Day 4 – Akerreta to Pamplona

May 10th – Hotel  Akerreta has been a welcome retreat of pilgrim sharing combined with great food, facilities and fellowship.  Claire and Eddie from Dublin who I met in Orisson are here along with new pilgrim friends Andrew from Norway and Susan from Australia.

I step outside into the courtyard, ready for the new day and feel the sun on my skin for the first time on this journey.  Donning my sunglasses and pealing off my jacket down to my shirt sleeves I am cool but know that I’ll warm up quickly as soon as I begin to walk.  Pulling my backpack on once again I’m ready to step onto the path when a fellow pilgrim who I saw at the mountain food cart (on Day 2 when I regrouped with warmer clothes) turn the corner.  He is traveling the Camino with his dog.  Time to stop and get my doggie fix.

Today will be a short day – 10 miles on an easy path through tranquil forests by the Arga River with some small villages before entering into the bustle of Pamplona.

When I was walking in preparation for the Camino I came to know each turn of the path or tree root at my feet as I covered the same ground over and over.  Now each sight is a new visual banquet for my eyes and coupled with nature’s perfume I am truly in heaven here on earth as my legs sail me down the path.

Entering into the suburb of Puente de Arre by crossing over the magnificent medieval bridge I see the church Convento de la Trinidad‘s exterior doors are open.  A man seated next to a small wooden table beckons me in and I realize he wants to stamp my pilgrim’s passport.  After doing so he extends his arm to the open church door and I step into pure peace where I sit and drink it in.  Asking permission to take a photo he smiles and says “Si!”

Finding a little cafe I stop for coffee and an early lunch.  I am the only pilgrim with locals sitting at the counter and small tables. I once again feel like I need to pinch myself as I think  for the umpteenth, “I’m really here and doing this!”

Leaving the cafe and walking the city street’s pilgrim path which is periodically marked keeps me on course.  A tall well dressed man smiles as he passes me and holds up one finger saying “Uno kilometer”, then points to the cathedral on the hill which I realize is in Pamplona.  I’m almost there!

When I started writing this blog about the Camino over a month ago it was to explain to friends what the Camino is, why I am doing it, and what I was doing to prepare.  I realize now I am writing just as much for me.  For all the times I have traveled and said, “I’ll remember that,” and I don’t; or, “I’ll write about that,” and I don’t – that putting words and pictures to each day will keep the Camino alive in me for the rest of my life.  I am so blessed.