2017-10-11 Pamplona - a day of reflexion and rest

Ernest Hemingway honored (read the text )

Strolling around in Pamplona. Buying tickets for the bus to Biarritz. Visiting "El Corte Ingles". Well not so much really. More a day to relax and rest before returning home tomorrow. This was a spare day in case something should happen during the walk that caused a delay. But it didn't, so it became a day of rest. But really, when walking through the marked camino route through the city I stumbled on one of my friends from France. I told him that I was stopping here and was going home tomorrow. He gave me a big hug.

The most famous of the bull run streets

In the afternoon I strolled through other parts of the city new to me. They gave a good impression. Noted that this must be a fairly big city, bigger than Gothenburg I think. Among other things I passed the street and "Plaza del Toro" where

He even got this plaza

Ernest Hemingway pondering his favorite city

the very famous bull run of the San Fermin festival at the beginning of July occurs.

And who is the hero here - Ernest H - again! Statue, plaza, bar, hero, friend of the people ...

En la noche descubría nuevas partes de la ciudad. Entre otros las calles famosas del corriente de los toros durante festival del San Fermín. Y la leyenda de la ciudad, Ernest Hemingway fuera Plaza de Toros o más correcta, plaza del Hemingway con estatua y muchos más.

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As the closing words of this blog I translate what I got from that lady in the church yesterday... I think that the words contains little of the Camino soul and why the Camino becomes a part of you - if you are open to it.

Como palabras finales de este camino largo he traducido las palabras que recibí en la iglesia en el día pasado. Eran buenos. 

Marking of "the Way, El Camino" through the streets of Pamplona

El Camino - The Way

It is the Way that makes you a pilgrim, since the way to Santiago is not only a trail to walk to reach somewhere, and not a test to get a reward. "El Camino de Santiago" is at the same time a metaphor and an immediate reality since it occurs inside and outside the days the pilgrimage last, and continues to affect the whole life, when you allow the Way to penetrate you, to change you, to convert you to a pilgrim.

The Way makes your life simpler as you backpack gets lighter, meaning the less load on your back the more you understand how little you need to live.

The Way fraternizes. The little you carry you must be willing to share with others. For even if you started alone, you will walk it through together with others.

The Way give birth to fellowship, a welcoming fellowship, A fellowship that shows interest in the way of the other, in sharing words and deeds.

The Way puts demands on you. You must raise before the sun despite tiredness or blisters. You must walk while the rising sun turns the darkness of the morning to the light of the day. Your rest is there for you to be able to continue.

The Way invites you to reflect, to be surprised, to accept, to deepen, to stop, to be silent, to listen, to admire, to bless the nature, to sense your co-walkers, yourself, and God.

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The Pilgrims Blessings

• Blessed are you pilgrim, when you discover that the Way (El Camino) opens your eyes to the invisible.
• Blessed are you pilgrim, as you backpack empties little by little and you heart gets filled with silence and life.
• Blessed are you pilgrim, when you discover that a step back to help someone else is more worth than hundred steps forward without noting the fellow at your side.
• Blessed are you pilgrim, when you lack word of thanks for all that surprises you as you walk.
• Blessed are you pilgrim, if you not only walk the Way (El Camino), but lets the Way transform you.
• Blessed are you pilgrim, if you during the Way find yourself and if you learn to stop, watch, listen and take care of your heart.
• Blessed are you pilgrim, when you step by step, little by little, find your Way inside yourself.
• Blessed are you pilgrim, when you discover that the real Way begins when you have completed it.
• Blessed are you pilgrim, when you reflect, contemplate the Way and discover that it is full of names and surprises.
• Blessed are you pilgrim, if you understand that it is not you yourself that shall reach the goal, but that you will reach the goal together with others.

El Camino

Es el Camino que te hace un peregrino, ya que el camino a Santiago no solo es un sendero para llegar a algún sitio, tampoco una prueba para obtener un galardón. El camino de Santiago es al mismo tiempo una metáfora y una realidad enseguida, porque ocurre dentro y fuera el tiempo real durante los días de peregrinación, y después toda la vida, cuando permitas al camino penetrarte, cambiarte, convertirte a un peregrino.

El Camino hace tu vida más fácil cuando tu mochila se aligera, cuanta menos carga a tu espalda, más entiendas que poco necesitas para vivir.

El Camino fraternice. El poco que llevas hay que ser dispuesto compartir con otros. Porque, aunque empiezas solo, llevarás a cabo en compañía de otros.

El Camino da a luz comunidad, una comunidad que da bienvenida, da interés al camino del otro, para compartir.

El Camino te exige. Hay que levantarte ante el sol pese al cansancio o ampollas. Hay que caminar en las tinieblas del amanecer cuando cambie a la luz del día. El descanso existe para lo que puedes continuar.

El Camino te invita a reflexionar, sorprenderte, aceptar, profundizar, parar, escuchar, admirar, bendecir la naturaleza, percibir a tus compañeros de camino, a ti mismo, a Dios.

Las bienaventuranzas del Peregrino

• Dichoso tú, peregrino, cuando descubrías que el Camino abre tus ojos para el invisible.
  
• Dichoso tú, peregrino, si comprendas que no eres tú mismo que llegarás a la meta, pero llegarás a la meta junto con otros.
  
• Dichoso tú, peregrino, cuando contemplas el Camino y descubras que está lleno de nombres y sorpresas.
  
• Dichoso tú, peregrino, cuando poco a poco tu mochila vacía y tu corazón llena con silencio y vida. 
  
• Dichoso tú, peregrino, cuando descubras que un paso hacia atrás para asistir alguno merece más que cien pasos arriba sin notar el prójimo a tu lado.
  
• Dichoso tú, peregrino, cuando faltas las palabras de gracia para que todo te sorprenda cuando caminas.
  
• Dichoso tú, peregrino, si no solo caminas el Camino, pero puede el Camino transformarte.
  
• Dichoso tú, peregrino, si durante el Camino descubres tú mismo y aprendes a parar, mirar, escuchar y cuidar tu corazón.
  
• Dichoso tú, peregrino, cuando paso a paso, poco a poco, descubres tu camino dentro ti mismo.
  
• Dichoso tú, peregrino, cuando descubres que el Camino verdadero comienza cuando has terminado.