- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2023
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I am 99.99999% sure the author did not spend a penny on this tour. Vogue picked up the tab, or the tour company had an agreement with Vogue. So I personally could care less who paid or what people do with their money. The problem is the vast amount of wealth and how it is wasted, on or off the camino.I thought it was a nice article. What they paid is their business not ours.
I see it slightly differently - although I don’t disagree with you; it’s a bit ‘robin hood’ - distributing wealth from the indisputably rich to the arguably more deserving.I am 99.99999% sure the author did not spend a penny on this tour. Vogue picked up the tab, or the tour company had an agreement with Vogue. So I personally could care less who paid or what people do with their money. The problem is the vast amount of wealth and how it is wasted, on or off the camino.
Thanks for your reply. I should have been more general about my comments. We all see it on the Camino but we see it even more as soon as we get out of bed in the morning. The gap between different economic classes grows wider and more profound each day. When I think of spending over $7,000 for a 10 day "camino" I personally find it offensive. What that money could do for others or to help those working for a better world for all of us. I know I can't say a word about how others choose to live or spend. It is my personal feeling about this.I see it slightly differently - although I don’t disagree with you; it’s a bit ‘robin hood’ - distributing wealth from the indisputably rich to the arguably more deserving.
The very wealthy have always existed, have been ‘on Camino ’ since its inception, and they certainly didn’t carry their own bags. In many cases someone had to pay for the relics we walk to.
Isn’t it just a hierarchy though. We look at folks spending 7k, and think that’s crazy, but there are millions of folks out there who can’t afford to eat and clothe themselves who would see ‘us’ being ‘happy’ that we can do a camino (effectively a hobby) for say $2k and would feel that life is very unfair.Thanks for your reply. I should have been more general about my comments. We all see it on the Camino but we see it even more as soon as we get out of bed in the morning. The gap between different economic classes grows wider and more profound each day. When I think of spending over $7,000 for a 10 day "camino" I personally find it offensive. What that money could do for others or to help those working for a better world for all of us. I know I can't say a word about how others choose to live or spend. It is my personal feeling about this.
I walk caminos of about 1000 kilometers every year. With that money I could do 2 including my air fare from Mexico and have money left over, walking between 45-50 days.
Oh yea I was almost born feeling this way. My dad was a union organizer, socialist, (accused of being a communist but he hated communism), fought in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade against Franco, etc etc. So I too am a socialist and a member of the Working Families Party and work for them and I worked for Bernie on the telephone even though I live in Mexico! haha so you see I can't help myself.
Yes of course there are always people less fortunate than me or you. That goes without saying. I have to save and deny myself other things throughout the year to walk each year. It is very important to me to walk and of course I am fortunate to be able to do this. But we end up going around and around in circles with a but, or what about, etc etc. My overall sentiment is not just about the camino and the disposable income of so many. For me tours like this are just an symptom of the disease. Just my opinion and we all have our own.Isn’t it just a hierarchy though. We look at folks spending 7k, and think that’s crazy, but there are millions of folks out there who can’t afford to eat and clothe themselves who would see ‘us’ being ‘happy’ that we can do a camino (effectively a hobby) for say $2k and would feel that life is very unfair.
That $7000 isn't just going up in smoke - it's employing people. Perhaps a single mother who really needs the job, a student working their way through school, or a retiree supplementing their Social Security payments. Plus the owners of small inns and restaurants in Spain. Which I would say is possibly a better use of the $7000 than if it were just sitting in a rich person's bank account.When I think of spending over $7,000 for a 10 day "camino" I personally find it offensive. What that money could do for others or to help those working for a better world for all of us.
I agree, it is a short and pleasant article about the writer's personal experience on a guided Camino journey with a few nice pictures. BTW, I changed "pilgrim" to "writer" because nowhere in the article did she say that she considers herself to be a pilgrim; the contemporary concept of what this means in the context of Camino walking is not mentioned and not defined. When I saw the thread, I was hoping that nobody would click on the link to the travel agency and the price would not get mentioned. But it happened. Now all that is missing is a post where someone expresses their deep sadness about the writer and the participants in such journeys, and I think that we would have covered the topic as thoroughly - or shallowly - as in similar earlier threads.A short but pleasant article about a pilgrim’s experience on a guided Camino trip. Some nice pics.
