[Gocamino] - Ultreya rental cell phones

Wed Aug 4 11:32:30 PDT 2010

Totally agree with Wilna.  Cell phones on the Camino are ANNOYING and unnecessary.  How did pilgrims manage so well for centuries of traveling without them?  Now they are considered by some as "indispensable" appendages everywhere you go, not just the Camino.  The excuses that people make to justify carrying them and using them are ridiculous. 

They destroy the tranquility of the outdoors and are invariably intrusions indoors.  The argument that they are needed for "emergencies" is a stretch.  Also, if you are so concerned about keeping in touch with loved ones back home, you can use the internet, as Wilna suggests, or write postcards.  That assumes that you can still remember what postcards look like and you know how to write. I'm sure nothing will deter those of you who love to blather on your "cell" everywhere you go.

Howard Mendes, NYC

-----Original Message-----
From: Wilna Wilkinson <twoxscotch at gmail.com>
To: GASpangler at hotmail.com
Cc: †GoCamino OakApple <gocamino at oakapple.net>; †Yahoo Ultreya <ultreya at yahoogroups.com>; †Yahoo Saint James <saintjames at yahoogroups.com>; †Yahoo Santiagobis <santiagobis at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wed, Aug 4, 2010 12:28 pm
Subject: Re: [Gocamino] - Ultreya rental cell phones

Better still, my fellow-pilgrims -- leave the phone at home and avail
yourselves of the internet if and when the need arises to let people know
you are still fine and find out if all is well with those you left behind --
and to get those flights. Think about what you are bringing with you on the
Camino by bringing your mobile phone. If you are just walking for fun, by
all means -- bring your phones and ipods and why not bring your entire
'filofax' as well, but if you want to be able to live in the moment and
experience the magic and the wonder of the pilgrimage, leave everything
behind that will not enhance your experience.

Wilna Wilkinson

On 4 August 2010 18:02, Grant Spangler <gaspangler at hotmail.com> wrote:

>
> Bob,
>
> I Strongly advise against using PlanetFone as a carrier. My Winter Camino
> companion used them on her previous Way, ending with > $1000 phone bill when
> she got home. It is a UK phone number, a +44 Country Code, which means you
> will always be in roaming, and paying a ridiculous dividend in Spain and
> France. I took an unlocked iPhone this winter, and it was too much hassle
> for the system. I do recommend getting an unlocked GSM phone in the USA,
> getting all your ducks in a row in the comfort of your home, then making
> passage. Buying too cheap of an unlocked phone is not a good idea. Some of
> the cheapos you find on eBay are a dual band phone, you need a quad band for
> it to work outside of North America. I recommend a Nokia 5230 straight from
> the Nokia USA Website, see
> http://www.nokiausa.com/find-products/phones/nokia-5230 . There is a 15%
> summer discount, you can fill in ' ffsummer2010 ' in the appropriate box.
> One of the better features is the Assisted GPS and built-in world wide
> walking/driving maps. I'm ordering one, and will let you know how it works
> out. I'd research and load any detailed maps before leaving home, so you
> should have close to a zero data demand once you are on the French or
> Spanish system. It also has Skype as an available download, which we relied
> upon heavily last Camino. Skype needs to access a Wi-Fi network, but you
> will find these in bars and restaurants along the Way. Two cents a minute to
> call home is not a bad deal. We ended up calling US 1 800 numbers and camped
> out for hours arranging return flights, where it proved an absolute Godsend.
> Also free.
>
> Buen Camino,
>
>
> Grant
>
> http://www.ElCaminoSantiago.com
> Resources for the Pilgrimage Road to Santiago
>
>
>
>
>
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>

-- 
Wilna Wilkinson SC, FITC
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France
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