Showing posts with label el camino de santiago. Show all posts
Showing posts with label el camino de santiago. Show all posts

Saturday, March 26, 2016

300 KM TO SANTIAGO INSTEAD OF 100 KM?

The recently formed Fraternidad International del Camino de Santiago (FICS) has made a proposal to extend the minimum distance required for pilgrims to earn a Compostela from 100 km to 300 km.  (So far the Cathedral is not impressed and has said that they will not be dictated to by anyone or any organisation.)


The document was signed by Anton Pombo [FICS] and translated and circulated on Facebook by Rebekah Scot  "Read, consider, and inwardly digest. And SHARE! The latest from FICS: (my clumsy translation. Sorry)"  

'Debate' and 'discus' was not included and I'm doubtful that it is welcomed.  After reading through the document a few times, I posted a few questions on the FICS Facebook page today and the flame-throwers started taking aim almost immediately! 
I feel that all healthy debate should always consist of opposing opinions and that it is the subject that should be debated, rather than attacking the messenger.   I was taught that the basis of any good science is to prove a concept wrong, not try to prove it right. 

Much of what is written in the proposal makes sense, but there are also glaring inaccuracies, and a lot that many might not agree with.   Although I have written comments on each section of the document, this time I will keep my opinions to myself.  If anyone is interested in reading my opinions you can contact me.

Why do pilgrims have to walk the last 100 km to earn a Compostela anyway? 
There are two reasons.  One, included when the 100 km distance was introduced by the Archdiocese in 1993, is to ensure that pilgrims put in some effort and sacrifice for the expiation of their sins before being awarded the Compostela.   



“El esfuerzo y sacrificio en expiación de los pecados"

Two, is that pilgrims wanting a Compostela must actually walk to the shrine containing the tomb of the saint.  Walking 3 500km from Bulgaria won't earn you any kudos unless you walk the last 100 km to the cathedral.  

FICS' reasons are a little more obscure.  Many pilgrims presumed that it was to relieve the ever growing problem of overcrowding on the last 100 km, but the aim is to make pilgrims walk longer distances so that they can:

"reclaim the long distance Camino and the values that make it unique: effort, transcendence, searching. reflection, encounters with others, solidarity, ecumenism or spirituality, all of them oriented towards a distant, shared goal."

We know that this proposal came out of a meeting of FICS big-guns in Sarria.  Rebekah called them 'Camino heavyweights' and their combined knowledge, care for all things Camino and their integrity is not questioned. But there are unsubstantiated claims made, assumptions, negative terms used to describe particular pilgrims.   Were they unanimously accepted by all the esteemed and learned delegates, or are they just personal perceptions of a few people? 

To read what others think - visit this link:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/fics-forum-why-change-the-100-km-rule-to-300-km.39220/
 






Wednesday, December 09, 2015

EXPONENTIAL RISE IN NUMBER OF PILGRIMS ON THE CAMINO AND VIA FRANCIGENA

In 1986 (30 years ago) 2491 pilgrims received a Compostela. This has increased by over ten-fold.

Between 1996 and 2015 over 2.5 million pilgrims earned a Compostela.

1996 17138
1997 25179
1998 30126
1999 61418
2000 55004
2001 61418
2002 68952
2003 74614
2004 179944
2005 93924
2006 100377
2007 114026
2008 125141
2009 145877
2010 272135
2011 183366
2012 192488
2013 215880
2014 237812
2015 262000
2516819

The total number of pilgrims who have received a Compostela so far - January to November - is 260,396.

In December 2014 the number was 1870 so we can assume that at least that number will be reached by the end of the month. 262,266 for 2015.

With Pope Frances announcing an Extraordinary Roman Holy Year of Mercy in 2016 and appealing for cathedrals with Holy Doors to open them next year, I reckon that the numbers will go up exponentially. The Santiago Cathedral is opening their Holy Door on 16th December.

A previous pilgrim office Dean calculated that only 1 in 5 pilgrims walking the Camino routes during the year obtain a Compostela. Many Europeans walk a week at a time; some walk shorter routes that do not end in Santiago; others do not apply for the certificate. If that is still valid, there were over a million pilgrims walking the Camino routes this year and the numbers will rise in 2016.

The number of pilgrims walking to Rome is also expected to rise. There are now dozens of tour companies offering various distance walks on the Via Francigena and although we started booking accommodation for our groups a few months ago, many places are already full. The same can be expected on the Camino, especially the last 114km from Sarria.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

27 September - LAST DAY - SAN ANTON

I opened the gate extra early this morning because two pilgrims wanted to leave before 6am.  The moon was low in the sky and shone through the open circle with the TAU at the top of the gate. 
The walls glowed in the moonlight and I thought, 'How am I going to manage going back to cities and noise and closed spaces after living in a place with the sky for a roof, moonlight for illumination and only the sound of the wind or pilgrims singing?"    I was missing my family and wanted to get back to them, but I was torn between needing them and wanting to stay here longer.


