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<DIV>Dear Danielle,</DIV>
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<DIV>I, like you, will be walking only a portion of the trail, since I do not have more than 10-12 days in Spain (and likely never will). From what I have read and learned from books, the internet, and the generous members of this site, the last 150 kms of the trail can be very congested in the summer. </DIV>
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<DIV>I am planning to begin my walk in Roncesvalles. I'll see how far I can get, and, with any luck, I will be lucky enough to return one day to complete the rest of the pilgrimage. </DIV>
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<DIV>On a slightly unrelated note, I am discouraged by the distinction there seems to be between "true" pilgrims and "tourists." I have high hopes that walking the Camino will be a very spiritual experience for me, even though I may be a lapsed Catholic, and even though I am able to complete only a small portion of the pilgrimage. While I may not have precisely the same intentions as the medieval pilgrims had, by walking the same path that they walked I hope to gain a great deal of personal insight and also forge connections with my companion, my fellow travelers, and others I meet along the way. I want to believe that my intentions, and the intentions shared by people like me who might not embrace the Catholic faith, nonetheless comport with the original spirit of the Camino. <BR><BR><BR><B><I>Danielle Turner <Danielle.TurneraCITYOFHENDERSON.COM></I></B> wrote: </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">I've just discovered the Camino and I'm planning my first visit in Sept.<BR>I can only spend 8 or 9 days hiking. Any suggestions on the best place<BR>to start that is easy access from Madrid? I'm pretty hardy so I could<BR>cover 15 - 20 miles per day - or take it easy and experience what<BR>Camino. Do you recommend trying to get a "Pilgrim's Passport" (I'm<BR>planning on doing at least the minimal 100km) before departure or<BR>getting one when I arrive?<BR><BR>Thanks<BR>Danielle<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><p>
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