I agree. But as a percentage of income I think that wealthy people spend less than average income and poor people. It's the accumulation of wealth which keeps money from circulating in the society.I don’t entirely accept the argument that extreme wealth and inequality can be justified by the fact that rich people spend lots of money
When we meet again I can expand on your statement and maybe shed a new light, or more accurately, a different perspective on why I almost completely disagree. Hope to see you down here in rainy, humid and hot PV soon!That $7000 isn't just going up in smoke - it's employing people. Perhaps a single mother who really needs the job, a student working their way through school, or a retiree supplementing their Social Security payments. Plus the owners of small inns and restaurants in Spain. Which I would say is possibly a better use of the $7000 than if it were just sitting in a rich person's bank account.
You are right about the % of income but when you are speaking about people that have tens, hundreds of millions or billions of dollars it is almost impossible to spend less than the average person as they are accumulating wealth because of their investments. (Remember the investments that they make the average person would never have access to). They generate such great wealth from their investments, have paid for lobbyists to write tax codes that supply a substantial number of loopholes and work arounds for anyone who is wealthy up to the mega rich. In fact most of the richest people in America pay little or no taxes at all. So of course as a percentage of wealth they spend less, but that less is more than the combined income in many cases of thousands of families.I agree. But as a percentage of income I think that wealthy people spend less than average income and poor people. It's the accumulation of wealth which keeps money from circulating in the society.
I think you are absolutely right there. Apart from any ethical issues, it is inefficient for wealth and income to be concentrated. And $7000 for a week’s holiday where you have to provide your own transport!I agree. But as a percentage of income I think that wealthy people spend less than average income and poor people. It's the accumulation of wealth which keeps money from circulating in the society.
Exactly. How many starving kids in the Sudan could be fed if the OP donated the $1000’s he spends on his Caminos. And I would wager the person who can spend $7000 on a tour likely gives far more to charitable causes than those here complaining about “rich people”. I am about as liberal and far left as one can get, and I find the OP’s premise preposterous. It ain’t our Camino—it’s everyone’s irrespective of net worth. And if that statement is not inflammatory enough, here’s another one: I always tip, including leaving a few Euros on the pillow in the morning for the person who has to clean up after us.Isn’t it just a hierarchy though. We look at folks spending 7k, and think that’s crazy, but there are millions of folks out there who can’t afford to eat and clothe themselves who would see ‘us’ being ‘happy’ that we can do a camino (effectively a hobby) for say $2k and would feel that life is very unfair.
Exactly this. But in all honesty I'm not holding my breath.Though horrified by the degree to which wealth has been accumulated by a few, I would very much like to see any of them actually walk a Camino. Who knows; there could be a "road to Damascus" moment.
Interesting, and not surprising.I note that I have learned in my last few visits that many from highly economically unequal countries in Latin America are moving to the northern parts of Spain for their relative equity in costs of living, low rates of crime and greater enjoyment of health and quality of life. How did I learn this? I kept asking my hospitaleros, taxi drivers, bar-keepers what had brought them to this wee spot... and the answer was the same over and over...
I am sure rich people are just as capable of walking a Camino as poor people! Check out the the folks who have climbed Everest.Though horrified by the degree to which wealth has been accumulated by a few, I would very much like to see any of them actually walk a Camino. Who knows; there could be a "road to Damascus" moment.
Indeed; where I live there was a very wealthy industrialist, a member of one of the local Catholic parishes, and somewhere around 2007-2010 (?) he walked from Sarria to Santiago... without having to think about his budget. What means did he use? I have no idea... but that short walk so disdained by so many produced in him a real commitment to sharing the wealth.Though horrified by the degree to which wealth has been accumulated by a few, I would very much like to see any of them actually walk a Camino. Who knows; there could be a "road to Damascus" moment.
One I looked at recently (link from another thread here) had a sag wagon, two guides, and a doctor. Not to mention 5-star accommodation. None of that comes cheap.What are you getting for that price?
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