After breakfast Angela, Kristine and some of our pilgrims went off to mass.  A young Italian pilgrim went with them but left his pack as he intended coming back later.  I did the usual housekeeping, and whilst I was shaking out the blankets a familiar figure on a bicycle came through the gates - it was Mau.  I was really pleased to see him and offered him a coffee.  He had brought tomatoes, onions and a the biggest zucchini I'd ever seen slung over his shoulder. 



"You are happy to be going home to your family?" he asked.
"Yes and no," I said.  "I am missing them but I am also sad to be leaving this place."  I almost felt like weeping, something I don't do easily.   He just nodded in understanding, and we sat and had our drink.  He is a special human being, gentle and kind and he told me about a visit he's had from his father who he's been estranged from for many years because his father didn't approve of or understand his choice of a way of life that was so different from his own.

Once Mau left I tidied the prayer box, set out the register and the first pilgrim of the day arrived, my first South African!  Well, they are not born and bred South African's but moved to Cape Town from Argentina and call South Africa their home.  She asked if she and her husband, who was struggling along the path behind her, could stay the night.  We are not supposed to keep beds for people on the trail but I couldn't refuse an injured husband with the wife sitting in front of me.  He arrived soon after and they chose their bunk beds.  The Italian pilgrim returned from Mass for his pack and he soon carried on walking to Castrojeriz.

A tour bus arrived and the guide asked if we had seen a group of German pilgrims.  No, we hadn't seen them.  He told us that he had lost a group of pilgrims outside San Anton.  "Is there are bar anywhere here?" asked a German sitting outside the albergue.  "Only 4 km away, at Castrojeriz," I told him.  "That's where they will be, : he said.

Two American pilgrims arrived - a young woman and her older friend.  They asked if they could stay.  Rebecca was thinking of doing a hospitaleros course and I told her that she could also volunteer, arrive a couple of days early and be shown the ropes at the albergue she was assigned to. 

A car pulled up outside and Rebekah Scot and her husband Paddy walked in.  Reb and I had a chat about the albergue, the bed bugs, about Angela and me leaving tomorrow and leaving Kristine on her own.
I introduced her to Rebecca and after a long chat, Rebecca and Lois agreed to spend the next two days with Kristine, after which Reb would join her for the last two days.  The universe had a way of making things right and everyone was happy!

Angela and Kristine returned and Angela told me that we had an appointment with the sisters at 4:00pm.  When we arrived at the convent she rang the bell at the revolving hatch and they passed a key to her for the door on left.  We went upstairs and sat down in a room, separated from another smaller room behind bars.  Soon a few nuns arrived, including two from Kenya and one from Berundi.  We had a great conversation about Africa, our President Zuma, polygamy and politics.  They were interested in my heritage and were surprised to learn that on my mother's side, the Dutch had arrived at the Cape over 400 years ago.  They were happy to provide a prayer box for pilgrims.

We hoped to hitch a lift back to the albergue but all the traffic was going to Castrojeriz so we ended up having to walk the 4km back.  When we arrived back the place was full and we only had two beds left. 

Angela, the South African pilgrim and Kristine started preparing for dinner and as I was signing in a pilgrim I looked up and saw a familiar person walking through the door.  It was Dean, a Ramblers pilgrim from Durban who had come to nearly every Camino workshop of mine since 2002!  He had finally got his act together and was walking his first Camino.  He wasn't sure if I would still be at San Anton and because he was walking quite slowly he was a little behind his planned schedule.
I was delighted to see him and we sat together at dinner so that we could catch up on news. 
This was my last night on the Camino and at San Anton and as I looked around the table at the pilgrims who still had over 450 km to go, I wondered how the Camino would impact on their lives. 
After the last song was sung, the last thank you said to the Camino, and the last prayer request added to the box, I said good bye to Angela and Kristine.  Pedro the taxi guy was coming for me at about 5h45 and I preferred to say goodbye now than wake them up and get them out of bed in the morning.  I left my down jacket for Kristine to use on her Primitivo walk and wished her well.  Angela and I promised to keep in touch.

27 SEPTEMBER - SAN ANTON

 
I got up at 5h15 and quietly carried my big case to the gates.  Then I packed my things into my backpack and whispered good bye to Angela and Kristine.  I closed the gates behind me and walked up to the road.  The walls of the monastery looked different from the outside, the moon shining through the arch that spanned the road.  How many pilgrims have walked through that arch, I wondered?  Millions.  I could almost hear the shuffling of feet and the click-click of walking poles on the road.  The taxi arrived and we were soon speeding along towards Burgos.

I had time to think on the way to Burgos.  Besides the joy of serving pilgrims, very special pilgrims who had chosen to stay at San Anton because they wanted to experience the spirit of the Camino, what lessons had a I learned this time?  I have learned patience, tolerance and endurance, and not to give in to a bossy person, for the sake of peace, on issues that I feel are important or right.  I learned to stand my ground with a smile and not get into any disagreements or arguments. 
I have served with 7 hospitaleros and have fortunately have had a special, happy relationship with all but one - Mrs Bossy.  Even this relationship wasn't doom and gloom, more like stoically enduring constant fault finding and control.  Would I serve with her again?  Probably yes - if we could sit down on day one and agree that there will be no fault finding or bossiness.  They say an apple doesn't fall far from the tree and she has displayed the very qualities that she disliked in her mother.  The fact that she has been on her own for 27 years, raised her children on her own, is an occupational health nurse also contributes to her controlling nature.  She can't help it - in her world she is the boss-lady and she brought that with her to the Camino, and to San Anton. 

