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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>This past July I walked from Leon to
Santiago. As many of you know the camino has a life of its own. I
had a wonderful journey. I find it hard to come up with words to talk to
my friends about the trip. Part of the appeal was walking in the footsteps
of so many past pilgrims. Part of the appeal was the richness of the
rituals (botafumaria in Santiago, queimada in Villafranca, pilgrim meals at the
5 star hotel, to name just 3). I love music and I heard so much great
music in Santiago. I was amazed at how hard it is to be a pilgrim.
My body rebelled. People told me after 2 weeks my feet would be fine but I
only walked 2 weeks. Many nice connections with others, some brief, some
lifetime connections.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>There was one very stressful incident. In
Rabanal a 25 year old woman died of meningitis. That kind of event was a
total shock. I was stressed big time. I ended up receiving a
vacination in Ponferrada. I guess people should consider a vacination
before going on pilgrimage, or at least investigate the issue. The
likelyhood of catching the disease even with direct contact is extremely low,
but if you do contract it you get a headache and a couple of hours later you are
dead. The refugios are very close quarters and crowded. Many doctors
recommend the vacine for college students and the military gives it because of
crowded living conditions. Anyway I'm healthy and alive thank
goodness.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Does anyone know more details about the woman
who died? Being on the road the were many rumours but I feel I know very
little about the incident. I'm also interested in if anyone has numbers
for how many compostelas were given out during the month of July, average age,
stuff like that.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>I tried looking in the archives but couldn't
come up with anything.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Bien Camino, Jack
Beard</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>