September 29
Beth has returned home to Quincy safely, and will be at Mary's house while she continues to recuperate. Please keep her in your prayers.
Posted by Jim Jenista on behalf of Jerri and Karen.
The Journeyers
Karen, Beth, and Jerri
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Shells of the Camino III
September 29
One of the things we noticed is that different states and towns have their own style of shells/markers, either on the streets, or buildings, or both.
One of the things we noticed is that different states and towns have their own style of shells/markers, either on the streets, or buildings, or both.
Cats of the Camino II
September 29
It is a banner day for cat sightings. Some even come close enough to gobble up our kitty treats. :-)
It is a banner day for cat sightings. Some even come close enough to gobble up our kitty treats. :-)
Leaving Pamplona
September 29
When the bus drops us off in Estella, the first thing we do is look for a place to have desayuno--we must fortify ourselves for the first day of resuming walking.
When the bus drops us off in Estella, the first thing we do is look for a place to have desayuno--we must fortify ourselves for the first day of resuming walking.
We pass a panaderia, where the loaves of bread look like works of art and draw us in. This is a prime example of the huge loaves of white bread called bimbo. It would make fabulous French toast.
Just beyond Estella is the wine fountain. It is sponsored by the local bodegas (wineries) and it is tradition to drink from this fountain to gain strength for the journey ahead. Yes, I, too, had a sip.
It is a rainy day at first but clears up as we wend our way up and down and around hills, then out among fields.
In Los Arcos, a wedding party is just leaving the church as we pass through the main street. There are fireworks and a band playing. Guests dressed to the nines and the townspeople who have turned up to watch crowd the street. What a wonderful celebration.
We had been aiming to stop for the night in Sansol, a mountain village whose church dominates the hill, but it is too small to have facilities.
Torres del Rio is not much farther, but it seems almost cruel that the last stretch of our first day back is uphill into town. Progress is progress, though.
Just beyond Estella is the wine fountain. It is sponsored by the local bodegas (wineries) and it is tradition to drink from this fountain to gain strength for the journey ahead. Yes, I, too, had a sip.
It is a rainy day at first but clears up as we wend our way up and down and around hills, then out among fields.
In Los Arcos, a wedding party is just leaving the church as we pass through the main street. There are fireworks and a band playing. Guests dressed to the nines and the townspeople who have turned up to watch crowd the street. What a wonderful celebration.
We had been aiming to stop for the night in Sansol, a mountain village whose church dominates the hill, but it is too small to have facilities.
Torres del Rio is not much farther, but it seems almost cruel that the last stretch of our first day back is uphill into town. Progress is progress, though.
Saying Goodbye
September 29
This morning, approximately 5:15 a.m., Beth left with Karen, the nurse escort, to return home to Quincy. Although Beth is not here to continue with Jerri and me, she should be very proud of the amazing effort she made while she was here. We certainly are. Beth may not know it, but she accomplished what is acknowledged all over the Web as the hardest week of the Camino. She certainly made it through the steepest, coldest, longest, and hottest days.
Well done, Beth!
This morning we also said goodbye to Pamplona. Although it is a lovely city, we hope to never see it again on this trip. The last thing we did in Pamplona was board a bus leaving it.
This morning, approximately 5:15 a.m., Beth left with Karen, the nurse escort, to return home to Quincy. Although Beth is not here to continue with Jerri and me, she should be very proud of the amazing effort she made while she was here. We certainly are. Beth may not know it, but she accomplished what is acknowledged all over the Web as the hardest week of the Camino. She certainly made it through the steepest, coldest, longest, and hottest days.
Well done, Beth!
This morning we also said goodbye to Pamplona. Although it is a lovely city, we hope to never see it again on this trip. The last thing we did in Pamplona was board a bus leaving it.
Friday, September 28, 2012
A Day of Lasts
September 28
This morning we have our last breakfast at Restaurante Acella. We take our last walk around the neighborhood. We have our last Skype call--with Jim, Mom J, Mary, and Rich.
This evening our last dinner in Pamplona is at a cafe joined at the hip to a KFC. We eat pasta while watching our first (and probably last) Spanish TV program, a game show that is part Wheel of Fortune and part The Weakest Link. The emcee is a cheesy guy who randomly breaks into song or does a lame moonwalk across the stage. However, it is quite an amusing diversion: we soon find ourselves answering aloud, even shouting answers at the contestants. Keep in mind that we have to first understand the question, then maybe you'll understand that it becomes a challenge for us; and we take a bit of pride in being able to answer correctly or, even better, beat the contestants to an answer. We don't care that we may appear foolish--the only other person there is a man at the counter, drinking a beer and finding his own amusement in us, although not in an unkind way.