Friday, September 25, 2015

25 SEPTEMBER - SAN ANTON

Today was my turn to go to mass at Santa Clara and a small group of us left after breakfast, walking in the early dawn towards Castrojeriz.  There were at least a dozen prayer request in the box this morning and by the time the pilgrims left, only a few remained.  It was gratifying to know that the pilgrims' prayer requests were being taken to Santiago by other pilgrims. 
I had an idea for continuing the prayer requests after the albergue closed next week and chatted to Angela about it on our way to Castrojeriz.  Perhaps the sisters at Santa Clara would be prepared to provide a box in the church where pilgrims could leave their requests, as they did in other churches along the Camino.  I told Angela about the box of prayers in the Church of Santiago in her home town of Logrono and she said she would make an appointment for us to visit the sisters and speak to
them about the ides.
Because we had to wait until 1pm to see the nurse, Angela and I climbed the hill to visit the castle above the village.  When Marion and I visited it in 2007, most of it was off limits and was pretty much just a ruined pile of stones but in the last few years, a lot of money has been spent on the renovation and restoration of the castle.  One can now walk through the castle and see where the small dwellings were.  Climbing the narrow stone stairways gives you a view of four floors of living quarters, kitchens, pantries and water containers.















When we returned to the path in front of the castle we hitched a ride down to the village with a young man.  We walked to the Hotel Jacobus and both of us were able to have a hot shower - my first proper shower in two weeks!  Wonderful to wash your hair under a running stream of hot water instead of in a basin using a plastic cup to rinse!
We walked back to the square and visited Angela's friend, buying a few fresh provisions for albergue.  At 1pm I saw the same nurse at the clinic.  She changed the dressing on my finger and declared it almost healed. 
We returned to the Hotel and I met Ovidio for the first time.  He was busy behind his bar counter but listened avidly as Angela told him about the bed bugs and how we had been dealing with them.  She gave him a list of things we needed, including water, wine, candles, milk, bottled vegetables and fresh, and after half an hour he took us back to the albergue in his car, promising to return later with provisions. 
Kristine went off on her walk and Angela and I tidied the pantry cupboard and fridge so that we would be ready to pack the new provisions when Ovidio returned.  He brought a box of potatoes, onions, tomatoes and cucumber as well as lettuces, a box of bottled salsa sauce, milk and bottles of chickpeas and lentils.  He also brought 5L water bottles and a box of red wine.
That evening Maria Alvarez arrived again, this time bearing a huge tray-box of sweet plums and another of apples for the albergue.  We invited her to stay for dinner and when she told us that it was her birthday, we all sang happy birthday to her.

Tuesday, September 08, 2015

8 SEPTEMBER - NAJERA

We chose to take the route to Ventosa where there is now a large café-bar at the entrance.  We stopped for a hot chocolate and I walked through the village to find the albergue San Saturnino where I had stayed in 2002 and in 2007 with Marion and Annelise. 
On the way we visited the cemetery which has a 13th c portal. 
These fabulous olive trees were in the grounds of a winery. 

 



A few km further we came across a wayside camper selling drinks and snacks.  Pilgrims are always grateful to see these 'informal' cafes especially on long sections between towns and villages. 

 I walked into Najera with Jeff and Connie and Marion was there to show us the way to the Hotel Hispano where I had stayed last year.  Anna was behind the desk, her sister was there with her two children and her father was cleaning cutlery in the kitchen.  Our luggage was in the foyer so I took out the little gifts I had brought for Anna, her parents and her sister's children.  I received hugs all round!


After checking in Marion and I decided to have a picnic in the park and bought a few snacks.  We met the others in the park and shared the Amarula, chips, cheese and olives.
 
Marion and I walked into the new town to look for the Cell-Mobile shop.  My Blackberry wasn't receiving emails and she had lost the little drawer for the Sim card in her iPad.  We found the shop but even though a very knowledgeable young lady fiddled and fussed over my phone for half an hour, she couldn't get the email function working.  Then she had a look at Marion's  iPad but didn't have the part.  She phoned ahead to Burgos but they also didn't have the part. 
 
 
We had walked two shortish days from Logrono but it would be 21km to Santo Domingo.  

Thursday, May 21, 2015

MEMORIALS TO PILGRIMS WHO DIED ON THE CAMINO

This page has been re-posted 27/12/2016 with the latest year at the top of the of the page.  

Please click on the link to go to the new page.




Every year a few pilgrims die whilst on the Camino.  Some have heart attacks, others die of existing conditions, and many more are killed on the roads by vehicles.  The numerous memorials erected by the loved ones of those who lost their lives on the Camino are a poignant reminder that with over 500 000 pilgrims on the Caminos, deaths will occur. 

