We have stopped in a small village called Uterga after walking about 7 hours from Pamplona. We had intended to walk another 5 or so kilometers to Obano before stopping, but this is what happened. It was a long uphill walk to the wind turbines and the Pilgrim Monument and then a very long rubbley walk down, and it was getting very hot. As we entered the village, we saw a very welcoming sight of an Albergue/cafe. I needed a snack and a bathroom, so we stopped. There we found sitting on the patio a young woman (doing the walk to celebrate her 60th birthday) from Philadelphia whom we had met in Viskarret as we sat on a bench in the shade drinking beers we had bought at el mercado. She had twisted her ankle as she started the steep downhill from the Monument so she decided to stop here for the night and rest her injury. We gave her some anti inflammatory salve that Marty had bought and an Ace bandage from our 1st Aid kit. We had our snack and set out again. But as we left the village and looked ahead across the valley in the hazy heat and saw the long down and up ahead of us, I just didn't think I wanted to do it. So I prevailed on Marty to turn back and check out how much staying at Camino Al Perdon would cost ( it looked like it might be more expensive).
Another little Camino miracle: as we walked back into the Albergue, there were Ian and Loma, our friends from New Zealand whom we had met coming over the Pyrenees. As we checked for accommodations, we we're told there was a room available for 4 people, 2 in a double for the couple and 2 singles for Marty and I. And the room has a bathroom ( toilet and sink). And it was only €10 per person! Another €12 for a big pilgrim dinner. And there is a washing machine to do all our laundry!
Ay ay ay, the friends we make on the Camino! It´s such a joy to find them here and there, have a toast together, share tips, complain and laugh, wish each other the best... Nancy, I think I am packing my things again and go back to Spain because your entries are making me too nostalgic of the Camino...
ReplyDeleteWonderful turn of events, yes. I remember the ads for travel I'd read in the coffee table mags when I was a kid, and how they implied the people we would meet might just be the best part. Guess it's true from the look of you all in the photo. Great day.
ReplyDelete.....little Camino miracles!!
ReplyDeleteMuffy when do you not prevail? What a lovely turn of events. When mike and I were visiting kitty in Maine we went on a 6 mile, 3 mountain , 4 peak hike. That was a big day. You are a rock star compared to that. I love the meeting of people along the way. Remember that you and Marty are therapists and our life work is meeting people along the way, spending some time with them, and then moving on.
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