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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yes, I've been subscribing to the listserv since
last December and specifically stated that I was comfortable with the 40km/day
to deliberately offset the "slow down, smell the roses, take a look around"
crowd. A 12/13 minute mile pace is very comfortable (and I'm still looking
at, and enjoying, everything as I go) for me and even though I'll be walking
that daily distance immediately as soon as I set off, I still plan on taking a
1-2 hour break mid-morning, as well as arrive at my stop by 2-3 p.m. each
afternoon. I then intend to spend the remainder of the afternoon and some
portion of the evening wandering around and looking. This is, in fact,
only the second vacation I've ever taken in my life (I'm forty-one) and I'm very
much looking forward to all the aspects of the Camino - natural sites, cultural
and historic stuff, the people... EVERYTHING. I go with tremendous
expectations and none at all both. That is, I know the way, I know how
much distance I can travel (everything I've read and scene indicates the route
will be significantly less difficult than the trails and distances I've been
subjecting myself to since June), but once I get there, I just plan on letting
the experience unfold before me.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm jazzed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks for the input.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards, B'midbar.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=CHRNARTSaaol.com href="mailto:CHRNARTSaaol.com">CHRNARTSaaol.com</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=bamidbaracaminante.us
href="mailto:bamidbaracaminante.us">bamidbaracaminante.us</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, September 17, 2002 4:03
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> re: things to stay</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">I started in Burgos -- so can only comment on the trip from
Burgos to Santiago. Of course, you don't wish to miss the cathedrals at Burgos
and Leon. Astorga is particularly interesting -- a great museum about Roman
settlements in Astorga, the Bishop's House designed by Gaudi -- now holds a
museum about the pilgrimage. There is also a Chocolate Museum in Astorga --
with free samples!<BR><BR>Mostly -- though -- the towns are small with few
attractions. (Bring a good book.) The churches are sometimes open in the
evening if someone comes to open them up. I was always in a place on Sundays
to go to Mass but didn't have the opportunity during the weekdays.<BR><BR>You
must be a tremendous walker! One word of caution: There was a sign in a small
chapel. The translation is basically -- the pilgrimage is not a race. Take the
time to rest - to look -- to think. We decided to start at Burgos so we would
have plenty of time. As it turned out -- we had an extra week before we had to
go back to Madrid. We traveled to Asturias and explored Los Picos de Europa.
Blessings, Marcia</FONT> </FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>