<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">Hi PiWare & congrats on ur forthcoming wedding.<BR>
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I spent this summer at U-Santiago de Compostela & was highly recommended the guide book below by my "gallegazo" friends; it was published by El Pais, 3rd edition, 3/'02, & seems to have an excellent reputation. I believe it may answer many of your questions. <BR>
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Besides, this guia includes excellent maps, descriptions of places along the Camino, info. on monumentos, gastronomia, albergues, etapas, & much more. <BR>
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<B>"El Camino de Santiago a Pie," </B><BR>
Grupo Santillana de Ediciones, S.A.,<BR>
2002 Santillana <BR>
Ediciones Generales, S.L.<BR>
Torrelaguna, 60. 28043 Madrid<BR>
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Abrazo de Xosé Manuel<BR>
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In a message dated 1/25/2003 3:21:28 PM Eastern Standard Time, piwareaPACBELL.NET writes:<BR>
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<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Hello, Friends,<BR>
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My fiance, Susan, and I are going to get married in April here in the USA and then walk the first leg of the Camino in May.<BR>
We're planning to start at St.Jean Pied De Port and end in Logrono. (We also plan to come back to Spain in the subsequent years and finish the Camino, piece by piece.)<BR>
I lived in Spain for two years (in Valencia and in Madrid) and have been looking forward to doing the pilgrimage for a long, long time.<BR>
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If any of you with Camino experience could take a look at our questions and answer them, Susan and I would be so grateful:<BR>
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1. How exactly do we get a passport from the Friends of the Road to Santiago?<BR>
2. How exactly can we join the Friends--I know it's $8, but where do we send it, is there a form to fill out, etc?<BR>
3. Do you recommend a hard or soft hiking boot for the camino (heavyweight or lightweight)?<BR>
4. What's the weather like generally in that region from approx. May 10-May 17?<BR>
5. Can you make hotel reservations ahead of time on the camino? What about reservations at the refugios--can you make them in advance?<BR>
6. We weren't planning on bringing a tent because of the additional weight. Is this a mistake?<BR>
7. Are there intercity buses from city to city? For example from Los Arcos to Logrono?<BR>
8. How many pounds do you recommend carrying in your backpack?<BR>
9. Should we get a passport in Roncevalles? Where do you get it?<BR>
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Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer our questions. I realize that over-planning can limit the fun had on an adventure, but we both realized long ago we're way too neurotic not to plan ahead :-) .<BR>
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Thank you! <BR>
(Si prefieres responder en espanol, me parece fenomenal. Muchisimas gracias.)<BR>
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Pi Ware<BR>
Los Angeles, CA<BR>
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