<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>Robin,
<BR>
<BR>I agree with you. I was very happy to take the longer route via Samos, as I
<BR>wouldn't have wanted to miss the monastery! But those murals...they were
<BR>rather startling. The building itself gave me such a sense of antiquity, but
<BR>the murals really spoke to the real religious hisotry of Spain and the
<BR>Church. I'll come out and say it - they gave me the creeps! No offense
<BR>intended, of course. :-)
<BR>
<BR>I also adored Samos because of the river walk. I highly recommend to anyone
<BR>staying at Samos to go behind the monastery. You will see a road extended up
<BR>to the left. Follow it for a very short while and there will be a nice sign
<BR>directing you to a preserved, flagstone-paved walkway. You will find a very
<BR>beautiful and peaceful walkway along the river. It's nice if you need to get
<BR>away from the refugio for awhile, or just need to be by yourself. If you
<BR>have a thing for faeries and folktales (which I do), the path puts you right
<BR>in the middle of a faery forest.
<BR>
<BR>As for routes being closed... in late June, the path was sometimes muddy, but
<BR>certainly passable - and oh so green! I don't think you will have much of a
<BR>problem at this time of year.
<BR>
<BR>May your Camino be joyous E.O.!
<BR>Blessings,
<BR>Gabrielle</FONT></HTML>