeth, I thought....''If I have to be in a position where I have  

the choice to be raped or to be kissed, I would opt for the rape rather than the 

 kiss'' ---plllllllllllllls it is joke!  

Patricia de Miami

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