We must backtract now that I have time to explain. From our starting point in Estella the path was flat most of the way to our first stop for the night, in Los Arcos. I mentioned the alberque that we stayed in there that was ran by Austrians. It was very nice. With all services available. It is hard to imagine that after spending 6 or more hours walking with your belongings on your back that you would not have a place to shower and sleep but it is very common during the busy times on the Camino. So it makes it twice as enjoyable to know that you not only scored a bed but a nice one.

From Los Arcos we walked up and down in hills all day and came to rest in Viana and the heat was more then we had expected. We spent the night in the church alberque in Viana, the town prior to Logrono. That was very pilgrim like. We slept on mats on the floor but we were given dinner and breakfast, all for donation. We went to mass that evening and at the end of the service all pilgrims were led to the altar where we were blessed individually by the priest. Dinner was simple but filling with gaspacho as a first course and salad and lentil soup for the main. After,we divided and went around the table,each country grouped together, and sang a song. There were Spanish, of course, French, German and North America. We had a lone Canadian so we banded together. Deciding on a song was not hard. I suggested a nursery rhyme, Mary had a Little Lamb. So we sang that. And the kid from Chicago did not know there was more than the first verse. Kids!

The night was truly awful. Everyone snored in the room. Earplugs worked a little but the guy behind me was making a sharp clicking noise that he thought would make the snorers quit. That noise was worse then the snorers and woke me up over and over. Not much sleep for me and Rob, when he wasn't snoring to remove the paint from the walls, did not sleep well either.

The morning walk to Logrono was quick and being sleep deprived our spirits were not high. But our sassy Canadian walked by and said "It's not easy being a pilgrim", changing my whole outlook!

And here we are to the part where I tell you what has happened since. You know that we went to Burgos by bus. The heat was like walking at home in August so you can guess we opted out. The mega-alberque was again very nice with washers and vending machines and nice bathroom facilites. We did plan to go to Galacia the night before however when we got to the bus station, we found that it would take 8 hours to get to A Coruna, near the start of the Camino Inglis. Santiago de Compostella was 5 days walk from there and we were told it would be a bed race everyday. So we switched plans and flew to Rome. Yes Rome!

So my Camino has changed up a bit. More to follow. :)