Hoy, fue una caminata muy diferente. Todo el día con lluvia y vientos fríos. Me puse toda la ropa caliente que tenía en mi morral.

El paisaje vibrante y precioso, empezamos ha entrar en la zona de Rioja.

Hoy caminé solamente 20 KM. Todos los músculos me duelen y con el frío el dolor se amplifica. Eso es lo que se siente como peregrino. No puedes dejar que el dolor te domine, tienes que seguir caminando hasta que llegues a tu destino.

Today, it was a very different day as pilgrim. We left the Albergue with high winds and cold rain. I was wearing everything warm that I had in my backpack.

The journey wasn’t that long, only 14 miles, however, the rain and the cold weather make your sore muscles even more sore. At the end, my calve muscles were killing me.

My Swiss pilgrim friend decided to stay on Torres Del Río while the rest of the group kept going and additional 8 miles. This is what happens in El Camino. You see people over and over at different times.

The beautiful country site allows for reflection. Is is such an open country side and the beginning of the Rioja region. Now, the prefer drinking wine is Rioja or Reoka as my English friends call it.

Dinner tonight was tapas, octopus, calamari and Jamon Ibérico with Rioja wine. Nothing better for a pilgrim

The next few days are going to be difficult with a lot of rain and high winds.

Today was a long journey of 18.5 miles. I suppose that you get better as it goes, however, at the time that I write this, my body will disagree. I have discovered muscles that I didn’t know I have.

The day was quite interesting. Walked for a long time on an ancient Roman road (trail). Before entering the road I ran the bell of happiness

Later on, we encountered the wine fountain. What a marvelous idea. This wine suppose to provide you with strength to finish your journey, of course, I empty my water bottle and poor wine on it for the road.

During the week I have learned that all the towns are located at the top of the hill, bigger the town, bigger the hill to climb. Today wasn’t an exception, after walking for 16.5 miles, we have to climb the last 1,5 miles with an slope of more than 45 degrees. Absolutely insane.

Hoy fue otro día muy largo y con momentos interesantes. Caminamos 29 KM. Pasamos por muchos pueblos con arquitectura de más de 500 años.

Una de las cosas que he aprendido desde que empecé es que todos los pueblos están montados en el tope de montañas. La jornada de hoy no fue diferente. Después de caminar 27 Km, los últimos 2 KM fue una pendiente mayor de 45 grados. Que barbaridad!!!

He encontrado musculos que no sabía que tenía y dolores que nunca había sentido pero seguimos adelante.

La sorpresa del día fue la fuente de vino. Imagínate, en vez de una fuente de agua, te tienen una fuente de Vino. Las botellas de agua se vaciaron y se llenaron con vino. Este vino supuestamente te da mucha fortaleza. Necesitando la fortaleza, tomamos bastante vino.

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.

Hoy fue otro largo día de 28 km con grandes experiencias. La caminata empezó temprano a las 7:30 de la mañana y empezamos a subir montaña por 8.5 Km al “Alto del Person”. Llegue pidiendo perdón. Dijé Coñoooo!!

Las estatuas de pelegrinos esta en Alto del Perdón. Como todo lo que sube tiene que bajar, la balada fue tan difícil como la subida.

La sorpresa no la encontramos en el pueblo de Obanos. Llegamos 10 minutos antes de que comenzara la procesión en nombre de Santo William. La historia dice que St . William mato a su hermana Felicia porque ella no quiso regresar al trono después de hacer el peregrinaje a Santiago. Después el se arrepintió e hizo el peregrinaje a Santiago y renunció a sus títulos nobles y vivió una vida de pobreza, de arrepentimiento y oraciones. Vivió el resto de su Vida en un convento.

Bueno, lo más interesante es que al final de la procesión, el padre agarra una cabeza de la réplica del Duque echa de plata que adentro tiene los huesos de la cabeza de Santo William y echa vino a través de la cabeza. El vino supuestamente tiene muchas cualidades (me tome 3 vasos) y además, tenían la mano de la reina (la hermana) . Vean las fotos

Today was an easier journey. We walked 13 miles to Pamplona. The old city is amazing. We visited the Cathedral of Santa Maria. Then we went hunting for a restaurant to eat a leg of lamb. We ended up at Cafe Iruña where Hemingway wrote the novel “The Sun Also Rises”. The lamb was excellent. The meal was so big that we decided to walk another 3 miles to the town Cizur Menor. Today was only 16 miles however a lot on hard surface. Our group keep expanding. We have on English, a Swiss, an 18 years old German, a Dutch woman and English woman. At the end, only four made to Cizur Menor.

Today, was a much easier day, we only climbed the equivalent of 2 Sears tower (yesterday we did almost 4). We felt so good in Zubiri that we decided to go to the next town 3. 5 miles away. We got to the Albergue were the last to be admitted. When to the supermarket and prepared dinner for three of us. Of course, there was also wine. It is a great adventure and you meet so many people on the way.

Hoy fue mi primera etapa, y que etapa con más de 28 KM y un cambio de elevación en las montañas Pyranees de más de 1100 metros.

Esto me recordó cuando yo hacía caminatas en las montañas de los Andes cuando estaba en la universidad. Senderos estrechos con el río siguiendo tu camino.

Imagínese si Venezuela desarrolla la industria turística en las montañas de los Andes. En España, este Pelegrinaje ve más de 250,000 peregrinos todos los años. Imagínense la cantidad de trabajos y economía que le puede traer a Venezuela algo como esto?

What a day in the Pyrenees mountains. It reminded me when I was in college and went hiking to the Andes mountains. Very narrow trails with the river along the way, just beautiful. The big different, I was 19 years old them. This hike today (17.66 miles), kicked my butt with an elevation change of 3500 ft, however, the big change (2300 ft) happened on the last 7 miles. It was brutal.

I made because of the good training and I want to recognize some people and dogs. I want to give thanks to my slave driver/trainer Dena Marvel and her dog Rocky for the many miles they put me through. I also want to recognize my dog Truly for the many miles she did with me. Special honorary recognition goes to my other dog Charlie for all the small walks. I will have not been able to do what I did today without their help.