In the middle ages, if a pilgrim died whilst on a pilgrimage, they would by-pass purgatory and go straight to heaven.  It is a comforting thought for those who have lost loved ones on the Camino.  May they all rest in peace,

Here are a few names (incomplete) compiled from pilgrims' submissions and the list on the Spanish Federation website.  If you know someone who has died on the Camino whose name is not on this list, please send details to:  administracion@caminosantiago.org and to me (with a photograph if possible) via this blog

1986
Alice de Craemer , pilgrim Belgian cyclist, died July 1, 1986 in Navarrete (La Rioja) hit by a vehicle whilst on pilgrimage with her ​​husband who was injured.

1987
 Heinrich Krause , German cyclist pilgrim 26, died Aug. 31, 1987 in El Acebo (Leon) in accident on his bicycle.


1989 
Charles Prosper Remmy , Strasbourg French cyclist pilgrim, a priest of 56 years, died on August 17, 1989 in the village of La Granja (Sarria, Lugo) from cardiac arrest.

1993
 Mario Rafael Gonzalez , Spanish pilgrim, died on July 4, 1993 in Los Arcos (Navarre) hit by a vehicle.


Guillermo Watt , Swiss pilgrim died on August 25, 1993 in Salceda (La Coruña).


 Mariano Sanchez Covisa Carro, Spanish pilgrim, died on September 24, 1993 in Cerceda (Arca, La Coruña).
1995
 Nicolaas Adrianus Henricus Theeeuwes , Dutch cyclist pilgrim 54, died on July 12, 1995.
1995 in Sahagún (León) hit by a car while returning to his country.

Jose Rodriguez Marcos, pilgrim rider 60 years, a native of Oviedo, died on July 25, 1995 between Palas de Rey and Monterroso (Lugo) following a heart attack.

1996: 
 Paul Rolf Bäcker , Dutch cyclist pilgrim, died on June 14, 1996 in the hostel Melide (La Coruna) of a heart attack.

1998
Manfred Kress , German cyclist pilgrim 60, died on June 9, 1998 at Camino Real Bercianos (Leon).

1999

Libertad de Ramón , Enrique Lopez, Natividad Alonso and Carmen Navarro, bus pilgrims from the Diocese of Astorga,  died on May 23, 1999 when their bus had an accident.

Francisco Javier Fernandez Azcona , pilgrim Oteiza 34, Navarre, drowned in Finisterre on 27 March 1999 after completing his pilgrimage

Emilio Muñoz Guerrero, a pilgrim from San Sebastian de los Reyes (Madrid), died on May 4, 1999 while climbing the Alto de Erro (Navara).

Iñaki Esnal Murga , Spanish pilgrim who died on May 21, 1999 in Rabanal del Camino (Leon).

Melendo Bernedi Sabin, a pilgrim from Bilbao, 62, died on June 5, 1999 in Leon at the start of his pilgrimage.

Javier Mendez Biurrun, pilgrim of Tafalla (Navarra), died on June 22, 1999 at the hostel in Leon.

G. Clifford Noylan, pilgrim American cyclist, died on July 9 on the N-120 at the entrance of Navarrete (La Rioja) - he was run over by a truck.

Lionel Douhaud, French pilgrim, died on July 22, 1999 shortly before reaching Melide (La Coruña) he was hit by a van

2000
Francisco Juarez Arbeloa, from Leganes (Madrid), 59, died July 11, 2000 in Melide (La Coruna) of a heart attack.

A Spanish Pilgrim, born in Sabadell (Barcelona), cyclist, died near Ponferrada (León) hit by a
vehicle.

Miguel Angel Rocino, born in Buenos Aires, who died on 13-11-2000 aged 67.

 2001

Jouko Juhani Tyyri , Finnish pilgrim, died on May 9, 2001 at the pilgrim's hostel in Ponferrada (León) in his sleep.

2002
A Brazilian Peregrino , 48 years old, disappeared on January 13, 2002 in the Pyrenees and found dead on January 23, 2002 by two pilgrims.

A French Pilgrim , 78 years old, disappeared on April 3, 2002 between Saint-Jean-Pied de Port and Roncesvalles and found dead a few days later by hikers near Ortzanzurieta (Navarra).


Catherine Marie Kimpton , Canadian pilgrim, died on June 2, 2002 in Villatuerta (Navarra) hit by a car. Her husband was injured.

A French Pilgrim, walking with his wife, died June 4 in Sarria (Lugo).

Klanke Ulbrich, German pilgrim 59, died on June 25, 2002.

Braum Henrietta, German pilgrim who was struck by a vehicle on June 25, 2002 and died June 27 in Pamplona (Navarra).

José María Huerta Otero, 25 pilgrim of Cadiz, died July 11, 2002 in the shelter of Rabanal del Camino (Leon) due to meningitis.

JRBF, pilgrim Lodosa (Navarra), 49, died on August 17, 2002 in the shelter of el Ganso (Leon).

A Canadian Peregrina, 49, died in 2002 at the hostel of Sarria (Lugo).


Shingo Yamashita , a veteran Japanese pilgrim, 64-year-old was found dead on November 8, 2002 between Linzoaín and Zubiri (Navarra).


