Today was the day I climbed the next big mountain. Acutally, I decided to do most of it yesterday and the rest today, but it seemed like the climbs would never end today. La Faba turned out to be a really great place - a tiny hamlet, high in the mountains run by a German confraternity. Nice and clean and a big kitchen to cook in. I am travelling with another group of people and I particularly like Arlene, from Bristol who I have befriended. She is about my age and we seem to have a lot in common. She has made me feel very welcome. There were about 15 people who pooled our resources and cooked a huge pot of pasta and a risotto. Plenty of wine, and lots of laughs. At 8:00, there was a special service at the little church for all the pilgrims so I decided to go. A franciscan brother led the service and a woman translated in German and English. He lit a candle lantern and pàssed it around, telling us to think of somone or something that was special and important to us on the Camino. It was very moving as the lights were dim and it was completely quiet. He then washed the feet of one of the pilgrims and asked her to wash the feet of another, and so on. It was very special. After that, he did a blessing and we all stood around the alter together. It made me realize that though we come from so many different countries, on the Camino, we are all the same. I think of this quite often. He left us with this thought: "if you go home and merely tell stories about your experiences on the Camino, you haven't really done the Camino. You have to change something and keep it with you forever". I will think about this as I keep walking.
There are people waiting to use the computer so I will sign off for now.....and take a rest.
