Zubiri to Pamplona

Don't worry Mom. I have no intention of running with the bulls and the feast of San Fermin was two weeks ago.

Yes I am in Pamplona. While the running of the bulls is over, the Feast of Santiago de Compostela is tomorrow and tonight we have a Mass at 7:30pm.

Pinchos - Light Snack Served in Bars in Northern Spain

 
Then I may have to check out some of the Pinchos (left). This is sort of an appetizer, but there is a whole lot more to it. I can't wait!







Today we walked from Zubiri to Pamplona and I say "we" because along the Camino you eventually start talking with people who walk at the same pace as you and then you decide to stay at the same hostel and eat at the same place that has a pilgrim's menu. Before you know it you have a community.

Marc (left) and Bernard (right)

Our community is made up of Marc, a teacher from Holland, who hopes to walk to Santiago, Chris from Virginia who just got out of the Navy, Gira, a nurse from Holland, who is only walking for a week and Bernard, a musician from Denmark who is not on any particular schedule.






On the Camino, there is an instant connection with other Pilgrims. This morning we stopped off for coffee in the town where Martin Sheen stayed when filming the movie "The Way". (Left)

 
While in the coffee shop the owner told us all about Martin Sheen and then we had a jam session while Bernard played guitar (right) and we all tried to sing a song that we knew the lyrics for. Bernard started to play Ave Maria until we learned that Marc lost both parents last year three months apart and Ave Maria was the song used at both of their funerals. We picked a different song. "Blowing in the Wind" by Bob Dylan.

It turns out that Bernard had lost both parents by the age of 12 and Gira had tried to save her mother as she died from an embolism when she was 14. We talked for a while about the mystery of life and death and how the two travel together.

Everyone has a reason to be on the Camino even if they cannot articulate it. The easiest way to put it is that each person has chosen to be open. For some it is a choice to be open to something they cannot name. For others it is a choice to be open to the God who they believe has called them to take this journey of faith.

Sunset over Pamplona