<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>In a message dated 8/3/2001 8:13:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
<BR>eldorpaHOTMAIL.COM writes:
<BR>
<BR>
<BR><BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">"my wife, a MD with a Masters Degree in Public Health and a pediatric public
<BR>health practice is horrified at the prospect of drinking untreated water
<BR>from <U>fuente</U> in agricultural regions"</BLOCKQUOTE>
<BR>I haven't heard of one instance where this has been a problem, but I see
<BR>people every day in NYC drinking bottled water since it is so fashionable to
<BR>do so despite the fact that repeated testing has shown that the NYC water
<BR>supply is healthier and better. Why pay money for water that has been sitting
<BR>around breeding bacteria in plastic test tubes called water "bottles"? I am
<BR>in touch with numerous pilgrims and not one has complained about any of the
<BR>numerous plagues and scourges that you described. I really wish people like
<BR>you would stop alarming potential pilgrims about the safety of the water
<BR>supply from POTABLE fuentes that have been used by countless pilgrims. Those
<BR>that may be unsafe are clearly marked NON POTABLE.
<BR>
<BR>"It isn't usually necessary (though I was forced into a hotel once because of
<BR>a full refugio), but comfort and privacy may dictate a few hotel nights even
<BR>for the most penurious pilgrims"
<BR>
<BR>Maybe I'm nuts, but people who need comfort and privacy should stay home. To
<BR>me the energy and experience of the Camino is enhanced by the sacrifice of
<BR>comfort and privacy. You seem to have an elitist and cavalier attitude
<BR>toward pilgrims with tight budgets or perhaps those who come from countries
<BR>where the exchange rate is not as good as the dollar and can only afford to
<BR>stay at refugios.
<BR>
<BR>Howard
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