Goo. Roncevalles to Zubiri.

So, right now it´s just before 11 p.m. I am in a tiny hostel in a town called Zubiri, which is approximately 50 km into this ridiculous trek. So, I bet you´re asking yourself why I´m not asleep. Well, there is a huge German dude SNORING in my room. There are six beds in total and it´s not a large room. This man could compete in the snoring Olympics. I am going out of my mind.

I have some beautiful photographs that I can´t wait to post up here, but you will all have to check back tomorrow.

Okay-- back to the whole dirty pilgrims thing. Enough with the complaints.

So, today´s hike started in Roncevalles, a grimy, gothic, lovely village on the eastern edge of Spain. It was a beautiful walk, shadowed by trees. To be honest, the whole day could have taken place in Algonquin Park, but that will soon change as we traverse into wine country.

It was pretty steady, up and down a bit, until you reach a small mountain. Although it´s not comparable to our first two days, climbing that thing wasn´t easy. I needed help. So I turned the iPod on (for the first time) and danced up the mountain. I am a loser, but I had such a great time. The scenery was gorgeous-- mountains as far as the eye could see, with little towns scattered in the valleys.

It was a long day. I believe the whole hike took us about seven or eight hours, but we´re still newbies, so it´s understandable.

Tomorrow we head to Pamplona, the city that hosts the running of the bulls every July.

I have to say, this is a completely different experience for me than my previous Camino escapade. The last time I did this, I was crippled with injury and couldn´t think much past my aches and pains. This time, with a properly fitted backpack and walking poles, I feel great and have the gusto to look around and enjoy nature.

I have shed a few tears already, but only out of happiness. It really feels good to be back in Spain. I wouldn´t trade this experience for anything. I´m sure it will be life changing once again.

Hope you are all doing well back home. Thank you for the comments-- they really keep us going and thinking we´re hot shit.

-J