Beginning in Sarria, the last major town outside the 100 km/62 miles radius from Santiago - the distance that entitles a walker to the Camino certificate - and the last town outside that perimeter with rail and bus service, one will see a lot of new faces on the Camino journey. The 100 kilometer "pilgrims". They are probably not pilgrims in the original sense of the word, but more likely tourists for whom religious faith and Christianity are inconveniences, who will walk the Camino for fun and to find new friends, for good and inexpensive food and wine, and to escape a troubled everyday life at home. Many need to check off a destination on their bucket list, an item on the "Been there, done that" list, or on the list of "500 Things You Must Do Before You Die".
Serious Camino pilgrims, those who began the walk way before Sarria, find the 100 kilometer “pilgrims” rather amusing, who differentiate themselves in subtle ways, so here are some tongue-in-cheek hints to spot the latecomers:
They will walk rather briskly, as if they have just gotten off the train or bus (which they have). They will probably not carry a backpack – a courier service or taxi company has taken care of that. Most of them will use trekking poles, not because the terrain requires it, but because image is everything and trekking poles complete the image of a serious trekker. The 100 kilometer "pilgrim" looks much too neat: The women's hair is much too pretty, men's hair is much too short, the designer clothes are much too clean and with ironing folds, ladies wear make-up, men are clean-shaven. They will smoke while walking, and they will have at least one alkoholic drink with their lunch. The will talk excessively, and since they are likely to talk into a mobile smartphone, one will hear only one side of the conversation and it will be very loud. If not on the phone, they will be checking the news or stock quotes on the latest wireless gadget. They will rarely take pictures of the landscape or buildings along the trail, but they will take a lot of each other, mostly in groups. In social settings off the trail they tend to assemble in large groups, be quite loud and have plenty of alcoholic drinks. Their behavior is assertive, as behooves those who cannot bo bothered with details of a walk in the Spanish countryside but want the Camino certificate.
They will walk rather briskly, as if they have just gotten off the train or bus (which they have). They will probably not carry a backpack – a courier service or taxi company has taken care of that. Most of them will use trekking poles, not because the terrain requires it, but because image is everything and trekking poles complete the image of a serious trekker. The 100 kilometer "pilgrim" looks much too neat: The women's hair is much too pretty, men's hair is much too short, the designer clothes are much too clean and with ironing folds, ladies wear make-up, men are clean-shaven. They will smoke while walking, and they will have at least one alkoholic drink with their lunch. The will talk excessively, and since they are likely to talk into a mobile smartphone, one will hear only one side of the conversation and it will be very loud. If not on the phone, they will be checking the news or stock quotes on the latest wireless gadget. They will rarely take pictures of the landscape or buildings along the trail, but they will take a lot of each other, mostly in groups. In social settings off the trail they tend to assemble in large groups, be quite loud and have plenty of alcoholic drinks. Their behavior is assertive, as behooves those who cannot bo bothered with details of a walk in the Spanish countryside but want the Camino certificate.
