sillydoll
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2002 CF: 2004 from Paris: 2006 VF: 2007 CF: 2009 Aragones, Ingles, Finisterre: 2011 X 2 on CF: 2013 'Caracoles': 2014 CF and Ingles 'Caracoles":2015 Logrono-Burgos (Hospitalero San Anton): 2016 La Douay to Aosta/San Gimignano to Rome:
Probably the most troubling news that I learned about during my visit to Santiago last week concerns fake pilgrims and the problems that they represent, which are much, much worse than we could have imagined, and which explain some of the actions undertaken regarding pilgrims credentials, two seals per locality etc.
It turns out that there has been an alarming number of unscrupulous “travel agents” who have actually “sold” the Camino to bus tourists guaranteeing lodging at the albergues and even a Compostela. Some of them have even charged extra for the Botafumeiro “show”.
Many and repeated instances of bare-faced attempts to bribe hospitaleros in order to obtain beds for groups of more than ten people have been reported top the Xunta and to the Archdiocese, and dozens and dozens of “turigrinos” who paid extra for the Botafumeiro and didn’t get to see it complained loudly and disorderly at the Cathedral itself. Disagreeable and nerve-racking confrontations between hospitaleros and fake-pilgrims and their “leaders” have been alarming, and the array of fake “credentials” is mind-boggling.
Because of this, the powers-that-be (Xunta, Archdiocese and Xacobean activities’ groups) have published a solicitation of offers from private organizations to manage the net of public albergues on the Camino. Those interested will have to submit a proposal detailing the precise activities intended to be put in place to:
a) insure the pilgrim bona-fides of those seeking a place in the albergues;
b) to provide assistance to pilgrims as needed;
c) to take care of the cleaning and maintenance of the albergues, and,
d) to safeguard and deposit the 3 Euros per night which, commencing on January 1, 2008, pilgrims will be required to contribute.
Somehow a yearly budget of 2.3 million Euros has been estimated for the purpose.
Other albergues will continue their own practices and charges. Roncesvalles, for instance, requires a contribution of 5 Euros per night, and the majority of albergues maintained by religious orders will continue their practice of making pilgrims’ contributions entirely voluntary.
Also, pursuant to some of the suggestions made by pilgrims, several changes will take place beginning next year. The information pamphlet regarding activities and services available to pilgrims, presently available only in Spanish, will be translated into English, German, Italian Portuguese and French, and will be given to pilgrims as they receive the Compostela, or certificate, in accordance to their language. The current pamphlet informs about the Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 9:00 p.m. Pilgrims reunion at the Cathedral; about the “Santiago Sepulcher in History” conferences; about the informal “dialogue” meetings with pilgrims and about the “Spirituality” meetings at the church of Saint Francis at 4:30 p.m.
While logistically it is not practical to call on the pilgrims separately at Mass according to their nationalities, they will be asked to stand, as a group, at the beginning of the Pilgrims Mass to be recognized and saluted. As mentioned, the tiraboleirosa (the guys that make the Botafumeiro fly) are not happy with the new rope. The new rope is made of synthetic fabrics interwoven with steel strands and is not only heavier than the previous ropes but it stretches, which characteristics present a problem. Some officials are scouting the countryside to locate the plants from which the natural fibers of the old ropes came in order to try to replicate them. It is also being considered, unfortunately, to eliminate the use of the Botafumeiro altogether during 2010, except, perhaps, for Easter and Christmas.
Because of the immense number of pilgrims expected in 2010 it had been pre-planned to hold masses in Quintana Square. The plan has been reconsidered because the Holy door opens to Quintana, and the number of pilgrims in serpentine lines, six abreast, waiting to go through the door covers the entire square. New plans are being worked out to hold the Masses in Obradoiro square.
A lot of work is being done in the Cathedral; those parts that have been cleaned out look very lovely. But the columns of the Portico de Gloria are now out of bounds. The Tree of Jesse and the two columns by its sides are surrounded by metal barriers that prevent their being touched, so that putting one’s hand in the ancient hollows is no longer possible, nor is it butting one’s forehead with Maestro Mateo’s.
There is a tremendous amount of work to be done in the Cathedral and its surroundings, and several present day pilgrims are doing what the ancient ones did hundreds of years ago: bringing building stones to help out in the effort.
