Night before the start

Pamplona, finally at the start!  Fiestastarts tomorrow and the city is buzzing.

We spot our first marker of El Camino in the old town of Pamplona.

The healing spring at Lourdes, France

Raining in Paris at the Eiffel Tower

The last day in Paris was spent at the Eiffel Tower, Musee d'Orsay and walking around town.  We were anxious to get started El Camino and spent much time talking about it while trying to concentrate on the sites of the city.  The girls got their wish of finally going up the Eiffel Tower.  When we were in Paris 10 years ago, it was snowing and raining the day we were to went to the Tower andI refused to stand in line for an hour in the freezing rain.  I've heard about that day for the last ten years.  Finally, I could put that complaint to rest.  They loved the Tower more than they thought they would.  It was worth the wait.  A little bit of irony that it was raining again, but at least we purchased tickets in advance this time.  Thanks Sis!

We had two days scheduled to get to Pamplona, the start of our walking.  On Thursday morning, we rented a car to drive to Lourdes, the famous place where the Virgin appeared to a French girl and is the source of healing water.  Sick people travel to Lourdes from all over the world travel to Lourdes in search of healing.  

On the drive, Julie and Emi spent most of the time playing games on their phone.  They didn't see much of the French country side, which by admission was not much to look at.  This won't happen with Spain.  As we turned off to head toward Lourdes, we saw the snow capped mountains in the distance, I was glad we decided to start in Pamplona, on the oth side of the Pyrenees

Much of Lourdes was under construction due to severe flooding.  We visited the grotto and soaked our feet, baxk and other ailing body parts in the water.  My back felt immediately better.  Friday morning, we went back to the grotto to get a last bit of Holy water and they were having a mass by the grotto in Spanish.  It was a beautiful scene with swallows flying around and music and sick people praying to be healed by the water and their faith.  As we walked toward our car to leave, a single file line of patients in wheel chairs were being pushed by nurses to the grotto.  We talked a about how thankful that we could make our walk and how these people were making the only pilgrimage that they could.

We delivered the car to the airport in Pamplona and jumped in a taxi.  As we explained our plans, he pointed to a rather large hill/small mountain and said "you get to climb that tomorrow.". Oh boy, what did we get ourselves into.  Can we really do this?  We should have trained more.  We should be carrying less.  The taxi driver agree with the last statement.  Amazing how doubt immediately enters the mind.

We spent the rest of the day buying a few last minute items and walking around town.  Pamplona is a beautiful city.  I wish we could stay longer, but it's time to walk.  The fiesta starts tomorrow and all the hotels are sold out.  Our last night is at a business style Marriott with fluffy towels and sweet smelling soap.  The kids even have their own room.  Now time for the change, tomorrow we walk!