Assumption on the Annunciation

08 April 2013

Short, difficult day today. The roads were fairly easy, but all of us are feeling yesterday.

Logrono is a big city, and getting in and out of the cities is a lot of walking on concrete. No fun.

Cliff left first and was soon out of sight. Charlie is staying a couple of days in the city to rest up. Allie, Eamon, Patrick, Petra, Viola, and I set off for the long city slog.

We only got lost once. Well, maybe twice.

Urban slog gave way to urban parkland and preserve. The Camino ran along a frontage road for a long way, and this was hard walking.

The highlight of the day was undoubtable Navarette – funky bar for lunch, beautiful church, and an interview and photgraphs by a local reporter.

If anybody is looking for the lost treasure of the Incas, I´m reasonably certain it may be found in the three-story gold baroque altar of the Iglesia Parroquial de la Ascuncion de Maria.

We prayed there for some time, and I was reminded that it was the feast of the Assumption on which Francine and I walked into the Catholic Church.

Our albergue in Ventosa is by far the most tranquil, wonderful spot we´ve stayed so far, the San Saturno. A delightful walled garden, and conversations in English, German, and Spanish over beer from the vending machine.

The only sound is the fall of water on stone from the fountain in the corner of the garden.

It is all as it should be. It is good.

This is how God created the world, not for rush and panic and stress, but for work, for rest from work, for thanksgiving and worship. Not for conflict and avarice, but for simple joys.