Scott and I were surfing the YouTube web last night on the subject of El Camino de Santiago hostels. While doing so, we came across one titled, "el camino de santiago WELCOME" which is about the hospitalities of the hostels along the pilgrimage route. It was very interesting and informative. We were absolutely shocked when they stated that in the year 2010 there would be an estimated 5 million people walk the route because this is a HOLY YEAR. OMG!!!
5 MILLION!!!
I am trying to get my head around that number... Edinburgh has 448,850; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has 537,734 people; Stockholm, Sweden has 788,269; Dallas, Texas has 1,232,940; Houston, Texas has 2,144,491; and Los Angeles, California has 3,849,368; people... 5,000,000... London and New York City NY, has over 7 million... but still, 5 million people.
THAT'S 13,698.6 PEOPLE A DAY!!!
There are many hostels along the road, but some of those only have few beds, some less than 10 others around 200 beds. I did a basic search and came up with about 200 hostels as of 2005. That would be full capacity in many of the hostels. How many volunteers would this call for?
I work in the food industry and we get about 200-250 people during the lunch rush. That's not during a game day's lunch rush. I'm told that is 500 people easy and that is rough with 5 cashiers and a group of line cooks of 6... 500 people x 365 days in a year.... That is only 182,500 people! That isn't even a drop in the people bucket!!! OMG! How many people do the hostels need to help provide for the masses? How much money do these hostels need to feed all the pilgrims that will pass through their doors? Where will the money, man power, or food come from to help the hostels?
Scott and I were thinking about doing the pilgrimage in 2010; but since there are going to be so many people we had a thought, "Why not volunteer to help out in one of the hostels?" Wouldn't this be just as spirit opening as the pilgrimage? Wouldn't we gain just as much from the pilgrims who entered the hostel doors as those we would be traveling beside?
Just a thought...
Ren
2 comments:
You can offer your help directly to the refuge - a list of refuges can be found at http://www.jacobeo.net/refugios/
Here are some other sites which will assist you in becoming a volunteer:
1. www.csj.uk
Rabanal: Refugio Gaucelmo - If you would like to be considered as a possible warden, please e-mail the Rabanal Warden’s Corodinator at alisonsp@doctors.org.uk
Miraz – Camino Norte: If you are interested in serving as a warden at Miraz (we still have a few vacancies for 2007, and will be glad to sign you up for 2008), please contact the Miraz Wardens' Coordinator. There will be a training workshop for potential wardens in October 2008. m-wardens(at)csj.org.uk
2. http://www.caminosantiago.org/cpperegrino/federacion/hosvol.pdf
E-Mail: hosvol@caminosantiago.org
This is the Federation of Associations on the Camino volunteer form.
4. Leon: The albergue, "Das Animas" (the Souls) in Ambasmestas, Leon is
sponsored by the Friends of The Camino de Santiago in Ambasmestas and is looking for hospitaleros. Those interested in applying may send an email to: das_animas@hotmail.com
5. www.caminhodesantiago.com There is a call for volunteer hospitaleros issued by
the Asociacion de Voluntarios en albergues del Camino de Santiago (Association of Camino de Santiago volunteers).
6. http://www.jacobeo.net/hospitaleros/index.htm
Need volunteers at Cizur Menor
7. ruavieja@asantiago.org
The Friends of the Way of Santiago of the Rioja region coordinate the hospitaleros in the refuge of Logroño.
3. www.americanpilgrims.com Go to Join, scoll to volunteer.
American Pilgrims have their annual gathering on 6th March – including a training workshop for future volunteer hospitaleros.
http://www.americanpilgrims.com/events_national.html
Write to Acacio da Paz voluntarioscamino@ yahoo.es
www.caminhodesantia go.com
FRANCE
In France, especially the refuges in Conques, Estaing and Moissac are often looking for hospitaliers for about a fortnight. You might be useful on the roads from Tours, Vézelay or Arles also.
Accueil Saint Jacques at St Jean Pied-de-Port: Please write to them (in French)
if you are interested in acting as a volunteer.
M Jean-Claude Nogues (Canditature Accueillant),
Accueil des pelerins de St-Jacques,
39 rue de la Citadelle,
64220 SAINT JEAN PIED-DE-PORT,
France.
A week at St Jean will do wonders for your French; you will meet a good many pilgrims, and will have the satisfaction of helping them before they embark on the hardest single day of the journey; and you’ll have a good deal of fun.
The following is a translation of the “job description” given out to prospective volunteers for the Accueil.
• You need to be available for pilgrims from 7.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m., with a 2-hour break for lunch.
• You welcome pilgrims, and give them all the information they need about accommodation, the route, the weight they are carrying (they can do what they like, but most learn quickly enough the uses of the French and Spanish postal services), local shops and repair facilities.
• St Jean being a tourist town, you will also be giving passing holiday-makers information about the camino (there may well be future pilgrims among them).
• You need to be tactful and modest: this is not the place for acting the old soldier.
• You’re a volunteer: you pay your own fare to St Jean, and for your own food, though accommodation is provided (there are 3 bedrooms, each with 2 single beds, in premises provided to us by the municipality).
• You share the cooking with the other volunteers. Similarly, you share the responsibility for keeping the place clean and tidy (though the main housework is done by a cleaning lady who comes once a week).
Please write to us (in French) if you are interested in acting as a volunteer, giving:
• Your exact address
• Your telephone number (including the international code)
• The languages you can speak (with your level of proficiency)
• The weeks (Monday to Monday) between 1st March and 30th November 2008 when you could be available
Write to:
Vezelay Route: The very active Vézelay Association has been developing refuges
along that route, and is anxious to recruit wardens, for a fortnight at a time. Contact w.griffiths@ukonline.co.uk for more information.
Wow... Ask and we do receive! Plenty of information there. Thank you so much.
We are looking for doing the volunteer thing in 2009 or 2010. We need to learn a little Spanish... about the only thing I know at this time is "buscar mi milettas". I think it means, "looking for my luggage" That's about it!
Actually, we haven't completely decided yet. We have to do some planning and organization... always with the organization! We want to do the pilgrimage but it looks like it will be a while. We don't have the money or resources to just pick up and go - wish we did, but we don't.
We will do some looking at what you gave to us. Are you with Miraz-Camino Norte? American pilgrims might be a good place to start for us.
Thank you so very much!
Ren
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