I'll be arriving in Lourdes (God willing) August 8th - my vague plan has been to begin my camino from there, to St. Jean Pied de Port and onwards, and while I'm finding varying routes and possibilities on previous threads here on the forum and elsewhere, finding viewing so many possibilities from afar a little overwhelming, and not sure how realistic it may really be once I'm actually there on the ground. I've been preparing equipment/hiking/training-wise, but don't speak French and will be traveling alone as a woman. Had originally thought because of World Youth Day in Madrid other parts of the Camino might be overcrowded so it might be smarter to spend most of my time in France and just do the first part of the Camino de Santiago, hopefully get to at least Pamplona or a bit further before getting on a train to Madrid for the final vigil and mass with Pope Benedict August 19-20, which would give me about 10 days to walk. Any advisement anyone out there might be inspired to give would be greatly appreciated!