The Camino is filled with all sorts of statues depicting pilgrims - in Northern Spain - the Camino is the life blood of so many locals - in some other places locals would complain about strangers walking all over the place - in Spain - they love the pilgrims - their money - the freshness they bring to that area. In Lent - those who introduce us to new insights - a blessing indeed - time to appreciate those who are different from us.
One Man's tin can - another's pilgrim
Pleasant trail crossing a stream
Yes - some pilgrims ride horseback - lucky for them
horses not so lucky walking on stones
Another way sign - marking trails
Dangerous down hill - walk slowly
if you look carefully there is a small gray triangle patch in the trees before
Walking through the back yard of Northern Spain
125 Kilometers - getting closer
Hello Mr Bull
And in the middle of nowhere - a Coke machine - where did they get the electric
Heat - sun - dirt - rocks - a normal path
Way markers more frequent now every few kilometers
And it's down and under and up a turn to the left - Hi Arlene
A bridge made out of flat stones
Time to make a decision - go left or right.
In Lent we constantly make decisions on which path to follow
stay the course or make a change
And this was the correct decision?
Looks can be deceiving - will she fall this down hill?
Finally we are in "Sarria" - To qualify for the Compostella - the official certificate that says you walked the Camino - you must prove that you walked the last 100 kilometers - starting in this village and walked to Santiago
St. Mary Church - if starting your Camino - get your pilgrim passport here
and official stamp to prove you were here
City run albergue - very basic - cheap - shower & bed
Today we arrived in Sarria - another hot day - clothes filled with perspiration - this was the first public albergue we stayed at - very basic - ceiling just inches above your head if in a top bunk - I was - first time we saw other pilgrims walking around mostly naked without a care who viewed them - obviously an European thing - not as shy as Americans. After showering and getting into dry clothes - laundry - then headed out for wine and tapas and eventually dinner. Slipped into bed - night prayers - God is so good - no matter what your day has been like - always sending His blessings on us.
Buen Camino
Deacon Dale