<P>I stay in hostels about every third night to clean up a bit more properly and enjoy solitude.</P>
<P>I spent money mostly on food and drink but once I hit Santiago, I bought new clothes, a suitcase, and gifts, etc. I also spent the night in the Reyes Catholicos, one night only.</P>
<P>I think about those tourists on busses. Many were just tourists, I guess. But many also were old, heavy, probably unable to walk the Camino for reasons of health or because of time restrictions. They made their Camino when they worked long hours to afford the tour bus trip. On the outside, they may not look to me like they have made an "honorable" pilgrimage (whatever that might be!) But I do not know what led them to Santiago or what hard twisted route they may have taken in their lives. I thought about this as I stood in line to place my hand on the Jesse Tree. We were all equal there, all on a Camino. I was the most blessed, to have been able to walk, to be able to walk it yet again.</P>
<P>Deanna</P>
<P> </P><BR><BR>athena...<br>wisdom's aspirant<br>child of earth <br>daughter of time<p><hr SIZE=1>
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