2003


Myra Brennan (52 yrs)  of Kilkenny and Sligo, Ireland, died in her sleep at the end of her second Camino in Santiago 24.06.2003

Francis J. Barte , French pilgrim and 59 Athos-Aspis, died March 5, 2003 near Valcarlos (Navarra).

Lukassen , Dutch cyclist pilgrim, died on June 7, 2003 climbing to Cebreiro (Lugo).

Bertaco Giovanni , Italian pilgrim 73, died on August 12, 2003 in Camponaraya (Leon)


2004

Franz Joseph Koks , Belgian pilgrim 67, died on April 28, 2004 in Guendulaín (Navarra)  of a heart attack.

Bongardt W. Hubert , German cyclist pilgrim 66, died May 18 in the town of Moratinos (Palencia) - hit by a van.

Surda Anton , Slovak pilgrim, died on May 22, 2004 in Legarda (Navarra) - hit by a car.

Chápuli Alande Vicente , Valencia Pilgrim 35, died on July 24, 2004 in San Justo de la Vega (León) - hit by a vehicle.

Barttolo Revelatto, Italian cyclist pilgrim 61, died on August 14, 2004 in Ponferrada (Leon) in his sleep at his hotel.

Robert Edmond, Pilgrim 56, died on August 21, 2004 in Valverde de la Virgen (Leon) after a stroke.

Luis Hoyos, pilgrim rider Villaba (Navarra), 24, died on August 23, 2004 in Mansilla de las Mulas (León) - run over by a van.

Ramon Gonzalez de Mendoza Diego Villacé, pilgrim of Extremadura, died on April 21, 2004.

Bernhard Stefan Jüttner, German pilgrim 63, died on September 12, 2004 in the shelter of Sahagún (León) in his sleep.

An Italian Pilgrim with terminal cancer, died on Sept. 21 at the Cathedral of Santiago after fulfilling his pilgrimage.


2005
Francis Marsac , French pilgrim who came from Le Puy, died on May 16, 2005.

Zumsande Werner, a pilgrim who came from Saint Jean Pied de Port, died on May 24, 2005 in El Cebreiro (Lugo) after a heart attack.

Jean Marchandy, French cyclist pilgrim, died on June 1, 2005 in Tiebas (Navarra) hit by a vehicle.

Jose Manuel Llamazares Alvarez , 69 Spanish pilgrim coming from Oviedo, died on July 1, 2005 in Santiago de Compostela after fulfilling his pilgrimage.

PG, French pilgrim of 65 years walking with his wife, died on September 15, 2005 in the shelter of Astorga (León) after a heart attack.

Ana Teresa Hernandez, Spanish pilgrim 19, died on September 18, 2005 in Gonzar (Lugo) due to arteriosclerosis.
 2006

 Torremocha Carlos Lorenzo, pilgrim and hospitalero veteran of 63 years, died on January 8, 2006 in Tres Cantos (Madrid) after a heart attack - just 15 kilometres after starting the road from his home in Madrid.

Christine Gall, French pilgrim who died after starting her pilgrimage to Saint Jean Pied de Port.

Vanhersecke Claude, French pilgrim who died after starting his pilgrimage in Le Puy.

Benno Lignau, German pilgrim veteran of 69 years who started his fifth pilgrimage at Canfranc , died on the morning of June 17, 2006 at a hotel in Mansilla de las Mulas (León) in his sleep

Inigo Ibarrondo, pilgrim from Seville, 48, began the Via de la Plata in Seville and died at the end of its second stage, on August 4, 2006 at the hostel of Castilblanco de los Arroyos (Sevilla) due to cardiac arrest.

Santino Joseph Campo and Julian Manzano , 50 and 51, both friends and strangers and hospitaleros that after a pilgrimage to Santiago on the Camino Portuguese, on their journey back home, died on August 21, 2006 in Villada (Palencia) in train accident.

Higinio Aguado, Spanish pilgrim of 67 years of age, died on September 8 in Villafranca Montes de Oca (Burgos) after suffering a fainting spell.

A Pilgrim, 62 years old, died on September 9, 2006 after Castrogeriz (Burgos) as he climbed the height of Mostelares.

Rosa Maria Seia Amorim, a Portuguese pilgrim who came by bicycle from Barcelos (Portugal), died on September 29, 2006 during the course of the last stage and close to Santiago.

Rosanna from Verona (2006) just after Zuriain



2007


Chris Phillips , 51 Scottish pilgrim left Saint Jean Pied de Port for Roncesvalles but did not arrive because of the snow. He was found the following day April 4, 2007 just 50m from the road and taken to a hospital in Pamplona, where he died of hypothermia.

Jean Bernard Andre Gros, 65 French pilgrim who walked the road with his wife, died on the afternoon of May 14, 2007 in Palas de Rei (Lugo), while resting at a hotel.

Kelly Tomas Murillo, a pilgrim of Costa Rica 61 years old, walked with his sister from Saint Jean Pied de Port, but died in May 2007 of a heart attack.

