Camino 2023

I pooped in Pamplona. Yes it’s a thing and we talk about it a lot. That good news started our day out right. We also talk a lot about what we can possibly take out of our bag to lighten it. Uno is still with us but we have not had a single down minute to play - or journal, read, relax, etc…it’s all walking, finding a bathroom, making sure we are hydrated, and finding food. Today we decided to make it “our Camino/our Way”. We decided to add to our walk and do the 5km extension to see a 12th Century church that was an extension of the French Camino route. Highlight was the lady asking me if I wanted the open the doors of the church for the afternoon (which she shared is a big honor) and it was an amazing experience opening the big heavy door as other pilgrims waited to enter the church and hearing the door creak and seeing the candles and the church for the first time (pic - round church). We walked and walked 20+ km (12+ miles) and ended in Puente la Reina and yes that is Joan (pictured) on their famous bridge. We attended mass at 7:30 pm and they asked all pilgrims to come forward for a special blessing and the priest asked us our name and where we were from. Offered a group blessing, and a beautiful Camino necklace as the church sang to us wishing us well on our travels- it was very emotional for many of us. We had a wonderful bottle of Navarre Cabernet- our first wine in Spain. In bed ready for 22km tomorrow. Joan washed our hiking clothes in our bathtub and they are hopefully drying tonight hanging around our room- if not we have to hang them on our bags We will be taking pics at every city sign we pass thru with the goal of having something unique and funny - joan. Shocking-Joan lost her sunglasses today. Buen Camino!Read more