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<p>Gretchen Gonzalez wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><font face="Arial"><font size=-1>Antoinette</font></font>
<br><font face="Arial"><font size=-1>I will be heading out for a section
of the camino from Cebreiro or Sarria next month with my 71 year old mother!!</font></font></blockquote>
<p><br>You might want to rethink starting from O Cebreiro unless your mother
is in very "good shape", while it is only 21k from O Cebreiro to Triacastella
there is a fair climb up to the Alto de Poyo and then a long steep downhill
to Triacastella. The route profile can be found at
<br><font color="#3333FF">
<A HREF="http://perso.wanadoo.fr/camino-frances/Gener/cadres5.htm">http://perso.wanadoo.fr/camino-frances/Gener/cadres5.htm</A></font>
<br>
<p>By the way the web view of O Cebreiro is exactly what you see out the
window of the refugio there.
<br>
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><font face="Arial"><font size=-1>I would appreciate
any experiences you might want to share along that stretch of the camino.
We'll have a week to get to Santiago.</font></font></blockquote>
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><font face="Arial"><font size=-1>Did you stay in
the refuges</font></font></blockquote>
IMHO the refuges were the best part of the Pilgrimage, very interesting
social interactions with a very diverse group of people. You
may have a bit of difficulty fitting in at first as most of the people
you will interact with have been familiar with each other for quite a period
of time and have learned to live with each others foibles; just give it
time and make allowances for them.
<br>
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><font face="Arial"><font size=-1>Where did you stay
in Santiago?</font></font></blockquote>
There is a plethora of accomodations in Santiago, on your trip talk to
anyone who has the Confraternityof Saint James Pilgrims Guide. There
are also the two Turismos on Rúa do Vilar. (Just down the
street from where you get your Compstela)
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><font face="Arial"><font size=-1>Did you go on to
Finisterre?</font></font></blockquote>
Yes, turismo will probably send you to the University for a "guide".
<br>By the way don't get frustrated by one turismo sending you on to another,
there is a bit of a "turf war" going on.
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><font face="Arial"><font size=-1>What is the terrain
like along that part of the route?</font></font></blockquote>
Hilly but not excessively difficult, there is a small "ford" across a stream
on the last day but it is not difficult. It does require that
you take of your boots though so make sure you have sandals with you.
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><font face="Arial"><font size=-1>Would you recommend
leather boots or the all terrain gortex hikers?</font></font></blockquote>
<p><br>Your personal preference, whatever is most comfortable for your
particular feet. Boots that fit are the most important criteria.
I wore leather walked entire route without a blister. My boots fitted,
were well "broken in" and I was fanatical about clean sets of socks.
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><font face="Arial"><font size=-1>Thanks for your
input.</font></font>
<br><font face="Arial"><font size=-1>Gretchen from Michigan</font></font></blockquote>
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