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<DIV>Having replied to Jim's inquiry privately, I am forwarding it to the entire
list as the response, esp. about Iberia Airlines, may be of interest to
others. Channing</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
href="mailto:channingtarcn.com" title=channingtarcn.com>Channing Thieme</A>
</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A href="mailto:jtw1111aearthlink.net"
title=jtw1111aearthlink.net>jtw1111aearthlink.net</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, April 03, 2002 9:06 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: How many days should I schedule to walk the
Camino?</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Jim, if you have 7 weeks I urge you to allow for at least 6!
The entire "French Route" certainly can be walked in well under 40
(even 30) days, but if you have the time, take the time! Enjoy days in the
cities along the way - esp. Pamplona, Burgos, Leon and Astorga, and days of
rest. Take side trips by bus to the likes of Bilbao, Lugo and even
La-Coruna. We walked from Pamplona to Santiago (taking the bus from Burgos
to Leon) in 30 days, which was well paced, allowing for days off. One day,
however, we will return to walk the entire stretch beginning at St. Jean with
open-ended timing. Every town along the way has a history. There is
much to explore, not to mention the opportunity for solitude. Sometimes
you will want to keep stride with fellow pilgrims. How grand it
would have been to be able to pause wherever and whenever.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>If possible, avoid flying with Iberia Airlines to Spain as they have a well
earned reputation for losing luggage. The reason we began in Pamplona is
because we were stranded there for four days waiting for a lost backpack ...
which was found at *Air France* in Madrid after we had finally bought all new
supplies. This was a Saturday and the airport in Pamplona was closed on
Sundays in September. Unwilling to wait another two days to hopefully link
up with the bag, we asked them to return it to our US address. After much
hassle with letter exchanges Iberia agreed to refund a mere portion of the cost
of the new supplies. Apparently this is not an uncommon story.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Buen Camino!</DIV>
<DIV>Channing</DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:ChanningTarcn.com">ChanningTarcn.com</A>
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