There is a story today in the Santiago newspapers of a guy who climbed the Holy Door to embrace the statue of Santiago above it. An understandable desire, perhaps. But the guy was absolutely and entirely naked¦. And he hovered up there, in the altogether, for about 15 minutes¦. Until the cops talked him into coming down.
It turns out that there has been an alarming number of unscrupulous “travel agents” who have actually “sold” the Camino to bus tourists guaranteeing lodging at the albergues and even a Compostela. Some of them have even charged extra for the Botafumeiro “show”.
Many and repeated instances of bare-faced attempts to bribe hospitaleros in order to obtain beds for groups of more than ten people have been reported top the Xunta and to the Archdiocese, and dozens and dozens of “turigrinos” who paid extra for the Botafumeiro and didn’t get to see it complained loudly and disorderly at the Cathedral itself. Disagreeable and nerve-racking confrontations between hospitaleros and fake-pilgrims and their “leaders” have been alarming, and the array of fake “credentials” is mind-boggling.
Because of this, the powers-that-be (Xunta, Archdiocese and Xacobean activities’ groups) have published a solicitation of offers from private organizations to manage the net of public albergues on the Camino. Those interested will have to submit a proposal detailing the precise activities intended to be put in place to:
a) insure the pilgrim bona-fides of those seeking a place in the albergues;
b) to provide assistance to pilgrims as needed;
c) to take care of the cleaning and maintenance of the albergues, and,
d) to safeguard and deposit the 3 Euros per night which, commencing on January 1, 2008, pilgrims will be required to contribute.
Somehow a yearly budget of 2.3 million Euros has been estimated for the purpose.
Other albergues will continue their own practices and charges. Roncesvalles, for instance, requires a contribution of 5 Euros per night, and the majority of albergues maintained by religious orders will continue their practice of making pilgrims’ contributions entirely voluntary.
Also, pursuant to some of the suggestions made by pilgrims, several changes will take place beginning next year. The information pamphlet regarding activities and services available to pilgrims, presently available only in Spanish, will be translated into English, German, Italian Portuguese and French, and will be given to pilgrims as they receive the Compostela, or certificate, in accordance to their language. The current pamphlet informs about the Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 9:00 p.m. Pilgrims reunion at the Cathedral; about the “Santiago Sepulcher in History” conferences; about the informal “dialogue” meetings with pilgrims and about the “Spirituality” meetings at the church of Saint Francis at 4:30 p.m.
While logistically it is not practical to call on the pilgrims separately at Mass according to their nationalities, they will be asked to stand, as a group, at the beginning of the Pilgrims Mass to be recognized and saluted. As mentioned, the tiraboleirosa (the guys that make the Botafumeiro fly) are not happy with the new rope. The new rope is made of synthetic fabrics interwoven with steel strands and is not only heavier than the previous ropes but it stretches, which characteristics present a problem. Some officials are scouting the countryside to locate the plants from which the natural fibers of the old ropes came in order to try to replicate them. It is also being considered, unfortunately, to eliminate the use of the Botafumeiro altogether during 2010, except, perhaps, for Easter and Christmas.
Because of the immense number of pilgrims expected in 2010 it had been pre-planned to hold masses in Quintana Square. The plan has been reconsidered because the Holy door opens to Quintana, and the number of pilgrims in serpentine lines, six abreast, waiting to go through the door covers the entire square. New plans are being worked out to hold the Masses in Obradoiro square.
A lot of work is being done in the Cathedral; those parts that have been cleaned out look very lovely. But the columns of the Portico de Gloria are now out of bounds. The Tree of Jesse and the two columns by its sides are surrounded by metal barriers that prevent their being touched, so that putting one’s hand in the ancient hollows is no longer possible, nor is it butting one’s forehead with Maestro Mateo’s.
There is a tremendous amount of work to be done in the Cathedral and its surroundings, and several present day pilgrims are doing what the ancient ones did hundreds of years ago: bringing building stones to help out in the effort.
There is a story today in the Santiago newspapers of a guy who climbed the Holy Door to embrace the statue of Santiago above it. An understandable desire, perhaps. But the guy was absolutely and entirely naked¦. And he hovered up there, in the altogether, for about 15 minutes¦. Until the cops talked him into coming down.
