Day 1: My First Refugio

After landing in Biarritz, I met 3 Canadians, Marlene from Alberta & her sister Eileen & her friend Ola are from Manitoba. I asked if it is OK maybe I can walk with them, they said Yes. They are staying in a hotel in SJPDP & will stay overnight at a hotel in Orrison, about 3 hours walk from SJPDP. I was thinking of doing it but the hotel was full.

At the Pilgrim's Office, I met a young Japanese woman also looking for a Refugio. We teamed up & we got a private room for just us, E17.00 for bed & breakfast. Not bad. So I told her she could be my daughter, she only has her Mom in Nagoya, Japan. We bought Jamon Serrano, cheese, water, bread, fruits for our dinner & lunch tomorrow. We walked over the bridge & had our picnic dinner by the river. it was so nice, just lovely. Our laundry did not dry so tomorrow we may have to pin them on our backpack & let good old sol dry them.

The hospitalero was nice to give us some tips, sip water every 10 min. 2-3 liters/day, eat the food while hot when we stop at a cafe/ restaurant in Spain & always start with a good breakfast. He also talked about getting to Really know yourself while on the Camino, it is soul searching, talking to yourself, what you want to do, what you have done in your life. As everyone has said " it is your Camino, you are doing it for yourself & not for others, & it quite remarkable the change it brings to your life. "

I am thinking now that this will be a very humbling experience! Humility, it is a virtue right?

It is 9 PM, time to hit the sack.

BUEN Camino,
Josie