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<DIV><SPAN class=370130216-15042004>You have to walk the last 100 km which would
mean starting in Sarria a 115 km, if you intend to walk the Camino
Frances. Villafranca is about 113 miles from Santiago and the last stop in
Leon before Galicia. Burgos is quite a distance east about 300 miles from
Santiago. Popular starting points are Astorga at 160 miles approx, Leon at
192, and so on. O Cebeiro is 94 miles and the end of the last really
difficult climb. Sites to see that I found inspiring, interesting etc are
the monastery at Santo Domingo de Silos, a day trip outside Burgos, the
cathedral at Burgos, the cathedral at Leon, especially the stained glass
windows, the Gaudi palace in Astorga, the Roman ruins and museum in Astorga, the
Templar Castle at Ponferrada, the Monastery at Samos and the wine fountain at
the monastery Irache. There are of course many sights and experiences that
pop up daily. I ran into a medieval festival in Burgos in May, and a
Roman festival in Astorga in September. I recommend you get the
Confraternity St James guidebook for the Camino Frances, which is point to point
and updated every year. The Brierly book also has good maps and info but
is formatted in recommended stages and considerably heavier.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=370130216-15042004></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=370130216-15042004>Buen Camino</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=370130216-15042004></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=370130216-15042004>Jim</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Road to
Santiago Pilgrimage [mailto:GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Judith
Rosenthal<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, April 15, 2004 8:49 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU<BR><B>Subject:</B> planning trip<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">I am a teacher (ESL) in a junior college
in New York and an planning to make the pilgrimage along as much of
the Camino as I can in the last week of May and the first few weeks of
June. I am 75 years old but have hiked most of my life and even though I
am much slower now, I hope I will be able to do at least do the last 100
miles. I am not sure where I should start - I would particularly like to
see Burgos but that may be too great a distance. I intend to hike only
about 8 to 10 miles a day and enjoy what I am passing through. I will be going
alone, though hope to meet people along the way. Any advice about what
would be a good place to start, places I should not miss along the way,
nitty-gritty of what is really important to take would be appreciated. I
have been reading your wonderful and helpful answers to e-mail sent in.
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