- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2016, 2022, 2023, 2024, planned 2025
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Nope not even one in the last four years!!Do you run into other pilgrims in far off lands? How do you recognize each other?
I prefer to stay undercover. When I travel, I try to look like an average 75-year-old with a backpack, walking sticks and serious walking shoes. I don't have any Camino badges or evidence visible. Generally it works and people don't approach me about the Camino. Call me anti-social!Do you run into other pilgrims in far off lands? How do you recognize each other?
Wish Texas had a path that ran from the valley to the panhandle area..what a grand tour that would be..East to west would be good except for the urban sprawl of 2 mega cities to crossYes. I am in dallas Texas and walk with my mochila and scallop I get many looks and buen caminos. We usually stop and talk to discuss past or future caminos. Frances and portugués.
I had truly wished I had met more…no tats bit I javelin a patch on my backpack, just remembered…my orthopod’s assistant had walked the Primitivo, so I have met at least one other who has been to Spain. Unlike you kids, like Trecile, I turn 80 next year, but stillwantbto go to Spain for another Camino. Just haven’t convinced my wife that I can without expiring!!!Only once, in an airport, can’t remember which one, but someone recognized the patch on my pack and mentioned they wanted to walk the Way. Short conversation…wonder if she ever went there.
Can I see your tattoos? I’m thinking of getting a shell on my forearm.Nope not even one in the last four years!!
I have patches on my backpack that i use every day; plus some quite large tattoos on both arms that are very obviously Camino!
I have spoken to one guy in my town (pop 23000) about us having the same gear for hiking ;he had heard of the Camino but that's all
I'd say if it is in your thoughts and in your heart to still want to do it, you are probably not too old! However, you may want to get the opinion of your doctor first and if he gives you a thumbs up, let him convince your wife.I had truly wished I had met more…no tats bit I javelin a patch on my backpack, just remembered…my orthopod’s assistant had walked the Primitivo, so I have met at least one other who has been to Spain. Unlike you kids, like Trecile, I turn 80 next year, but stillwantbto go to Spain for another Camino. Just haven’t convinced my wife that I can without expiring!!!
There's a heck of a lot worse places to 'expire' than on Camino. Beats being run over in your hometown, or the ignominy of falling from a ladder....Just haven’t convinced my wife that I can without expiring!!!
Not in far off lands but in a village shop, about 7km from home. The discreet red Camino badge on my red day pack has attracted comments from a customer and a shop assistant, both cognoscenti.Do you run into other pilgrims in far off lands? How do you recognize each other?
Both done here:Can I see your tattoos? I’m thinking of getting a shell on my forearm.
I read that if you die on the camino you go straight to heaven. Can anyone confirmThere's a heck of a lot worse places to 'expire' than on Camino. Beats being run over in your hometown, or the ignominy of falling from a ladder....
And it sure as heck beats just hanging around waiting.
If I can die doing something that I love, I'll die a happy man.
decalcomaniaLike @C clearly I don't have patches on my everyday hiking backpack, or my Camino backpack for that matter. Despite that I do meet people while I'm on local hikes who have walked a Camino. So, I guess that I do attract pilgrims. And I have met at least one on a local hiking trail who had Camino patches on his backpack. I do have small decals on my car, but rarely have anyone notice those.
They are awesome!Both done here:
First tattoo was done with their guidance!!Sagrado Corazon Tatuajes Santiago de Compostela
Estudio de tatuajes en Santiago de Compostela. En Sagrado Corazón Tattoo somos conocidos por nuestra profesionalidad y dedicación.www.sagradocorazontattoo.com
The second was my idea! (guy did ask if i was sure)
To big and way to much writing i think; but my choice on the day!! (i have grown to love it; although once done who looks at their tatts every day)
Woody
Yes, my family's eyes glaze over when we start our Camino talk. Others are politely interested for at least 30 seconds, but usually when we say we volunteer in Spain that attracts more interest...Rather than attracting fellow pilgrim-zealots, I wonder how many repel them. It's not unlike the carnivores' joke: how do you know if someone's a vegan? They'll tell you. If it weren't for this forum, how many unreformed caministas would bore the hiking pants off those pilgrims who don't want to be subjected to any more caminology!
We were visiting family in Florida and walked daily on local trails with our full packs as we were going to leave for Camino shortly after arriving home. We were stopped one day by a woman who asked if we were wearing backpacks to walk a camino and peppered us with questions for several minutes. No shells on our packs!!Phil and I are in Alaska on a 3 month long camping adventure and we keep meeting Camino pilgrims or people who want to be Camino pilgrims. We have a shell sticker on our pickup topper window which attracts people in the know. Do you run into other pilgrims in far off lands? How do you recognize each other?
