<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>In a message dated 7/3/01 4:08:39 PM Central Daylight Time, LgalilaAOL.COM
<BR>writes:
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<BR><BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">By the way, were you able to take along your cherished walking stick?
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<BR>Ha! Actually, no. I took Elyn's advice and brought along a Leki, which
<BR>saved my rear end on numerous occasions! :-) I think that is the only think
<BR>I have the slightest bit of regret for. On the way up to Cebreiro, I went
<BR>through a tiny village in which a man lived who had carved these amazing
<BR>staffs. They were all spiralled up and had little faces perched at the top.
<BR>I was going to get one as I wanted to feel wood in my hand as opposed to the
<BR>cork handle on the Leki. But they were rather expensive and extravagent, so
<BR>I declined. However, I came home to my staff and have begun to carve some
<BR>things into her which I remember from the journey. The Leki worked well and
<BR>fit nicely along the side of my pack when I didn't want to carry it. I was
<BR>amazed at the rather cheesy staffs, cloaks and hats being sold in Santiago.
<BR>I felt like it was a little too Disney Land for my taste. But if they are
<BR>making money, and people are purchasing those things, so be it.
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<BR>BTW, I'm happy that my little stories are helping!
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<BR>Gabrielle</FONT></HTML>