<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type charset=UTF-8 content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<META content="MSHTML 5.50.4134.100" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 9/30/2003 12:59:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time, jnollaraLIBRARY.CALTECH.EDU writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>Winter is tempting, despite the sharp chill of the Meseta and the rains of Navarre and Galicia; this is the best season for appreciating the grandeur and immensity of the landscape. The cold, often accompanied by damp</FONT><FONT size=2></FONT> <FONT size=2>ness, would not be a drawback if one could be absolutely certain of finding somewhere comfortable and well heated for the night.</FONT><FONT size=2>"</FONT><FONT size=2></FONT> </FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0080c0>I will concede that the winter may appeal to some people who enjoy bleakness and chilly weather, but personally I prefer the glory of spring when flowers are in bloom like the endless fields of poppies or the harvest season in the fall. I suppose empty or cold refugios (those that are open in the dead of winter) and lack of crowds may also be appealing to some. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0080c0></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0080c0>However, part of the experience for me was the camraderie of other pilgrims despite the larger numbers of people in the warmer weather. As advice for future pilgrims, I would really hesitate to encourage January Caminos. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0080c0></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0080c0>My final point on this belabored subject: there must be a reason for why people are inclined to go in warmer weather and that is that the Camino is just more enjoyable then. One caveat though, despite the popularity of summer as a time to go, you have to consider that many people, including students, tend to take summer vacations and go on the Camino that time of year since it is more convenient for extended travel for them. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0080c0>Howard Mendes, NYC</FONT></STRONG></DIV></BODY></HTML>