<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Somport Pass/Aragon Route early May 2001</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<TT><BR>
Dear Delphia,<BR>
<BR>
> ... exactly what 'list' are you refering to..... the gocamino<BR>
> list.... of one of a different sort... you refer to 'the list' a couple of<BR>
> times, and I am not quite sure.<BR>
<BR>
Yes, I meant this, the gocamino list, which proved a huge help in answering<BR>
the particular planning questions this spring I needed help with particulars<BR>
of planning, and which was exactly the kind of resource I was wishing for<BR>
and didn't know how to find before my daughter and I walked in 1998. Thanks<BR>
for asking a clarifying question and I'll look forward to seeing you when<BR>
Maria and I read in DC.<BR>
<BR>
Here's a continuation of the note about my wife's and my introdcutory walk<BR>
on the camino last month-<BR>
<BR>
After learning from the hospitalero in Jaca that there were more places to<BR>
stay than our guidebook (or any of the other pilgrims guidebooks) knew of,<BR>
and sharing that happy discovery with the other pilgrims upstairs, Ellen and<BR>
I went out to celebrate our 26th anniversary with a special dinner. It was<BR>
still cold and wet enough that what I remember first about the good little<BR>
restaurant we found was that it felt very warm and cheerful. As dinner<BR>
progressed we also realized that there were several other pilgrims there.<BR>
As we finished and left four Dutch pilgrims introduced themselves and<BR>
recommended breakfast at a place called 'Pilgrim Cafe.' 'With an English<BR>
name?' I asked. 'It's the same in Dutch,' one replied, 'but yes.' We<BR>
returned, happily exhausted from the day's walk, set our alarm for what felt<BR>
to us like an early start, and fell quickly into pilgrim's sleep. It was<BR>
Ellen's first night in a refugio dormitory. 'I think I like hearing all<BR>
these people sleeping,' she whispered as we turned in.<BR>
<BR>
Other pilgrims' early departures made the alarm unnecessary, so when got up<BR>
after several others it was still ahead of our alarm. We took the Dutch<BR>
pilgrims' recommendation and stopped beside Jaca's medieval fortress at the<BR>
good Spanish cafe with the English/Dutch name for a hearty breakfast.<BR>
Walking all day to Arres we saw only one other pilgrim along the way.<BR>
<BR>
more follows in the next note. donald</TT>
</BODY>
</HTML>