Day 6: Born pilgrim

Dear traveler,

We had a one day break in Puente la Reina, during which I wandered the streets with Mamarmot, we visited each playground one by one and we ate ice cream. All this while dad was at the medical cabinet, from where here returned a bit more relaxed. I guess.

I missed hitting the road, not necessarily the early waking up, but I'm excited about what we will discover on our way today.

The sun greets us, first thing in the morning, although it seems that today it's going to be a bit cloudy.

My deflated balloons are still hanging from my backpack, like a keychain. I feel rested without them though. Maybe a one day break did good for me too.

In our way we can see beautiful paths, vineyards, olive trees, because yes, now I can recognize them, mountain ridges and hilltop towns. 

I run into one of the vineyards to see if I can borrow some grapes in my belly, but they are still small and sour. I think I have to wait for a while. However, we find some big blackberry bushes on our way. They're delicious!

After a break in the blackberry bushes, we continue our way, which beautifully winds on the hills.

I like seeing that these slopes, on which I struggle a bit to climb, have an ending, a hilltop town. The fact that many town of this kind are on our way today, is a different thing. But I don't mind.

Maybe. after all these days, I started to get used with the climbs and I'm not bothered so much. Maybe I became a pilgrim.

I wonder what it took to become a pilgrim? Or maybe I was born pilgrim and I needed to follow the path of shells for a few days so the pilgrim blood would get activated. Yes, this is it for sure. 

I think that my folks still have a bit more to walk to become pilgrims. But I'm small and my blood runs faster.

With these thoughts in mind, we reach the next town for which I kind of lost count. I don't remember through how many towns Mamarmot said we will cross today. 

This town is quite interesting until we start climbing. Slopes inside a town. This is indeed something I haven't seen so far. I know what I said earlier but the pilgrim within me doesn't like this slope. How can people live here I don't know. I would get fed up if I'd have to climb these every day. 

But as soon as the slope ends, the town ends too. Other vineyards follow through which I run around with Mamarmot. We haven't played hide and seek in a while. This is quite fun. I'm cheering up Mamarmot with my game, as she seemed a bit sad. 

How can you be sad here, Mamarmot? Look around you! Hills and vineyards, winding paths, the sun piercing the clouds with its rays, olive trees, shells that grow in the olive trees. Wait, what?

I get closer to take a better look and I understand now. Someone just hanged some shells in the olive tree. They are not growing here. Is this really an olive tree? Hmmm...

With all the playing around I don't even realize when we reach the last town for the day.

I liked all the towns we crossed today, even the one with slopes. And this one is as beautiful, a bit bigger, with stone bridge and many interesting buildings. 

After we check in, dada says he has to go to the hospital for another check-up so me and Mamarmot wander around this town which is called Estella or Star.

They don't have that many slopes but they sure do have some stairs.

After a few hours we meet up with dad, which has his leg bandaged up to his knee. While I play in a small playground, they chat on a bench nearby. I see Mamarmot very sad, with tears in her eyes so I go to them. Dad is not happy as well and he tells me that we must stop walking for the moment. That maybe if we take a break for a few days, he could get better and we could continue. But the medical treatment he has to take now is not allowing him to walk for a while.

-"But we will still walk until the end, right?"

-"Yes, Marmot. We go back home and we will return in this town as soon as possible. We will finish Camino next time."

I kind of understand Mamarmot's sadness. I'm also curious to see what's next and it's hard for me to wait. 

I got used to this beautiful holiday, spending a lot of time together playing and telling tales while we walk these paths.

And I even started to enjoy waking up early or the plastic bag sound. Actually not, I won't miss that sound. 

Still, I understand Mamarmot, as this dream of her seems broken now. But look what's the name of this street, Mamarmot.

I don't know too much Spanish but I know what this means.

We'll be staying here, maybe for one more day, while my folks set up everything for our return home. 

Mamarmot is silent tonight, writing again in her small notebook. I ask her to show me what she is writing. 

I don't understand everything, but some words are saying this:

"For every pilgrim, this road means something else. Camino does not necessarily mean what you planned, to receive the Compostela or to pick shells from the beach in Finisterrae. It can sometimes be just happiness that you drink from a white shell you received in a small French village. Camino will show you, if you are willing to see. It teaches you that it's okay to stop, as it continues with you, wherever you are, in each moment of your life. He get in your blood and never leaves."

That why I'm not sad. I know that I will continue walking and get to the end of the earth, onto the field of stars. My feet will take me in many places, until they will find the path guided by the yellow shell again. I was born pilgrim.