September 9th

Well, of course I have forgotten how to upload new photographs to this blog! So sorry. Perhaps some young person will help me along the way.

I am having a wonderful up time - the people (there are very, very many peregrines - I am never more than 10 minutes out of sight of another one or a group walking together) are nearly all very friendly and helpful; the country side so beautiful with rolling hills, fields now of grain freshly harvested, each village with a natural stone church and best of all, hundreds of beautiful  ego logics or wind generators on nearly every ridge top.

I spent Friday night on the flop of a former gym because I arrived in Zubiri too late to find a bed.  It was PL because I found a discarded pad and also some cardboard to put under it.  Nevertheless, sleeping in a space with thirty or so other Peale with rain pounding on the metal roof made rising very early easy to do.

I was in the Camino before dawn with my flashlight.  Unfortunately for me there was  very nice Belgian man in need of light, and he set a pace that was too fast for me on an alternately muddy and rocky track.  By the time he charged ahead in the daylight, I had apparently injured my right foot.  My fault, I know, I didn't have to keep up with him, but  anyway by the time I reached Pamplona, I was quite sore.  Stopped and bought some anti-inflammatory cream, and had a luscious day and a half of rest with my Basque friend Nerea.

She works in ecological cooperative, an organic food store in which no money is used.  It is a membership organization and when your tab is totted up and you sign the ticket that amount is debited from your bank account.

She and her very kind partner, angel live in the ground floor of a nicely refurbished old house.  It has big south-facing windows and a deck.  All the country houses have three floors, ground floor for animals, middle for people and top for hay.  So practical; warmth and dryness for everyone.

Nerea and her sister gave me a massage yesterday.  I had decided on a relaxed day instead of walking around Pamplona - I had met her in the old city, so had already seen how quaint and beautiful it is.

Today walked over thE Alto de Perdon, famous peak with rusted steel  sculptures of medieval peregrines.  

Ted for dinner!

Love to all, 

MBR