Finding treasure on the Camino de Santiago

I have had no wifi for a few days and spent two hours yesterday trying to catch up offline and then promptly lost all of Sunday, so this post is for Sunday 5th June 2016.

SUNDAY: Puenta de la Reina to Estella

Km’s walked – 25.5kms; steps taken – 34282; flights – 80

I was a little worried about being alone, even though I had originally planned to do the entire route on my own, I’d been a bit spoilt for five days with Jacqui being with me.  Jacqui left promptly by taxi at 8h00 and I headed out. My first Camino gift presented itself in the form of a little grocery store and there I found Societe Roquefort (a very close cousin to Papillon my favorite). I knew everything was going to be ok. I had an apple, some Zubiri ham, a tomato and some olives, and of course my crown, I was good to go.

The views of the Puenta de la Reina bridge leaving the town were simply beautiful. As I left the town I reflected on how fortunate I am to do this and how much I would love to share these moments with my family.  Everywhere I look I see such beautiful scenery it almost makes me cry.  I found the yellow arrows and I was on my way. I have started a little ritual of listening to my two Camino songs gifted to me by my Warwick (both Springsteen songs, surprise,surprise!).  The songs are “If I should fall behind” and “My beautiful Reward”.  I play them two or three times as I start my walk and they both really give me the vooma I need to get moving.  When I am feeling a little flat in the day I play them again. 

The path was spectacular from the second I stepped onto it, it was like Jacqui was there anyway as I passed fields and field s of flowers and poppies and Broom. If Saturday was marked by fields of gold, red and green, Sunday was marked by sunshine yellow Broom bushes everywhere and fields of poppies.  There were flowers everywhere like Jacqui was quietly whispering to me to keep going and chatting to me about the species of wild flowers to keep me occupied. Simply lovely.

I am told that when one writes one is meant to use adjectives sparingly, well I’m afraid  I will probably fail that test. The scenes I am presented with every second, are beautiful, spectacular, lovely …. Awesome etc. Be warned you will get bored with these words but they are real to me and they describe my thoughts as I see what I see. I stopped at a river briefly to eat an energy bar and just take in the scene. I was rewarded with two bright blue dragon flies courting. It’s amazing what you see when you take some time to slow down and look around you.

Amazingly the Camino gifted me with butterflies, caterpillars and beautiful birds every time I thought I was running out of steam. I kept “bumping” into Pilgrims, but none were English and conversations were brief and a little strained.  I kept seeing the same people though. Which was good. I had my picnic as soon as I found some shade on the path and enjoyed my little feast, managing to get a Pilgrim to take a photo of me. That kikoi I bought ( the colorful throw you see) has been just so useful and bright. I created a few smiles sitting there having my picnic. 

It did seem like a really long walk at some stage it felt like I was never getting there.  I kept playing my songs to keep me focused. And I took a lot of photos. I passed by a pilgrim I’d met on the first night at Orrison, Sylvia, from Argentina. We engaged brefiely, but the language barrier presents a bit of a challenge. I played Diana Krall a lot of the afternoon to keep my spirits high and the music enhanced the experience.I passed through a charming little village called Lorca and pooped into the church.  I try to do that in all the open churches so I can say a Camino prayer and show gratitude for my journey.  It was of course Sunday and the priest was there, and a very lovely man walked up to me, told me in a beautiful voice in English that they were going to have mass now and “Are you Catholic?” I responded that I wasn’t and he graciously responded, “That’s ok, we pray and bless you anyway!” What a beautiful smile he had. I didn’t stay for mass as I had a funeral and a holy communion last week and my Spanish is not so good.

As I approached Estella (Estelle this is your town), I came across a donkey, several actually, really odd, all tied to poles for some reason, looking somewhat irritated at my intrusion. As I approached the town (population 14000, not so small after all) I pulled out my “sketchy” directions to my Hotel.  The maps are small and the writing on the maps are in font size minus one, so difficult to read.  

For those of you that know me I don’t know my North from my South, from my East or my West.  I am Princess Fanny de Gama (Warwick has called me Vasco on travels for years).  Instructions said something like ” There is limited Accomodation in Estella, and unfortunately it is out of town!”  I had to make sense of the map. Warwcik always does the maps and the language.  Anyway I found it right out of the historic old town, and did not have to deviate too much.  It was a lovely Hotel.  Hotel El Volante, sparking clean, good size and right on the Camino route for tomorrow. They were so welcoming and did my laundry and gave me dinner tips (in Spanish).  The woman who checked me in commented on Babar saying in very broken English (better than my Spanish), “This bag is for two persons…!”  Enough said. I found dinner in the old town which by the way added a 4km round trip to my day of 25,5.

I fell asleep content, happy and dreaming of more surprises tomorrow. Not such a bad day walking solo after all. That crown and those songs work their own magic and then of course there are those Angels (Mum and others) looking out for me.

Camino gifts today; flowers everywhere reminding me that Jacqui was there in spirit, Blue dragonflies at the river, blue butterflies “following” me, my two songs, and the beauty surrounding me.