I walked through one stage, pausing as I need to for a rest and water, and there are a group of young "peregrinos" taking a cigarette and cellphone break! I book into an albergue along the way and there, in the kitchen, are peregrinos chatting on their cell phones or accessing email on i-phones.
Anyway, for me it was all about keeping in touch with my wife. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and my darling is one of my strengths. Talking to her at the end of a tough day, raises my spirits no matter how gruelling the days climb or damaging the days descents had been.
Landing in Madrid, I had immediately purchased a sim card for my cell phone. Unfortunately, I later discovered that the clerk did not activate the sim card. So, no conversation home.
Logrono was the first opportunity to straighten out that little problem, and straighten it out I did.... eventually. Now I move on.
Logrono was truly an eye-opener. I never thought of it as such a large and sophisticated centre. I had a wonderful time there.
Arriving I got lost looking for the albergue I was aiming for. I was by the cathedral, not very far from my intended target, but truly lost. A young couple, with baby, approached me and asked if they could help. The upshot was that they actually took me in hand and walked me to the albergue. Me with English and a little French, he with a little French and she with a little English were able to establish a wonderful communications link.
The cathedral at Logrono was truly beautiful. Originally built, I think, in the Perpendicular style of architure, it now has centuries of additions. Guilding abounds on the alter. However, there remain the tall soaring columns and wonderful, gravity defying arches of the ceiling. The Perpendicular style has always entranced me as an awe inspiring sight. I sat there staring at the soaring arches and began to revisit the reality of this journey I´ve launched myself on. I´m not religious in the normal sense. Regular trips to church have never seemed a necessity for me. Christian? Yes, I think I am, but that has never been tied to a regular visit to some building. Yet, here I was in this magnificant structure thinking of God. This brought to mind how our medieval ancestors must have felt. How awe-struck they must have been in such a building. Did I feel the presence of God? I don´t know. But I did feel the desire to light a candle and say words about this journey and those for whom I make it. And, yes there were tears in my eyes. And, no I do not feel any overwhelming urge to become a regular church attender.... any church.
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