Estimated world population is 8 billion so 446,000 Compostelas would be 0.005575% of the population. Spread across the entire world I would think that we wouldn't meet someone, but I have met too many people that have walked caminos. (This is not meant to be so serious- tongue in cheek, feel free to check my math as it was not my best subject.)In 2022, the P.O. issued about 438,000 Compostelas. In 2023 it was roughly 446,000.
No matter how remote the place you are, how can you not meet someone who's walked a camino, or getting ready for one? We've long since stopped being special.
Subtract the populations of India, Indonesia, Russia, and China from that 8.1 billion (since there are almost no pilgrims from there) and the odds go up considerably. Then how many pilgrims come from Africa and SE Asia. Darn few. Even better odds.Estimated world population is 8 billion so 446,000 Compostelas would be 0.005575% of the population
Did this mugging actually take place? I've googled it and the only reports I find are on Facebook and (the same report repeated) this forum, although please note I have not searched Spanish newspapers. (Beyond my capabilities). As both threads on this supposed attack were instantly shut down by moderators I have no idea as to whether or not this was ever verified.Frankly, given the recent robberies in Ponferrada, I’m wondering if wearing a clam shell early in the morning on the Camino is a liability? Now one might assume that walking early with a backpack one is likely a pilgrim, …but just maybe not. That shell ID’s one for sure! So maybe consider where you’re carrying your shell, especially leaving a city in darkness.
scaremongering?Did this mugging actually take place? I've googled it and the only reports I find are on Facebook and (the same report repeated) this forum, although please note I have not searched Spanish newspapers. (Beyond my capabilities). As both threads on this supposed attack were instantly shut down by moderators I have no idea as to whether or not this was ever verified.
You talk of robberies in the plural, are you aware of more than one?
Rumours are so easily spread and I would hate for the forum to become a source of scare mongering.
Source is IVAR!
Thanks for the link - I did say I had not found anything in english.
The only reports that I saw here on the forum were both instantly shut down by the moderators, both of which as I said related back to the Facebook post.
When? I haven't seen anything from Ivar on this
And yet you write this?I think, if anything, this Forum, is very cautious, about presenting information that might discourage folks from participating in a Camino.
Frankly, given the recent robberies in Ponferrada, I’m wondering if wearing a clam shell early in the morning on the Camino is a liability
Thank you - that update was added by Ivar after the original thread had been locked so I did not see it. Or for that matter the additional comment by @David Tallan a little earlier.
The article reports that pilgrims were being targeted out of Ponferrada. That is a concern! I am only suggesting that pilgrims make it harder to be identified as pilgrims if they are leaving in the dark or alone. That is being careful!And yet you write this?
I hardly think that a Shell will make the difference. On my flight into Oviedo I identified all four pilgrims on the plane at a glance before we'd even left the airport. (Most Pilgrims tend to be rather distinctive.) Their shells were still safely tucked inside their bags.The article reports that pilgrims were being targeted out of Ponferrada. That is a concern! I am only suggesting that pilgrims make it harder to be identified as pilgrims if they are leaving in the dark or alone. That is being careful!
Perhaps it's more about who is about in the early hours; if Pilgrims are walking at six am maybe they are the most available target!Frankly, given the recent robberies in Ponferrada, I’m wondering if wearing a clam shell early in the morning on the Camino is a liability? Now one might assume that walking early with a backpack one is likely a pilgrim, …but just maybe not. That shell ID’s one for sure! So maybe consider where you’re carrying your shell, especially leaving a city in darkness.
I hardly think that a Shell will make the difference. On my flight into Oviedo I identified all four pilgrims on the plane at a glance before we'd even left the airport. (Most Pilgrims teemed to be rather distinctive.) Their shells were still safely tucked inside their bags.
Let's face, it no self-respecting Spaniard is going to be wandering the streets with a backpack before Dawn.
Suggesting that they have their backpack transported for the stage leaving Ponferadda would be more logical. But even then most of us are rather distinctively dressed, and carrying a day pack or similar. Most muggers are simply looking for easy targets, very few spaniards would be out walking at such an early hour.
Better yet suggest that pilgrims leave in groups, after dawn.
Bearing in mind that the perpetrators (hopefully all of them) have been arrested, and that the Spanish police are all over this (extremely bad for business and very poor public image) Ponferadda is likely to be one of the safer places for a little while.
In light of the title of this thread, Do you attract pilgrims, my comment had to do with the exact opposite, trying not to attract others! And my suggestion for not wearing a shell in a prominent place was in relationship to this.Perhaps it's more about who is about in the early hours; if Pilgrims are walking at six am maybe they are the most available target!
I also don't think the shell makes much difference!
I walk through towns with my backpack, patches, Camino tattoos and 140cm white roller tip guide cane it's obvious i am sight impaired !
Do i walk in fear of muggers and thieves no; my fears won't stop them but it would impact my joy in walking Should i fret about lightening
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