When I walked the
Camino Frances in 2014 I walked much of it with a Spanish man who was in his mid 30s but had walked the Camino from Sarria when he was in high school. He enjoyed the 100 km walk very much but he definitely noticied the pilgrims who had come from further away and he recognized that they had some "thing" that he and his group didn't have. He walked from Pamplona in 2014 to try and get a little bit of that "thing" for himself. So that 100 km walk can plant a seed for the future.
I am loathe to judge others for how they walk the camino but for me the camino for a compostella begins at 100 km from Santiago. Anything before that is up to me as an individual. I do not support the notion of changing the requirement for a compostella to 300 km. It would make it impractical for all the groups of young people, mostly Spanish, who only have a week to spare and for the older or the physically handicapped people who can only muster the energy for 100 km. And what about the people who have invested their time, energy and money to open albergues and other facilities in that last 100 km? Should they just kiss their investment goodbye because someone, likely from far away, doesn't like to see crowds of people having fun and, yes, in some cases, cheating a little bit in the last 100 km?
Gillean, sorry, but in my experience I have discovered that any time someone says "they are loathe to judge," it is typically followed by a harsh judgment.
Three points.
1. The
Camino de Santiago was created and is maintained by its very definition as a "pilgrimage." A pilgrimage is defined as a strenuous effort, a journey in search of a religious or spiritual answer, resolution, or purpose.
Until the past few years, it was never seen as a irreverent, disrespectful party destination. I say disrespectful because the party people view the pilgrims as archaic impediments to their partying.
The party people are not pilgrims. They are tourists.
Next, I smile at your explanation that for the Spanish, the Camino is "impractical " to do in its entirety. You joke, of course? Why cannot the Spanish do what the rest of European pilgrims do? In sections? For the Spanish most of all, the Camino is in their backyard and is utterly practical.
Finally, having completed the Camino alongside pilgrims on crutches, who actually WALKED the entire thing, people with MS, Mus. Dystrophy, broken legs, obesity, etc, AND seeing the young and strong but very hungover kids piling into and out of taxis, like the vast majority of my fellow pilgrims, I support the 300 km Compostela.
Viva the Pilgrimage!
BC,
Jennifer
the apocalyptic end is near 
