I have not noticed any evangelistic efforts on the CdS pilgrimage. I’ve experienced more evangelistic efforts on the Appalachian Trail.
It’s “a Catholic thing” only in that it started before there were Protestants (heck, before Orthodox and Catholic were different) and in that its final point is in lands which have remained Catholic; religious pilgrimages are more common in the old branches of Christianity than in the Protestant ones, although nowadays many if not most of the people taking the Camino aren’t even Christian. But what is specifically Catholic about aiding travelers, did you guys drop the Beautitudes?
As for converting anybody, which I hope isn’t really their intent because it would count as masochism… There was an ecumenic council in Seville in the 1960s; the story goes that at one point one of the protestant clerics heard an Andalusian in the hotel bar, cussing the Catholic Church and her priests up one side and down the other. The cleric struck up a conversation, and at one point the local guy laughed and said “wait a minute, are you trying to convert me? Dude, if I don’t believe in the One True Church, why would I believe in yours?” While the story is probably not literal truth, it is representative of the fact that a Spaniard is a lot more likely to go atheist or jump into some exotic faith than to move to some foreign brand of Christianity. Providing comfort to travelers of any religion and, occasionally, the specific comfort of finding a person of someone who happens to share your specific beliefs, is a perfectly fine thing for a person of any religion to do.
The Camino cannot be past Santiago. The Camino from Fisterra is a different Camino (it’s one of the English Roads), but by definition any of the many Roads to Santiago always end in Santiago.
When I spent some time in the Swiss town of Fribourg, my walk to the university took me on a Route du Fort St Jaques. My host explained that was because it was (or once was) part of the pilgrimage road to Santiago. Of course, I understand that these roads vary a lot. You didn’t possibly use that road, did you?
**are there not mission fields elsewhere in the world, where their efforts would be, perceivedly, more needed? **
I’m from a religion that doesn’t seek converts, so I can’t answer this with any lived authority. However, the Camino is the 3rd-holiest pilgrimage site for Catholicism, so I suppose it would be considered a good place to meet lots of people whom one perceives to have errant beliefs. The only effort I experienced was from a woman in line at the American Airlines queue in Madrid airport, who wouldn’t stop until I was rude to her.
**Once past Santiago, the camino becomes much more pagan, and more primitive. **
I’d like to walk those sections. My schedule precluded it this time.
how did you accomplish throwing the medallion off the edge of the world, the sea does not appear accessible at the end of that route within throwing distance.
I clambered as far onto the bluff as my vertigo would permit. I don’t know where it landed. I did my part; if the medallion wants to go One Ring rogue, I can’t stop it.
You didn’t possibly use that road, did you?
I didn’t, but the map at the bottom of About Camino Lituano – Camino Lituano might be interesting to you. It shows European pilgrimage routs that join branches of the Camino.
I’d enjoy seeing responses to these questions from others who have walked the Camino as well.
I have walked the Camino 3 times - from St Jean Pied du Port in 2000, from Leon in 2017 and from Porto this year. I’ll be back to give some answers when I have more time - it’s 6am here (UK) and I’m getting up for work soon.
Has anyone cycled it? Cycling one of the routes appeals to me (I think you need to go 200 miles to qualify for an indulgence).
I believe to cycle the main route involves either a mountain bike or on fairly busy roads so maybe another route would be better.
Brian
The Camino Fisterra unquestionably goes from Compestella to Fisterra (and/or Muxia), the arrows point that way, the distance counts down to Fisterra (and Muxia, sometimes the markers are side by side for each end point) - they are camino markers with the shell. There are certificates for this at Fisterra and Muxia a pilgrim can obtain for this. (The English way is a different route altogether).
From : Camino Finisterre or Camino Fisterra | CaminoWays.com
bold mine
However yes it also can be and has been used as a route to Compestella also (and it makes sense that some would be part of a english sea route, but back then the way to Santiago was just starting at one’s home and walking there, so there was not so much a determined route). Currently due to the 100 KM rule of the Cathedral, this route is indirect and goes from Fisterra>Muxia>Compestella to qualify for the Compostella.
