Pamplona - no bulls!

I heard rustling around in packs early - it was 6:10 and I was the last person still in bed.  We dressed, packed up (it helps to organize and pack the night before) and were on the road by 6:30 with our headlamps dancing on the path.

Today's walk was considerably easier and a little more scenic than yesterday. We passed a number of fields and followed the Arga with its melodious burbling beside us.  Again, were were astounded by how everyone spread out in a short time and the Camino felt like ours alone.

My Angel Card today was 'Sisterhood and Brotherhood' and I kept thinking of the many people whose paths have crossed ours on the way, either passing each other along the trail or meeting up for dinner.

Last night we were a little late for the Pilgrim's dinner and all the seats were taken.  We ran into a group of people we met in Orrison and they told us to bring chairs to their table.  We again, had a good meal over companionable conversation.  It was wonderful to be welcomed to the table by our new friends.

I also was thinking about all the sisters and brothers at home and around the world that have commented, written and have been such amazing supporters and encouragers of this walk.  Thank you all - we feel very held by you.

I am so aware how important it is to have others in our lives, particularly kindred spirits.  I am thankful for my network of friends, family and fellow journeyers. We learn together, laugh together, help each other out and hopefully live from our hearts.  This journey is helping me to do this more.

As we walked this morning two New Zealand ladies whom we've connected with over the last few days fell into step with us and shortly we arrived at a cafe where we found four more Irish friends and stopped for breakfast and Angel Cards for everyone.  

From then on, it was a nine-some, including Mark from Poland who showed us all how to adjust our walking sticks properly walking on to Pamplona.  It was a lovely day and the walk seemed to speed by.

At one point, we decided to take the alternative route up a hill that lead to a small church, the church of St Stephen.  

                                     

       

A nun greeted us and had information about the church in different languages.  As we sat in quiet contemplation, she gave us each a paper with:

   The Way:  Parable and Reality

The journey makes you a pilgrim.  Because the way to Santiago is not only a track to be walked in order to get somewhere, nor is it a test to reach any reward.  El Camino de Santiago is a parable and a reality at once because it is done both within and outside in the specific time that takes to walk each stage, and along the entire life if only you allow the Camino to get into you, to transform you and to make you a pilgrim.

The Camino makes you simpler, because the lighter the backpack, the less strain to your back and the more you will experience how little you need to be alive.

The Camino makes you brother/sister.  Whatever you have you must be ready to share because even if you started on your own, you will meet companions.

The Camino makes demands on you.  You must get up even before the sun in spite of tiredness or blisters: you must walk in the darkness of night while dawn is growing, you must get the rest that will keep you going.

The Camino calls you to contemplate, to be amazed, to welcome, to internalize, to stop, to be quite, to listen, to admire, to bless...Nature, our companions on the journey, our own selves, God.

I share this because it is relevant to each of us on our life paths and in some ways are all pilgrims (maybe not getting up in the dark to walk, which I confess, was hard this morning!)

After posting a prayer, gratitude or blessing on the board, we were again on our way sharing chocolate and arriving in Pamplona (yes, the 'running with the bulls town')

By 1 PM, we had arrived in the old center of the town with its cobbled streets and shuttered buildings, had bought Diana a new pair of shoes at the Camino outfitters store (the down hill walks were becoming increasingly hard on her feet with the shoes she brought) and were walking up the hill to the Municipal Aubergue where our bags were again waiting for us.

                              

       

The Aubergue is in an old building, but is beautiful with 4 large rooms with probably 50 beds in each.  they are sectioned off in 4s - with 2 bunk beds, there are hooks for packs, shelves for shoes and plugs for electronics.  We got our sheets and pillow cases, made beds, showered, did laundry and sat outside in the lovely courtyard where a lot of laundry was drying in the sun!

We both went for juicy hamburgers for lunch and came back for a rest.  I am much tireder today - I still have a cold - and my feet are throbbing!  No blisters and I am oiling and massaging as much as I can.  One of our sisters from New Zealand is doing Reki on Diana as I write.  

There are so many gifts in each day including a plum we found fallen from a tree in the road that tasted like ambrosia.  We are meeting others later for dinner and Catherine, from Australia who is traveling with her husband and four children ages 7-15, folded our laundry because she is attending a sick child this afternoon and is staying in the Aubergue.  This day there were many tears of joy.