Fuhrmeister Lambert, 76 German pilgrim, who was found dead on June 9, 2007 after passing Puente la Reina (Navarra),

Marcia Schiavon, Brazillian pilgrim passed  21th June 2007, in Boadilla del Camino, from heart attack in her sleep.

Gonzalo Bañolas Bolaños , pilgrim Canary 46, died on June 26, 2007 in Burgos where he was about to start walking the Camino de Santiago.

Jesus Sanchez, pilgrim rider from Vitoria (Alava) who did the Camino with his son, was hit by a car on July 28, 2007 and died on 31 at a hospital in Orense.

Gilles Chanovin, 58 French pilgrim who came from Le Puy, died on August 7, 2007 early in the morning after being hit by a car on the slope of Pieros (Leon)

Andrés García Pelayo, pilgrim rider Algeciras (Cádiz), 41, died on September 5, 2007 after fainting while climbing the Cebreiro.

James Niergang , French pilgrim 63, died on the night of 15 to 16 October 2007 at the hostel of Nájera (La Rioja) in his sleep.

2008 
Uberlinda Cortes 8-12-1945 – 21-5-2008 on her second Camino just west of Rabanal


AG , Limoges French pilgrim, 60, died on May 6, 2008 near Mañeru (Navarra), of a heart attack.

Rodrigo Grossi, pilgrim veteran and President of Astur-Leonese Association of Friends of the Camino de Santiago (Oviedo), 74, died on May 18, 2008 near Tarrueza (Cantabria)  of a heart attack while on North Road with their Association.

Paul Anthon Wharsop, pilgrim English cyclist, 60, died on May 30, 2008 between Valcarlos and the Ibañeta Pass (Navarra), of a heart attack.

Home Thomas Huete, Cuenca veteran pilgrim, 61, who was about to start in mid-July 2008 a new journey in Leon, when he died of a heart attack.

Francisco Javier Burgos Lizaldez , pilgrim of Zaragoza, 53, who made the road from the Somport, died on September 10, 2008 near Sangüesa (Navarra), of a heart attack.

Efferen Werner, German pilgrim who had istarted the Way in Saint Jean Pied de Port, died on September 13, 2008 in Foncebadón (Leon).

Jose Manuel Caudet Peris, a pilgrim of Valencia, 57, died on September 15, 2008 at the Cathedral of Santiago, as he climbed the steps to give the embrace of the Saint, of a heart attack.

Francisco Manuel Lopez Picasso, Malaga veteran pilgrim, 42, died on September 25, 2008 after spending the night in Castrogeriz (Burgos) and as he climbed the hill Mostelares.

Manuel Rodríguez Viña, pilgrim and hospitalero of Zaragoza, 55 years, while serving as a hospitalero in Arrés (Huesca) had to be rushed to hospital in Huesca, where he died on the night of 20 to 21 October 2008 of meningitis.

2009
 

Lucio Cardillo , Italian pilgrim, 70, died on May 26, 2009 in Burgos. His family continued the pilgrimage on his behalf.

CP, Italian cyclist pilgrim, 34, died on June

Pedro Fernandez Fernandez, a veteran pilgrim and hospitalero, 60, who had to stop in May 2009  in the shelter of Samos when he fell ill died on June 22, 2009 at a hospital in Leon.

Brants Manuel Reyes, a veteran pilgrim and hospitalero of Madrid, 45, died on August 21, 2001 while serving in the shelter in Nájera (La Rioja), of a heart attack.

Mönnigmann Josef Werner, German pilgrim Sassenberg, 60, died on September 9, 2009 in the shelter of Azofra (La Rioja), of a heart attack.

Efferen Werner, German pilgrim who came from Saint Jean Pied de Port, died on September 13, 2009 in Foncebadón (Leon).

Alfons , Belgian pilgrim died on September 29, 2009 in the shelter of Mansilla de las Mulas (León), of a heart attack.

Romain Floener, luxenburgués pilgrim who did the Portuguese Way, died in late September 2009 in Porriño (Pontevedra).

Gerhard Theodor Waber, German pilgrim of Augsburg, 57, died on December 1, 2009 at a hospital in Burgos where he had to be admitted.

2010
 Anters Steffen , German pilgrim, 26, died on January 17, 2010 after being struck by a train near Sergude (La Coruna), between Vedra and Susanna, a few kilometers from Compostela.

Manuel Jimenez, a veteran pilgrim from Madrid, 78, died early Sunday in April 25th, 2010 at the exit of Navarrete (La Rioja) while doing the 'Valvanerada', of a heart attack.

Juan Bautista Prats i Catala , pilgrim, 68, died the night of 28 to 29 April 2010 while he slept in the village of Hontanas (Burgos), of a heart attack.

Linus Gillis, Canadian pilgrim started in Saint Jean Pied de Port, 62 years old, died on May 17, 2010 in Terradillos of the Templars (Palencia).

Enrique Luis Ferraro, 77 Canadian died in Cacabelos Municipal Albergue on May 20, 2010 walking his 5th Camino

Christiaan Adrianus Van Gol Jacqueline, Dutch pilgrims made the journey by bicycle from his country, 71 years old, died on May 22, 2010 in Leon victim of cardiac arrest.

