Camino II — Day 6

Photo Bombed!

Twice!

Susanne is the bomber in the first photo and Leanne in the second — such good sports. Crazy wet and windy day, but we are assured by other pilgrims that this is our worst day. Going forward into sunshine. Leanne declared that when it is a day like today, and you have 19 miles to walk, then you have three choices: laugh, cry or call a cab. We laughed a lot today.

Russian Girl Number 2

I do not have a picture of her. I forgot. We were in line waiting to use the bathroom and had this conversation.

”Where you from?”

”The United States. You?”

”Russia, but I live in France. I’ve been there five years.”

”That’s awesome! What’s that like?

”It’s great except for the fact that you have to live with the French.”

Laughter from both of us. “What do you mean?”

”The French think they are the best people on earth and that everything French is better than anywhere else.”

”Wow!” I said. “And I thought that was us.”

”Well,” she said, “you too.”

Yep!

One Little Church

We have been hoping to have more churches on the way. Today we only found one, a little one, set next to a golden statue of Buddha.

Who says we can’t coexist? The church was a church dedicated to those who make their living with fish — it’s for fishermen and the women who work along side of them. On one wall is Mother and Child and the sculpture has fish hooks connected to it. They have a yearly festival celebrating and blessing the fishing for the year. It’s just cool, I think, that they found a way to bring their faith into their fishing.

So Many Candles

It was warm and smelled so good in that little church. St James was featured and Saint Sebastian and Saint Anthony again. We were cold and wet and tired and there we found refuge and a welcome. There was no one there, but the door was open and we rested for a while. It was church and we were the people. Other pilgrims entered in and joined us, a couple from California, a young woman from Korea, and a young man who was just leaving, but lingered to wish us a Buen Camino.

And Sally and I and St James wish a “good way” for you today! Buen Camino!