From Cizur Menor to Mañero vía Puente la Reina

Today was a great almost 17 miles journey. Full of physical challenges and historical learning.

During my short time doing El Camino I have learned that to achieve Sainthood you can either be beheaded or kill your sister. These two options are not good choices, so it will keep searching for different ways. This comment bring me to the experience today.

Leaving Cizur Menor, we were faced with a 6.5 very steep climb to the “Alto del Perdon” ( the Summit of Fogginess). Let me tell you, it is well named. I was crying at the end of the climb. At the summit, they have metal statues in recognition of the pilgrimage.

We continue our journey, the down hill is as bad as the uphill. And we arrived at the town of Obanos. We discovered that a procesión on the name of St. William was going to start in 10 minutes. I have not been on a catholic procesión is more than 45 years, so I joined.

This is what I learned. St. William (Guillaume) Duke of Aquitaine, killed his sister Felicia in a bout of fury at her refusal to return to court duties after her pilgrimage to Santiago. Overwhelmed by remorse and his repentance he took the pilgrimage to Santiago and renounced his nobility for a life of poverty, penitence and prayer. He lived the reminder of his live in a monastery.

Now, the creepy part. The skull of St William is embedded on a silver reliquary and a hand of her sister is also on a silver reliquary. At the end of the procesión, the Father (priest) poor wine through the skull and everybody drink the wine to game health and spiritual awakening. I drank 3 glasses. The pictures speak for themselves.