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I would add that, depending on how many days you are walking, an occasional
stay at a small hotel is a welcome respite. In the small towns like Arzua
you can find a small hotel for about $25. Compared to a refugio, that's
a lot of money. But to have some privacy, a hot LONG shower and a comfortable
bed, it's worth it.
<br>Also, unless you are a frequent flyer to Europe, fly in and out of
a city you want to see. My favorite is Paris, but Madrid is great too.
We fly into Paris from California, then take trains to wherever we're going.
There is a fast train from Paris to Bayonne. From there you can get a bus
to St. Jean. I research my flights on the internet, then go to a consolidator
in Los Angeles to buy the ticket. Lydia
<p>Howard Mendes wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><font face="arial,helvetica"><font size=-1>In a message
dated 3/1/2002 11:46:14 AM Eastern Standard Time, denise1234aEARTHLINK.NET
writes:</font></font>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"><font face="arial,helvetica"><font size=-1>Do
the refuges have hot water? towels? and soap/shampoo? Do you carry</font></font>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica"><font size=-1>these things?</font></font></blockquote>
<p><font face="arial,helvetica"><font size=-1>Don't count on hot water
everywhere. Try to take a shower early when you arrive before hot
water may run out. No towels; buy a fast drying camping towel, something
like a chamois cloth, but large. Sporting goods stores like EMS or
Bed Bath & Beyond sell them. No soap/shampoo. Bring soap
& a small plastic soap dish that closes.</font></font>
<p><font face="arial,helvetica"><font size=-1>Refugios have little or no
amenities. Many have showers that go off in about 30 seconds when
you don't keep a button depressed, because they try to conserve the hot
water. Bring toilet paper/tissues for example. You can buy
replacements for necessaries in many small towns and the cities at Supermercados.
You may need it on the Camino during the day. BE PREPARED TO ROUGH
IT. Howard Mendes</font></font></blockquote>
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