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<DIV><SPAN class=110351207-15012002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Felipe, I found about 20% of the pilgrims very pious
people.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=110351207-15012002><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>John</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Felipe Sanchez
[mailto:felipsanaOLYPEN.COM]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, 8 January 2002 7:45
AM<BR><B>To:</B> GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU<BR><B>Subject:</B>
Motives<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<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></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>