The Wine Flows "Freely"

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This morning we were awakened at 7 a.m. by a group of twenty or so people serenading, once again, the newly married couple. A pleasant awakening and we were on our way by 8:30. After being so cold just a few days ago, today we were baking in the sun as we began our climb toward the Pyrenees Mountains. Most of the day we were on N111, a road that parallels an autovia, so we had little traffic. That it is Sunday probably helped also.
We by-passed several small towns but made sure to stop in Irache, where a 12th century Benedictine monastery boasts a famous wine fountain, from which peregrinos may enjoy free water or free red wine. We tasted the wine, but filled our bottles with water -- too many kilometers ahead of us in the hot sun to consume too much wine at this point in the day.
We saw many cyclists out today, enjoying the weekend by getting in some miles. One such cyclist rode with us until we got to his home in Villatuerta; he seemed amazed that we were able to keep up with him in spite of our heavy load as we trudged up a not too steep hill. He has never been to the USA, but I think we succeeded in changing his view of Americans a bit before we waved goodbye.
Tonight we are camped in Puerta la Reina, which means the Queen’s Bridge. Probably one of the nicest campgrounds we’ve been in, even has a pool. The proprietor greets each pilgrim with a glass of cold water and a big smile. He operates both the campground and the albergue, Santiago Apostol, which sleeps 100. We set up the tent and are now just enjoying the communal area.
This city is known for being the point at which all the Pyrenean Pilgrimage Routes meet on the way to Santiago. We walked into town and visited the bridge and the Church of the Crucifix, which houses a curious image of Christ on a Y-shaped cross donated by German pilgrims in the Middle Ages (those Germans!!).
Tomorrow looks to be a difficult day as we will be headed up the mountains toward the top of the Pyrenees, which marks the division between Spain and France. Phooey, just as I’m getting able to communicate in one language, we are off to the next.

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Comments

[Angela]

Brenda would love this!