[Gocamino] "The Way" in the air.

Sat Dec 10 14:24:48 PST 2011

What a wonderful story.  I do have to add that two months ago I walked the last part of the Camino .  I live in Virginia and I flew from Miami to Barcelona and my return flight was Barcelona to New York.  Both flights were Iberia , both were cancellled at the last minute at the airport and despite having travel insurance, the airlines was unable to document the cancelled flights and I was unable to collect reimbursement.  I was also issued vouchers from Iberia for my missed connecting flights and the vouchers  proved to be invalid at the counter.    If I had not had a credit card with me I would have had to wire for money.  I encountered huge unexpected costs.   Not to be a downer  because the Camino walk was one of the most completely beautiful experiences I've ever had .  I would just never fly Iberia again.

Randi

-----gocamino-bounces at oakapple.net wrote: -----
To: saintjames at yahoo.com, GoCamino at oakapple.net
From: Rosina 
Sent by: gocamino-bounces at oakapple.net
Date: 12/10/2011 01:22PM
Subject: [Gocamino] "The Way" in the air.

Hello you all,
On my American Airlines flight to Rio de Janeiro last Thursday evening the movie of choice was "The Way'. When it was over a sizable number of my fellow passengers applauded it.  (I don't remember such a thing happening before in other flights.... the applause, that is). I couldn't resist mentioning to a couple near me that I had made the pilgrimage several times. Somehow this information got around and the people coming over to ask questions not only kept me up a great deal of the night, but even in in the Customs line,  (in Brasil all non-Brasilians entering the country have their pictures taken as well as their fingerprints, from both hands (!), I think that pretty much the same practice is in place in the U.S. for non-citizens entering the country, but I'm not sure) people would come over to ask about the Camino.
While the recent movie about the Camino made in Brasil, (a comedy) is still playing in the movie houses, I've been told that it will likely be released in DVDs soon, and the good news is that it will have English subtitles.
Back in New York City, my parish, with a good word from the Santiago Archdiocese,  obtained from Iberia  some very low cost  flight fares from NYC to Pamplona and from Santiago to NYC to be used by high school seniors going to the Camino next summer; they were auctioned off at the Christmas Bazar and were all gone in less than half an hour. From what I've heard, most of the teenagers'  parents also plan to go.
You might remember that after completing the Camino, Iberia awards reduced fares (50% or so) on flights returning home from Santiago, within the country, to those pilgrims that solicit them Compostela in hand.  But, as it is the case with the free breakfast, or lunch, at the Parador, since only a small number of pilgrims may enjoy these benefits,  one must apply very early to obtain them.
Ah!... I've also learned here that the Pope has selected Rio de Janeiro as the site for the Youth Congress to be held in 2013; reportedly, the out-of-sequence year for the Congress, which every time that it has been held has attracted more than a million attendees, was selected so as not to conflict with the 2014 World Cup, that will be held in Rio, or with the 2016 Olympics which will also be held in Rio.
Well..... I guess that when you're hot you're hot. 
Meanwhile, greetings from this city where the temperature is in the nineties.  If when I go back home next Saturday they are still showing "The Way" on the flight, I'll let you know.
Hugs!
Rosina

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