An Italian pilgrim, 31 years old, died on July 9, 2010 when he amounted Ibañeta (Navarra), due to heat stroke.

Carmelo Arnaiz Chaton, Spanish pilgrim, 68, died July 9 at the hostel of Avilés (Asturias) in his sleep, of a heart attack.

Guilio Recusani, Italian pilgrim, aged 26, drowned on August 20, 2010 in Finisterre, after completing the pilgrimage to Compostela and continuing to Finisterre.

George Kollen, German pilgrim, 67 years old, who performed the pilgrimage with a group of his nationality, died on the morning of October 16, 2010 between Portomarín and Sarria (Lugo), of a heart attack.
2011
Pater Georg , Bremen German pilgrim who walked the Camino de Santiago to Compostela from Porto, 68, died the day after his arrival in a pension of Santiago on April 7, 2011.

Iohannes Schouten, Dutch pilgrim, 63 years old, died on April 11, 2011 in Pamplona during their pilgrimage

Angel Perez Salinas , Navarra pilgrim who came on foot from Saint Jean Pied de Port, died on April 24, 2011 unexpectedly in Palas de Rey.

Johanna Chmel, pilgrim of Austria, died on May 10, 2011 without being able to complete the Camino in Santiago.



Skov Arne Schmidt, Danish pilgrim 76, died of a heart attack about 100m after the passing ancient the Roman Bridge before Lorca.  In 2012 his widow and family members erected this iron cross in his memory.

José María del Arco , a pilgrim of Ciudad Rodrigo (Salamanca), died on June 17, 2011 in Astorga in the course of their pilgrimage.

Nicole Bigo, a pilgrim from France who began his road in Le Puy en Velay, died before reaching Santiago.

Herceg-Peterdi Reka, Hungarian pilgrim walking from Saint Jean Pied de Port died in Leon.

Cornelius Bernardus Ignatius Winter, a pilgrim from Holland, died on September 7, 2011 in Ponferrada.

Franciscus Johannes Maria van Everardus Gijzel, Dutch cyclist pilgrim coming from the shrine of Santiago de Galder (Netherlands) died on October 12, 2011.

Constantine Ferrandis Campins , Mallorca pilgrim who died unexpectedly before starting his pilgrimage, his teammates made the pilgrimage on his behalf and arrived in Santiago on October 18, 2011.

Maria del Pilar Hernandez Garnes, Castellón Pilgrim began the road in Roncesvalles and reached  Logroño where she became ill and died shortly afterwards.

Miguel Rios Lamas 49 year old died  on 10/09/2011



2012
Sebastien Thomas , French pilgrim coming from Mont Saint Michel, died on March 3, 2012 in the course of his pilgrimage.

A pilgrim Italian cyclist , 67 years old, died on April 24 in the vicinity of Fuente de Cantos (Badajoz), hit by a vehicle.

Joan Ramon Caparros Segui , Barcelona pilgrim pilgrimage began in Seville, died suddenly on May 10, 2012 on entry to Santiago de Compostela.

Mark Byron Dennis , pilgrim of Michigan (USA), 53 years old, died on May 31 in the shelter of Burgos, in his sleep.
A British pilgrim 66 years old, died suddenly on July 24 in Ponferrada, while walking on the Sil River Bridge.

Freddy Heylen , Belgian cyclist pilgrim coming from Antwerp, died on July 31, 2012 in Villafranca

A pilgrim in Sabadell (Barcelona) , 64 years old, died suddenly on August 14 in the vicinity of Castaneda (Arzúa, La Coruña), due to a heart attack.

Eric Rudolf Selman , Dutch pilgrim coming from Oviedo, died on September 26, 2012 in Arzúa (La Coruña).

RNA pilgrim Tarragona Ourense resident, 65 years old, died on September 11 in the vicinity of Lalin (Pontevedra), hit by a vehicle.

A pilgrim Belgian , 25 years old, who was found dead on the morning of October 24, 2012 at the viewpoint of Monte del Gozo Santiago de Compostela.
2013
Jenaro Cebrián Franco, canon of the Cathedral of Santiago and director of the Pilgrim Office, 77 years old, died on January 1, 2012 in Santiago de Compostela victim of a heart attack.
Gilbert Janeri,  8 March 2003 , Brazilian pilgrim, 44-year-old, who was found dead in the Ozanzurieta close to Roncesvalles (Navarra), on March 22, 2013

 Wolscanc Albert Albrecht , German pilgrim 70, died suddenly on April 30, 2013 in the hostel Garrovillas (Cáceres)

Rev. Philip Wren 'Methodist Pilgrim' died May 2013 in Palencia on The Way".
 
Dario Bandera , Italian pilgrim 65 years of age, who was found dead on May 23, 2013 in the mountains of Nobla as close to Undués of Lerda (Zaragoza), victim of a stroke.

