A choice

Today our little "team Canada" made a choice. We had noticed that by using John Brierley's book, we were all going to the same places at the same time missing some beautiful pieces of the Camino. His book describes discrete 33 stages to walk the Camino, but this includes some 28 and 30 km days. We are not that dedicated! 22 to 25 km per day is our limit. Further some sensitive knees and feet suggested that an easy day was in order. It is a beautiful sunshiny day in the Rioja area of Spain, and so we made our choice: we taxied to Viana, skipping Los Arcos along the way.  With a planned stop at Navarette tomorrow, we will be about half a day "out of synch" with Brierley.

This has given us an opportunity to explore this wonderful town dating back to the early Middle Ages. St Mary of the Assumption church (12th century) with connections to the Borgia family was redecorated in the 1600's and 1700s in a baroque/rococo style; the side chapels and apse have altars dedicated to saints from many centuries including Lawrence, Mary Magdalene, and Francis Xavier (who is from Navarre and about whom I preached at an ordination last year).  There are 13th century manuscripts in the chapel where the Pilgrim's Mass was offered.

Tonight we found a Menu del Peregrino for eight euros (salad, fish, ice cream, vino tinto) and is served before the Pilgrim's mass.  

God gives Sabbath as well as toil, and neither can be appreciated without the other. This will invigorate our steps tomorrow.

Today's music:  J.S. Bach, Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele (Deck thyself, my soul, with Gladness). BWV 654 organ chorale prelude

Today's paces: 9,108

Tomorrow's prayer intention:  Rev'd Art Nash (his health) and Emily his wife