S2 E4 - Dangers on the Medieval Camino de Santiago

This episode explores some of the perils faced by medieval pilgrims, including those related to the natural environment and infectious diseases, as well as encounters with thieves, aggressive toll collectors, and unscrupulous innkeepers. It also describes some of the efforts of monarchs and Church leaders to protect pilgrims on the Camino.

Fun listening while I walk the Camino.

Fun listening while I walk the Camino.

And the dangers continue, at a lower rate, as I think of an American who disappeared 10 days ago (and missed his flight home) in the Pyrenees on the Camino.

My son, age 16 & very athletic, decided to run each leg of the Camino. On the second day, he got lost in the forest after leaving Castilloblanco, on the La Plata route. It was 104°F, 40°C that day (July), and he ran out of water. He was exhausted after running 10 miles, turned back to find our family (who had long before taken another fork than he had taken). Luckily, he encountered a forest fire-service worker, Francisco, our heroe, he asked for help. Francisco drove our son to our next city. Location services, texting and phone calls were not working.

So the dangers do and will continue.