It's a unique experience to walk through the almost tunnel like paths in the dark forest with moonlight to guide you and the early morning sounds emerging around you. This was my earliest morning and I walked a long way before I saw the sun this day. At one point the sound of a distant river becomes more distinct. The rippling sound of the river follows me for a while growing stronger and softer and then disappearing again all together. Now and then my flashlight appears to search for the assuring yellow arrows on the trees and poles along the path. Suddenly, there it is, just behind the trees next to me, completely silent, almost scary close. You can't see both sides, at least not in the same time with the limited light. Rio Arga flowing slowly through the woods in the dark.
I'm back in Cizur Menor. It was just as hot to walk up the hill from Pamplona as the day before yesterday. I used my extra day in Pamlona to do a "practise" walk to Cizur Menor and back to get an idea about what's coming and to do a soft preparation by walking almost half a days worth as a warm-up. The Albergue is wonderful and I hope more of them will be like this one. Watching our host feed the turtles and fish in the garden is adorable. This place enables time and space for quiet rest and reflection. Inspired by yesterday, I ate no breakfast in Larrasoana. It took a while longer than expected to find a cafe, but once it showed up after little more than ten km the tortilla was as if sent from above.
I meet a lot of people along the roads. Many speak no language in common with me. Many do. Regardless, we have a community. We are moving towards the same goal. We share much of the same joys and hardships.
Very different from my first day when I had pilgrims around me all the time but walked by myself, today, I saw only one other pilgrim before breakfast. After breakfast, I made the company of two ladies from Brazil and Belgium along the trail into Pamplona, where they intended to stay and experience the cathedrals and monuments of the city.
I have now seriously started my career as a stamp collector after taking a little detour to get a special stamp from the university. Most of the stamps you collect is beautiful and it's always exciting to see how new ones turn out.
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