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<DIV><SPAN class=740453822-04042001><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Robert,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=740453822-04042001> <FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Thank you so much for the information, definitely
useful!!! If you don't mind... how long did it take you from
Arles to Santiago?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=740453822-04042001><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=740453822-04042001><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Thanks
again,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=740453822-04042001><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Jennifer </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Road to Santiago Pilgrimage
[mailto:GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Robert E.
Spenger<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, April 04, 2001 4:11 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: New arrival to this list... with
questions!!<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>Jennifer,
<P>I did the Arles route last year, and , yes, much of it is hiking paths. I
followed the guide put out by the London-based Confraternity of Saint James.
Often I stayed on the paved road when the designated route (GR653) seemed to
be unnecessarily circuitous. One of the stretches that I enjoyed the most was
neither on the paved road nor the "official route," but was on the
hiking/biking path alongside the Canal du Midi. I was on this for almost a
whole day and it took me into the center of Toulouse. As a Californian, I had
never seen a canal lock in operation before, so it was a treat to watch and
photograph the whole process when a large canal boat went through one of
the locks. On a number of occasions, the paved parts were quiet country lanes
with very little traffic. Often I could see a more or less parallel major
highway in the distance, but there were only a few places where I had to walk
on a highway with heavy traffic. On leaving Toulouse, on the recommendation of
the guidebook, I took a bus about ten miles to the outskirts of the city.
<P>France does not have a refugio system like the one in Spain, although there
are some establishments that cater to pilgrims. I often stayed at cheap hotels
or at a chambre d'hote. Since my command of French is negligible, I got
in the habit of asking the proprietors to call ahead to make reservations for
my next stop. I hope that this information is useful to you.
<P>Robert
<P>Rémi Loyer wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE="CITE"> <SPAN class=770061020-04042001><FONT
face=Arial><FONT size=-1>Hi everyone,</FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=770061020-04042001> <FONT face=Arial><FONT
size=-1>My name is Jennifer Bruce. I live in Calgary, Canada.
Last September I picked up a magazine at the hostel in Seattle... and there
I found an article on the Camino. I am a student of anthropology and
history and my passion is travel... so this seems a dream come true. I
am planning to do the Camino on Sept 1. I will be travelling on my own
and have a few questions. I am pretty sure I will start in St.Jean...
however, I am also pondering starting in perhaps Arles, or Toulouse.
Does anybody know if these ancient routes leading in from France still exist
as a path - as opposed to highway? I didn't really have any concerns
regarding the Camino until I read the book by Shirley MacLaine... now I am
afraid of these 'dogs'. Should I be concerned enough to bring rabies
vaccinations? Any other vaccinations? I guess the real question
for everyone, is... what is the one thing you brought or didn't bring that
would be indispensable for a modern day pilgrim. That is all for
now. I thank you for your time.</FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=770061020-04042001></SPAN><SPAN class=770061020-04042001><FONT
face=Arial><FONT size=-1>Jennifer Bruce</FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=770061020-04042001></SPAN><SPAN class=770061020-04042001><FONT
face=Arial><FONT size=-1><A
href="mailto:JenJenacadvision.com">JenJenacadvision.com</A></FONT></FONT></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>