Feeling pampered in Pamplona

We arrived today to Pamplona. This city is famous for "The Running of the Bulls" and the author Ernest Hemingway. The walk today was about 13 miles, partly of which was along the Rio Arga the same river we spent the night next to last night.  The weather was beautiful and much of our walk today was under shade trees. An old Spanish man stopped us this morning and asked us if we were headed to Santiago, when we said yes he shook our hands and gave each of us a kiss for good luck. It's a really big deal to people around here if you are on your Camino, your pilgrimage.  The people here in Spain are predominately Catholic and go to church regularly.  We have visited churches in practically every town we've walked through. Today Lee got to walk up a spiral staircase up about 3 stories and rang the church bells. Below is a picture of the alter of that church that is perched on the side of the hill above Zabaldica.

We are staying in a four star hotel tonight, with a big bath tub!  Getting to soak in a hot tub was pure joy! Tonight we ate Seafood Paella at a small cafe within the old city walls of Pamplona. When we entered into the historic heart of city we walked across a draw bridge just like you see in movies.

We also were able to give back a little today on the Camino. We passed a man who sitting on the side of the trail, and we sensed something was wrong.  Lee walked back and found out he had a pulled muscle in his thigh and couldn't walk. We were able to offer him an Ace Bandage, which he gladly took. While we were visiting the church on the side of the hill, we were given a list of "The Beatitudes of the Pilgrim".  Number 6 on the list said "Blessed are you pilgrim, if you discover that one step back to help another is more valuable than a hundred forward without seeing what is at your side".  We are feeling blessed for having done a small good deed today.

Lee is wearing a FitBit on her wrist and we are amazed at what it records each day. The other day, day #2 when we had 8 miles of uphill climb, it recorded 225 floors and 34,407 steps in a single day. If we did that on day #2 then I am sure on day #3 we climbed back down those steps! We needed this day #4 to be somewhat easier and Thank God it was!  Lee's pack is more manageable for her now and she's walking more upright. 😊

We are headed to Puenta La Reina tomorrow and the weather is supposed to be beautiful.  We have to cross Alto del Perdon (huge peak) so we need to recover and get some sleep now.  Good night!