There some questions about the origin of this pilgrimage which some have taken the current Christian/Catholic one to be a super-positioning on top of a more ancient one to the end of the world.
I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for acknowledgement of any mistake on Nava’s part.
You happen to be talking about SPAIN, it is a small wonder she permits your impertinent interjections at all.
Exactly, the Camino Fisterra goes TO Finisterra. Says so on the tin!
What was the social interaction like with the people you met along the way - the pilgrims, the hosts at your accommodations? Were people friendlier or more open than they might be on a secular-world hiking trail? Did any deep conversations take place?
Moderator Note
If you have a problem with Nava, take it to the Pit. Do not make posts like this in MPSIMS.
All and all things are much more friendly on trail then off trail. I’ve heard some hikers say it restored their faith in humanity.
For the most part communication between hikers is great, you get to know each other and talk about plans for the upcoming day and places to stay, gear and hiking injuries. On both you become part of a traveling community, even family. I found the hosts on the AT a slight step more friendly then the camino, but that varies and there were some amazing hosts on the Camino as well.
My take on it was lot of the good will of the camino has been rolled into low prices for the many pilgrims. The Camino is very commercialized and all services are available.
Since everything is provided at a reasonably low cost, so nothing is especially needed. This limits the need for random acts of kindness, as a pilgrim not in need usually does not need assistance. I was invited into one’s home once IIRC, which was dinner, sleep breakfast. We tried some conversation but the language barrier stopped us.
This was in sharp contrast to the Appalachian Trail in which those helps are so much needed and desired. It is fantastic to be given a hamburger on the AT (On the Camino you would just walk into a cafe or bar for food). There were several times that I was taken into someone’s home, and asked nothing my my stories. Given rides to and from towns also was common. Getting a zero bill at a restaurant happened a few times as well. I also had someone offer me their sleeping bag for me to continue when I lost mine just asking I mail it back when I finished.
**Has anyone cycled it? **
A reasonable number of people do. They’re referred to as “bicigrinos.” Didn’t look fun to me, but clearly some people enjoy it.
What was the social interaction like with the people you met along the way - the pilgrims, the hosts at your accommodations? Were people friendlier or more open than they might be on a secular-world hiking trail? Did any deep conversations take place?
It was pleasant, kind, and generous for the most part. I didn’t have very deep conversations with anyone, but I wasn’t in a state of distress or angst, so I may not have put out that vibe. I was enjoying being more solitary. After Sarria (the town at the minimum distance for earning the compostela), there was a noticeable shift in the pilgrim group vibe, with many more family and friend groups just setting out and interacting primarily with each other. There were many more people treating it as a recreational activity from that point on as well, playing music as they walked and not being as scrupulous about, for example, buying something at a bar if they were using the bar’s restroom. There was more of a holiday air to it.
I know people have cycled it, I meant has anyone reading this thread cycled it.
Brian
Story is a splendid one, at all events. I do gather that you Spaniards consider yourselves a cussed lot, and are proud of it…
Both parts bolded by me, above – I’m sure evangelical Protestants reckon aiding travellers, an excellent thing to do; just, assuming that – as would seem probable – this couple are eager to spread their version of the Gospel: for the reasons I gave, their venue would seem a bit of an eccentric one for that purpose. However – most sane Christians of all-and-any varieties, acknowledge that there are other ways of doing God’s will, besides yelling at people that they face an eternity of suffering if they don’t adopt the yeller’s exact “flavour” of Christianity; and, “He moves in a mysterious way”. Perhaps this pair reckon themselves called by God just to run a hostel on the Camino de Santiago, providing food and shelter for walkers thereon, without in any way getting contentious.
As said by me above – basically, “what do I know?”. This particular endeavour by these particular folks just struck me as on the face of it, a bit of an unusual one: I wondered whether by a remote chance you might have met them, and got any closer insight into what their deal is.