First 200Km

Despite good intentions, this is my first chance to post. I was hoping Carla and I could write together but I lost her somewhere at the last village, Granon. We have plans to stay only another 12 km down the Camino at VillaMayor. I´m hoping she will show up.

This is the middle of the day, lay low time for the Spanish. We are at last to the plains of Spain where the weather is beginning to heat up. Coming over the foothills of the Pyrenees and through Navarre, we had wet, cold days. My plan is to mostly post pictures but my Internet cord is at the bottom of my pack and the thought of digging is tiresome. Already packing and unpacking and sorting are major endeavors when we are tired which we are constantly. My mochila only weighs 9 kilo and my purse one more but it still takes its toll at 20 to 30 km a day.

The two everyday highlights are the other pilgrims (peregrinos) and the countryside. We have talked with pilgrims from twenty two other countries so far, most of whom are here for religious or spiritual reasons and very determined: this morning at breakfast (bread and cafe) four French men sang us a medieval song of the peregrinos. The word Ultreyea was repeated numerous times with great passion.

The countryside: wheat, vinyards, sunflowers, bright red poppies everywhere, villages of tiny streets and red tile roofs, rolling hills, 16th cen. churches with a super abundance of ornate gilt decoration and bleeding Christs, church bells, etc.

Love to you all, Charlotte