[Gocamino] - Ultreya rental cell phones

[hme347 at aol.com]

I never advocated going Medieval, but merely voiced my disdain for intrusive, (usually) unnecessary cell phone use.  My comments were directed primarily toward users and those who regard carrying them as an absolute imperative for assurance of a good, safe Camino experience.  


Those who suffer from mild or severe separation anxiety may want them for their mental health.  That's their business, not mine, as long as they do not bother me with their phones ringing during a church service or in the middle of the night.


Your hyperbole is "cute" Grant, but a trifle misdirected, don't you think.  Nice try, though!


Howard


Those who feel doing things the Medeival Way is appropriate 
should do just that. Please wear sandals and a hair shirt, sleep on straw, and 
die before you get home. You will be dead center of the Middle Ages bell curve. 
Voila! Everyone's happy.







-----Original Message-----
From: Grant Spangler <gaspangler at hotmail.com>
To: †Yahoo Ultreya <ultreya at yahoogroups.com>; †GoCamino OakApple <gocamino at oakapple.net>; †Yahoo Santiagobis <santiagobis at yahoogroups.com>; †Yahoo Saint James <saintjames at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thu, Aug 5, 2010 9:42 am
Subject: Re: [Gocamino] - Ultreya rental cell phones



I managed just fine without a any mobile electronics for several Caminos. The 
nature of my profession prompted me to take an unlocked phone and buy a 
pay-as-you-go MoviStar (Telefonica) SIM while in Spain. I France I'd probably 
opt for an Orange (France Telecom) SIM. I'd no sooner get a phone upon arrival 
in France as buying boots, bedroll or backpack just before starting in France. 
Get all your ducks in a row back home, then buy your SIM upon arrival. 

If you have an AT&T (aka Cellular One / SBC) or T-Mobile you probably have a GSM 
phone, but it will be locked to the US system. Taking it to Europe, it will work 
immediately, but at huge operating expense. A Verizon or Sprint/Nextel phone is 
not the GSM technology used in the rest of the world, so they fall silent 
outside North America. If your existing phone is GSM, the SIM can be removed and 
popped into your new unlocked GSM phone procured from the Internet. The SIM can 
be switched back and forth for testing or daily use. Get all your contacts and 
stuff set up, get used to the device before departing. It's like breaking in 
your boots.

There are as many reasons for taking a phone or leaving one behind as there are 
Caminantes. If Bob wants to take a mobile, he gets to. That's the nature of the 
beast. Any philosophical, prejudicial or hysterical commentary is better 
relegated to inner dialog instead of public dissemination. Bob feels a phone 
would be useful, so go for it Bob. They weigh next to nothing and can be of use 
now and again. Those who feel doing things the Medeival Way is appropriate 
should do just that. Please wear sandals and a hair shirt, sleep on straw, and 
die before you get home. You will be dead center of the Middle Ages bell curve. 
Voila! Everyone's happy.

Walking is Spain and walking in France are two completely different situations. 
It's true that in Spain some private Albergues accept phone reservations. In 
France, without a reservation in the next gite, you may well find yourself 
without accommodations. That's just the way it works. Different culture, 
different way of doing things. Walking at 80 is different than walking at 18. 
Walking as a French-challenged foreigner is different than walking as a local. 
Oh, and there's always construction going on. The guides are good, but when you 
get rerouted, it's nice to have the phone's GPS to get you back to the main 
path. I have yet to carry a GPS, but it's an arrow in my quiver.

The very fact that there is such wide participation of such diverse 
personalities from so many countries demonstrates one thing: we are all OCD here 
.. Obsessive Camino Disorder. Everyone's Camino is theirs and theirs alone. You 
can walk 1000 kilometers right next to someone, and you will both have a 
different experience. It's the process. Let Bob choose his path.

Buen Camino,


Grant

http://www.ElCaminoSantiago.com
Resources for the Pilgrimage Road to Santiago



                      
_______________________________________________
Gocamino mailing list
Gocamino at oakapple.net
http://mailman.oakapple.net/mailman/listinfo/gocamino