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<DIV>Saludos: I traversed the Camino Frances last May and June.
While in the initial portion I communicated with a Director of Friends of
the Camino. I believe the site might have been the Refugio at
Pamplona. With some authority the Director affirmed that only about 5% to
10% of the pilgrims are motivated by religion or spirituality. The vast
majority, according to him, consider the event an adventure, an outing, a
challenge, an inexpensive, safe, healthy way to spend a month or so. His
categorization reflects the experience I had during 40 days or so during which I
conversed with 50 or so pilgrims and observed many more. I don't mean to
offend the finer sensibilities of the faithful but the reality of a modern,
materialistic, self-centered age often clashes with idealism inherited from
times past. Felipe Sanchez</DIV></BODY></HTML>