<html><P>A sage comment. </P>
<P>As a cultural not a religious pilgrim, I still wanted to walk the entire distance. The last 10 k or so walking into Burgos, caused me to seriously reconsider that goal. I was well acquainted with Spanish cities prior to making the walk, and I do not find their suburban belts either interesting or attractive. Walking for hours past an airport and then alongside a busy road through non-descript industrial zones and huge blocks of flats is not a good situation for contemplation or though about much more than getting to someplace safer and quieter. Based on the experience of entering Burgos, I decided to take a bus from Mansilla to Leon and a taxi out of Leon to Virgen. On the taxi ride out of Leon, I shared the car with a true religious pilgrim who was also willing to "cheat." When I make the walk again, I plan to repeat those bus and taxi rides and to take a taxi into Burgos as well. Fortunately the entry into most of the !
ot!
her large towns and cities is shorter, less taxing on the ears and safer.</P>
<P>During the early part of the my walk, I spent several nights in refugios where a group of "pilgrims" from Switzerland, led by a priest, also slept. The fairly large group had support vehicles and few them group walked for more than an hour or two each day, choosing instead to ride, along with their luggage, for much of the distance. Despite this, they considered themselves true religious pilgrims and when they reached Santiago, several days ahead of those of us who walked, they were awarded their certificates!</P>
<P>From Sarria onward, the camino was crowded with religious pilgrims, many of them from Spain and Brasil, walking the required 100 or so km to get their Compostelas. </P>
<P>In short follow Ms. Dunn's advice, do the camino as best suits your goals. There are many rewards in walking it, but the rewards are greater in some sections than in others.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>E. O. Pederson</P>
<P>Seattle, WA</P><br clear=all><hr>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at <a href="http://explorer.msn.com">http://explorer.msn.com</a><br></p></html>