Hi Aimee Greetings from Jerusalem
15 kilo is far too much do try and cut, should you discover something you just can't walk without, Spain is a modern country and just about anything you might need is easily available. Nice places to stop? First of all Leon! Don't let the excitement and enthusiasm push you out onto the Camino without a good look around-the Cathedral of course but don't pass on the Basilica St Isodoro and definitely take the tour in order to see the frescoes which are almost 1000 years old! Your first problem, do you fall into the "only true pilgrims walk all the way" trap and destroy your knees on 9-10 kilometers of sidewalks and streets, furniture stores, gas stations, tacky bars, and garages to walk out of Leon or do you take the city bus from Plaza San Domingo straight to La Virgen del Camino, the last stop which drops you off on the Camino? "Remember your knees, you will miss them when they are gone". Other nice places? Now we become subjective, I really enjoy Hospital del Orbigo and Astorga, Rabanal for the of so English albergue Gaucelmo and the Gregorian chants at evening mass, Villafranca del Bierzo and do try the local Bierzo red wine there, O'Cebreiro has sadly become a tourist attraction but if you must try pulpo this is the place, despite recommendations for Melide, octopus is much better here, Sarria is one big albergue but do go into the small San Roque church as you leave in order to see the cloister, the towns of Galicia are sad try to stop before or to trudge on through them, the countryside wonderful, try to turn right (north) off the Camino at Portos in order to see what remains of Vilar de Donas, a Romanesque church now a museum very beautiful, the hospitalier at Portos was quite surly but the albergue pleasant enough, don't even consider stopping at the so called Pilgrim Pavillion called Os Chacotes, better to sleep outside in the rain! My favorite albergue on this stretch is located just befoe Portomarin, Albergue/Café Bodeguina just before Meracadoiro/Moutras, on the left hand side of the Camino (south) very busy at lunchtime with pilgrims and locals becomes pastoral after 1400 and wonderful people there and good food ,I could go on and on some more but won't Buon Camino!