9/20 Pamplona to Maneru

If you have been following Pete’s posts, you may have noticed that on the last two days, he has finished with the sign-off “Buen Camino!” Buen Camino in Spanish literally means the good walk, the good road, or the good way. It is a greeting that pilgrims have been using along this path for years. Pilgrims have been walking The Camino de Santiago for more than 1,000 years, and though I’m not sure when Buen Camino became the most familiar greeting on the walk, it is easy to see why it is. When you hear that familiar greeting, it seems like more than just a simple hello – it is more like an inferred blessing for a good day, well wishes for a great experience along the way, and can be a good way to start a conversation. It is lovely to hear accents from all corners of the world, and to be a part of a group of strangers all walking the same path for any number of reasons, but all wishing each other well.

We had an opportunity to have dinner this evening with a very diverse group of travelers. We had dinner companions from Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France. In this group were four young people in their mid-twenties who happened to meet on the first day of the Camino, and their paths have been crossing ever since. They hope to remain friends for life. Their friendship all began with a simple, “Buen Camino.”

As for our own walk today, it began with rain!! We left Pamplona this morning dressed in our rain ponchos. A couple of highlights as we walked through the drizzle included watching several groups of young children being led to school in a bike parade… a safety officer, with lights flashing, led the way on a scooter while a group of fifty or so children followed along. There were a few parents in bright yellow vests interspersed among the children. We thought this was a great way to get the children safely to school in such a busy city, and as a fellow cyclist, it made Pete’s day! The other highlight was meeting a gal from Sacramento who was walking alone. After a simple “Buen Camino” was exchanged, we recognized her American accent (or lack of an accent?), and had a great conversation. It really helps climbing steep hills when you are getting to know someone – thanks, Laura!

Buen Camino!