[Gocamino] first pilgrimage

[catherine stuart]

hello lori...i walked the camino in 2000, starting in st.  
jean...alone, american, and female...my thoughts on advice to you are  
twofold...one, moleskin, moleskin, moleskin...i had a simple and  
lightweight, though sturdy pair of patagonia walking shoes and good  
socks and carried a bit of moleskin just in case...i recieved not a  
single blister...my second thought is this...simply aim for  
grace...though my spanish is terrible at best, i was polite and  
appreciative of the world around me and i experienced no negative  
vibes from any people that i encountered, local and otherwise...in  
fact, daily i was exposed to acts of kindness and graciousness and  
support from those in every village i passed...and, yes, this was  
during the election debacle when all thought we were a bunch of  
idiots, not knowing who our president was to be...i wouldn't  
apologize for being an american, or deny it with a canadian ruse, but  
the world is a big place and it will be, i think, eye-opening to have  
this mirror to see how we, generally and broadly, are  
percieved...and, it is a fine opportunity to show that, perhaps,  
americans, and, frankly, those of any culture or nation, should be  
judged individually...so, put your best foot forward, hold your own,  
open your heart and don't be afraid....coraje and best regards,  
catherine