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Arrival at Irún
railway station, with thanks to Cathrine, whom I met in London Stansted
Airport. We were on the same flight to Biarritz in France, where she
lives... She gave me a lift from the airport to the railway station, was
most helpful in getting my ticket - she's been really wonderful. Thank you,
Cathrine.
From the
railway station in Biarritz I didn't know where to go... there were of course
no arrows /signs from here to the albergue. So what do I do...??? I went
"downtown" and asked the first police officer I met for directions. He almost
took me by the hand and led me to the albergue, where I was the first pilgrim.
The hospitalera, Sophia, bid me welcome and made me feel at home... and soon
other pilgrims arrived - some by foot and some by bike. I got the first stamp
in my credential - one of many I hope.
At the albergue
I met Harry, his dog Diego and his ex-wife Riky. They have biked from Holland
and will go to Santiago and Finisterre. After Finisterre Riky will go home and
Harry and Diego will continue the journey to Russia.... by bike ... going
back over the Pyrenees and through France down to Italy and then cross over to
Turkey, through Iran, Afganistan, China.... and.... (Diego in a trailer). His
website:
http://www.latitude-43north.com/
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The hospitalera,
Carluccia (an Italian girl) and I went down to pilgrim’s mass (the church
would give the same benediction as the one I got in Roncevalles last year). We
found the church closed - and the service would take place in another
location. As we went there, a funeral was going on. .... We went for a short
walk with our mind set on coming back after the funeral... In the meantime we
found another church, which had just closed... - Sophia persuaded the priest
to open the church again and let us in.... - he did ... while complaining that
we were tourists... - he would not give us the benediction (why not??).
After the peek into this church, which seemed cold and probably had affected
the priest with the same attitude, we went back to the funeral place. The
funeral was over and the church was closing down. Sophia asked the priest if
he would give us the Roncevalles benediction... "But of course" he said, he
put back on his "uniform" and Carluccia and I had our very own and private
pilgrim’s benediction - a blessing and wishes for a good journey on our way to
the Cathedral of Santiago... - We thanked him....and went back to the
albergue - Carluccia went to bed. It was hard to start a conversation with her
as she does not speak English.... only very few words. I went outside,
talked to Harry, Riky and Sophia... had a bit of wine before bedtime... Good
night.
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