<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SERIF" FACE="Palatino Linotype" LANG="0">Hi Claudia,<BR>
When I got my first credential in Roncesvalles I didn't know how to classify the reasons for my pilgrimage. One of the people giving out the credentials asked me whether I was making the pilgrimage as a "penance" or to keep a religious promise. When I told her that I wasn't, she then asked me whether I was doing it just for information and education or whether I was interested in the religious aspects and history of the Camino; after I answered "yes" to the latter she told me to select the Religious/cultural classification.<BR>
Intrigued, I asked around and did find out that a significant number of pilgrims made the pilgrimage to keep a religious promise, or to expiate some regretted acts. The rubric "solely for religious purposes" would appear to apply to them.<BR>
About a month ago, the Coach of a Galician soccer team said to reporters that if his team defeated the formidable Real Madrid, which seemed very unlikely at the time since the Real Madrid has the best soccer players in the world (Ronaldo, Zigane, Figo, Bekham, Raul, Roberto Carlos et al) he would walk the Camino.<BR>
As it turned out, the Galician team won and the coach is now working out to be in shape to keep his promise.<BR>
In 2000, I met a a female attorney from Valencia who was walking the Camino to give thanks to the Apostle because her daughter had finally gotten married. I must confess that I was mightily tempted to make a similar promise in regards to my son. Fortuitously, I was spared the need to do so since my son became engaged to be married before I got around to formalizing and finalizing the promise. I have remained, therefore, a Religious/Cultural pilgrim in all my pilgrimages.<BR>
Warm regards,<BR>
Rosina <BR>
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