I made it!

After a long and difficult journey, I arrived yesterday in Puente La Reina. I was a 25K trip that was hot and required traversing and climbing a very rocky terrain. Most of hte time it felt like crossing the desert: everything was so brown and there was the heat form the sun above and the heat fromthe rocks below. Everyon dragged in hot and exhausted. When four of us arrived at the first albergue in town. we werre told that there were only 2 beds left. So Marjan and I decided to go the next one. It was a a little difficult to find and we had to climb a very steep driveway. but once we arrived. we discovered a very nice place with a swimming pool. And, for 9 Euros we received a very good meal. A few observations: Unlike the French route, the stops here are not designated by churches. In fact I am seeing far fewer churches than I did in France. In order to see some of hte churches, one has to detour off the route and that may add an hour to a already difficult journey. The sense of community is very strong. In several spots aolng the way, there are memorials set up for pilgrim who died whil making hte journey. Those who knew them have set up crosses or some other type of observance, sometimes incuding a picture. Incribed at the site is thier namce age and the date of death. As others pass, they stop for reflection or prayer and place a stone, flower or some other object on the the spot. Ther are a number of people who are walking hte Camio but shoose not to carry their bags. Instead, they hire a cab and their bags dropped off at each stop. Of course because theyr are carrying nothing but their lunch, they move much faster than the rest of us. Andrea is our Camino "clown." He is a fellow from Italy who speaks only Italian, but just bout everyone knows him because he is very outgoing and always joking. It´s alway great to arrive at a site and be welcomed by his over the top greeetings. People learn the names and home countries of others very quickly. I´ve already met a number of folks from all over the States: CT, WI, WA, and even one United Methodist. Well. today will be a shorter walk.