Alvia train 79 passengers who died in the derailment of his convoy in the vicinity of the station of Santiago de Compostela in the evening of July 24, 2013, on the eve of the feast of St. James

 

Manuel Dalmeda , volunteer hospitalero Najera, 62 years old, died suddenly on September 7, 2013 in Azofra (La Rioja) while visiting the latter hospitaleros population.

Two German pilgrims: HR and LWG , 43 and 49 years old respectively, who died on 20 September 2013 at the height of Pedrouzo (Arca, La Coruña), hit by a truck while walking along the shoulder of the N- 547

Dr Agnel Lobo (60 years) died in Triacastella on the 3rd of October 2013 of a  heart attack.


2014
Miguel Martinez Maestre (55 years) and José Lillo Huertas, Alicante pilgrims traveling north to begin the Way in Villatobas (Toledo) died on April 26, 2014, when their van rolled down an embankment.
 
A German pilgrim, 59, died in his bed of a heart attack on April 30, 2014 in the hostel Morgade (Lugo) 

An Irish pilgrim cyclist, 65 years old, died on April 12, 2014 near Hospital Condesa(Lugo) when he
fell off his bicycle.
Pilgrim British cyclist, 71 years old, died on September 1, 2014 in Carrion de los Condes (Palencia) of a heart attack.
Vicenta Beltran Arnández pilgrim Valencian rider, 55 years old, died on September 5, 2014 at the hospital in Barakaldo (Vizcaya) of a stroke.
Japanese Pilgrim, 52, was found dead on November 13, 2014 in a farm shed near to San Juan de Ortega (Burgos).

2015
April:  Denise Thiem, Amerocan pilgrim who went missing, was found murdered in September


May 14:  Juan Carlos Lema Balsas 'Zapatones', pilgrim and Jacobean icon of the Compostela pilgrimage, 61 years old, died on May 14 in Pontevedra.

 


19 May:  Hugh Wallace died in Santiago after completing his pilgrimage

20 May:  American pilgrim found dead near Izandorre, Val Carlos.  

 

21 May:    On the Via Podiensis, a French pilgrim, walker native of Besançon 74 years old, died between Lauzerte and Moissac
 

June 2:  A German pilgrim, 73 years old, died of a heart attack on June 2, 2015 in the Molinaseca albergue  (León)
 

7 June:    67 year-old pilgrim resident of Lugo died when she was hit on the N-547, passing through the town of Arca, in the Coruña municipality of O Pino.

21 June: A 36 year-0ld French pilgrim died on the way between Las Herrerias, before O Cebreiro, and La Faba, locality of the municipality of Vega de Valcarce.


29 June:  20 year-old Max Hilder from Germany drowned in the sea at Finisterre


16 September:    Rowland Ian Kitchen died near Sarria after completing many Camino trails
3rd October:  Roger Chilcott of Dartmouth walking the El Camino de Santiago de Compostela trail for charity 
 
5 October:   Dr. John Leonard Goodwin of Charlottetown, age 60 years. Died suddenly, in Castrojeriz
 

22 October:  The body of Adrian Ruiz Munuera, a native of Fuenlabrada was found after he went missing two days earlier having completed his pilgrimage in Finisterre.

2016
 
18 April:  Drago Žnidar (or Žnider) from Slovenia died of a heart attack in Lorca.






26 April:  A 73 year-old Finnish pilgrim died after being hit by a car close to the hostel of Valença on the Portuguese route.  The man was part of a group of people from Finland, had just checked in at the pilgrim hostel

28 April:  A middle aged pilgrim died as a result of a bicycle accident near Tricastella. 

29 April:  Ron Duke, Australian pilgrim, had a fatal heart attack while sleeping peacefully on 29th April 2016 in Leon, having walked with Shirley from St Jean Pied de Port. He was 66 years old. Shirley finished the pilgrimage for both of them and received two Compostelas in Santiago.

 20 May:  A male pilgrim, Mr Varszegi - 53 year-old Hungarian pilgrim died of a heart attack 100 m after the Orisson auberge in Orisson on the first day of his pilgrimage

10 July:  Seamus McDonagh (60) died of a heart attack hours after completing the two-week Camino Primitivo from Oviedo to Santiago.

21 July:  Welsh teenager, Michael Cura 16, from Swansea, and his party were nearing the end of their charity cycle trip to Santiago when he collapsed and died in the Irago Mountains.

4 September:  70-year-old British citizen died of heat stroke on the Camino Via de La Plata after spending the previous night in a hostel in Castilblanco de los Arroyos 

9 September:  The body of Belgian pilgrim Jeroen Schelstraete was found in Leon.   He died of wounds inflicted by unknown persons.

12 September:  41 year-old South Korean Jim Ha Cho disappeared from the beach at Finisterre.

15 September:   Patrick J. Ennis passed away in San Jose, Burgos, while walking the Camino de Santiago with a friend.

4 November:   Juan Francisco, ‘Paco’ , a 54 year-old Spanish pilgrim from Salamanca, walking his third Camino, died of fatal injuries after falling down a ravine between Val Carlos and Roncesvalles

27 November:  37 year-old Thomas Bellman from Germany was found dead in a ravine in the Saltacaballo area, a few kilometers before Castro Urdiales on the Camino Norte