Santiago de Compostela

[dandekay]

Mercedes,
   "Amen" to all that Sharon said.  And don't worry, the Camino provides....
much more than you can imagine.
         Daniel

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sharon Mehdi" <SharonMehdiaAOL.COM>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 6:23 PM
Subject: Santiago de Compostela


> Dear Mercedes,
> How nice to receive your email!  I wish my Spanish was half as good as
your
> English!
> What made you decide to walk the Camino?  Will you fly to Madrid from
Mexico
> City?  What is the date of your departure?  The first time I walked the
Camino
> I began in Roncesvalles on September 17.  Spain was having a terrible
> heatwave and the temperatures were between 90-100 degreees F. each day for
the first
> three weeks.  The next year, a friend started from Roncesvalles on the
same
> day -- September 17 -- and Spain was having a coldwave!!  My friend had to
wear
> all the clothes she brought at one time!  It was also raining every day
during
> her whole pilgrimage and she had to buy a new sleeping bag when hers got
wet.
>  So, September is a very tricky month!  This time, I'm starting early in
the
> month -- actually the end of August.  I would rather be too hot than too
cold!
>
> I didn't do the pilgrimage in a wise way.  I read a book by Paulo Coehlo,
> entitled Pilgrimage.  And as a result decided immediately that I wanted to
walk
> the route!  I was not prepared physically or emotionally or mentally or
> spiritually.  I just KNEW I was supposed to do it and I did.  I had never
backpacked
> before in my life!  The longest walk I had ever taken was about 7 miles.
> Three days before I left the U.S., I fractured a bone in my heel, so I
walked the
> whole 500 miles with a broken foot!!
> But somehow, I survived.  I'm still not exactly sure how!
> My best advice to you is to practice hiking as much as you can from now
until
> September.  Do not wear new shoes!!!  I wore old Nike's and they were
great.
> The people who had new, expensive hiking boots were the ones who got
> blisters.
> Take as little as you can!!!!  (That's the most important.)  Prepare for
> heat.  If it turns cold, you can always buy a sweater or a jacket en
route.  But
> start out with very, very little.  Even a few ounces in your backpack will
make
> a big difference!  I remember having an argument with a friend on which
one
> of us was going to carry two extra postcards we bought!!  We even argued
over
> who would carry a few Band-Aids!  I know it seems ridiculous now, but soon
you
> will understand.
> I don't want to make this email so long you will be troubled by reading
it.
> But if there is anything specific I can help you with, please be sure to
let
> me know.  It is a very exciting, wondrous adventure you are embarking on.
It
> will change you forever.  It is a hero's journey.
> Many blessings to you as you prepare,
> Buen Camino!
> Sharon Mehdi
>