David is still having problems getting things uploaded to the blog. So here are this weeks photos. He told me an amazing story from his time in Ponferrada – while visiting the Templar Palace he and members of his “group of six” saw people setting up speakers and a movie screen in the middle of the palace. On their way out they saw a poster on the wall – all in Spanish and were standing around trying to figure out what it said they started to talking to a man standing there. It ended up being the director/writer of the premier movie that was going to be showing at 10pm. The movie is supposed to reveal the secret of the Templar Knights. It was an exclusive showing but after talking a while the director/writer asked David if he would like to attend… but a pilgrim usually goes to bed by 9:30pm so staying up would inhibit their getting an early start in the morning. David ended up declining but his main reason is that the movie was in Spanish so “the would not understand the secret even when it was revealed”.  🙂

Hi all, this is Christi again. I am going to add the photos David has sent me via WhatsApp. He has been having a great time – meeting lots of people and exchanging stories, enjoying Spanish Martinis, guitar concerts in 16th century churches, wine tasting in 9th century cellars, and battling blisters and tendinitis in his shins.

Walked out of Pamplona through wheat and barley up and up to Alta Perdon and the pilgrim sculptures, then steeply down a rocky trail to a Spanish buffet and conversation until a bit too late. Blisters should be much better tomorrow. Many from this international group express their surprise and fear about this election process in the United States and they ask me how it got to this point. They have the same favorite candidate. They’re pretty smart people.

(Copied from his Facebook post)

Hi all – This is Christi, David’s wife…David has not been able to update his blog from Spain so I am uploading his photos from Facebook and a few of his comments from the emails he has sent to me and other family members. This photo is of his current Camino companions  – a father and son from Australia, two girls from Brazil and a women from Ireland.

I’m trying to figure out how to download several videos he has posted on his Facebook site but I haven’t gotten it figured out yet.

These photos are from between Saint-Jean-Peir-de-Port and Pamplona:

May 16th “We arrived at a private albergue in a small village between the two towns.  Just for us six people.  Has swimming pool and jacuzzi .  Today was 25 km. Brutal.  Then brutal.  We all are physically spent.  But we all did the same.  Kept up with the 30 year olds no problem.  But ok I think.  Sore toes, sore knees, shoulders, no blisters. Nine hours walking.  Absolutely beautiful places!  Drinking vino! ”

May 17th “Fantastic day, but then got blisters on both heals . Made it to our place in Pamplona.  Same owners from yesterday.  Just the six of us with kitchen, living room and two beds to a room.  Pretty tired and painful feet.  Will sew them up soon.  We climbed a bell tower in a 13th century church on a hill, and the nun let us ring the bell.  Great art in the Romanesque church. Hope less painful tomorrow.   But some of most beautiful trails through wildflowers and trees and little villages.”