[Gocamino] Jaca meeting

[blaroli at aol.com]

Hello you all,

The European Xacobean Forum, consisting principally of Associations of Camino Friends and Saint James Confraternities, including the Archconfraternity, has been meeting in lovely Jaca over the weekend.  The foci of the discussions have been the problems presented by the unexpected surge in the number of pilgrims this year and preparations for the very large numbers expected in the next Xacobean year, 2010.

Speaking for the Galician Xunta Ruben Lois Gonzalez informed that the Xunta is preparing new norms, time tables and directives for 2010. He explained that in order to preserve and protect the Xacobean monuments norms must be established such as have been put in place in the Alhambra.

Until 2 years ago entrance to the Alhambra was free on a first-come first served basis. The place was terribly crowded, it was impossible to move around, and the people who guard it were unable to forestall the damage brought about by some of the visitors (the Generalife gardens, for instance, were raided for plants, flowers, souvenirs, etc. graffiti were written on the walls and empty bottles and sandwich wrappers were thrown all over the place).  Two years ago the municipality of Granada imposed an entry fee (10 Euros) and established a timetable for a given number of visitors at a time.  Today one must make a reservation for one of the time slots, and sometimes it takes days to get one.  But I will be the first to admit that visiting the Alhambra lately is a sheer pleasure in almost any way, and that its guarding it from vandals and souvenir-seekers is quite effective.

The entrance fee is waived or significantly reduced for students, seniors, and Granada residents who value the Alhambra as their cultural treasure.

Whereas the Santiago Archdiocese will not permit fees to be charged to enter the Cathedral, or any other church within the Archdiocese jurisdiction, it is quite probable that the number of visitors will be time-regulated.

The Xunta’s spokesman also spoke of a need to regulate the reception and care of bona fide pilgrims in the albergues and other sites meant to receive them and to insure their safety and attention to their needs. 

Speakers from Andalucia and Catalonia reiterated the importance of the Mediterranean Sea to the Xacobean tradition; Juan Ramos Plaza spoke about the impressive work done by Andalucian Confraternities’ volunteers to better the facilities for pilgrims in the Via de la Plata adding that in addition to the (superb!) Via de la Plata guide prepared by the Friends’ Associations, a new guide will be published covering the Camino from Cadiz to Seville, over the ancient Roman roads, thereby linking the Mediterranean to the Camino.

Representatives from Valencia and Barcelona Confraternities also spoke of the heretofore unemphasized ancient significance of the Mediterranean in Xacobean history. 

 

Hugs!

 

Rosina  

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