Our gear is ready to go, just a last-minute item or two to place in our packs in the morning. My phone is back in silent mode and the alarm is set for 5 a.m. I'm tucked in for my last night's sleep in the pappasan chair.
And, oh geez, I'm lying here wide awake, stomach churning, wondering what the next three weeks will be like. I'd hate to say they can't be any worse than the first three weeks and have the Universe take that as a challenge. But, being me, I'm having a hard time calming myself and wiping all expectations and dread from my mind. I must remember to take it one day at a time and be in the moment--two thoughts that I plan to turn into mantras for when anxiety threatens to sabotage me.
With that, enough rambling. It's time to make another attempt at sleep.
Good night!
This morning we have our last breakfast at Restaurante Acella. We take our last walk around the neighborhood. We have our last Skype call--with Jim, Mom J, Mary, and Rich.
This evening our last dinner in Pamplona is at a cafe joined at the hip to a KFC. We eat pasta while watching our first (and probably last) Spanish TV program, a game show that is part Wheel of Fortune and part The Weakest Link. The emcee is a cheesy guy who randomly breaks into song or does a lame moonwalk across the stage. However, it is quite an amusing diversion: we soon find ourselves answering aloud, even shouting answers at the contestants. Keep in mind that we have to first understand the question, then maybe you'll understand that it becomes a challenge for us; and we take a bit of pride in being able to answer correctly or, even better, beat the contestants to an answer. We don't care that we may appear foolish--the only other person there is a man at the counter, drinking a beer and finding his own amusement in us, although not in an unkind way.
Our gear is ready to go, just a last-minute item or two to place in our packs in the morning. My phone is back in silent mode and the alarm is set for 5 a.m. I'm tucked in for my last night's sleep in the pappasan chair.
And, oh geez, I'm lying here wide awake, stomach churning, wondering what the next three weeks will be like. I'd hate to say they can't be any worse than the first three weeks and have the Universe take that as a challenge. But, being me, I'm having a hard time calming myself and wiping all expectations and dread from my mind. I must remember to take it one day at a time and be in the moment--two thoughts that I plan to turn into mantras for when anxiety threatens to sabotage me.
With that, enough rambling. It's time to make another attempt at sleep.
Good night!
The Running of the Bulls
September 27
It seems you cannot be in Pamplona without coming across some reference to the Running of the Bulls. Just around the corner from our lodging, a block away, is this poster.
In downtown Pamplona, we pass the Plaza de Toros, where the arena for bullfighting is the terminus for the running of the bulls. The four-headed sculpture stands outside the arena...
...and this sign (in multiple languages) is posted over the entrance.
On the side of the arena by which we approach the arena is a large mosaic mural. Even if you don't condone the activity, you can appreciate it as a work of art.
After you pass the arena, you enter a wide pedestrian-only street. Here stands the Monumento al encierro (bull run). Again, although it is gruesome, it is a work of art--a quite famous one.
While trying to track down the names of these sculptures, I come across the following site with FAQs about the running of the bulls...just in case you're interested.
http://www.pamplonabalconies.com/running-of-the-bulls/running-of-the-bulls-faq/
We all agree that this is the closest we'd ever want to come to the event.
It seems you cannot be in Pamplona without coming across some reference to the Running of the Bulls. Just around the corner from our lodging, a block away, is this poster.
In downtown Pamplona, we pass the Plaza de Toros, where the arena for bullfighting is the terminus for the running of the bulls. The four-headed sculpture stands outside the arena...
...and this sign (in multiple languages) is posted over the entrance.
On the side of the arena by which we approach the arena is a large mosaic mural. Even if you don't condone the activity, you can appreciate it as a work of art.
After you pass the arena, you enter a wide pedestrian-only street. Here stands the Monumento al encierro (bull run). Again, although it is gruesome, it is a work of art--a quite famous one.
While trying to track down the names of these sculptures, I come across the following site with FAQs about the running of the bulls...just in case you're interested.
http://www.pamplonabalconies.com/running-of-the-bulls/running-of-the-bulls-faq/
We all agree that this is the closest we'd ever want to come to the event.
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