Day 27 of the Camino - Dedicated to all marriages.

Today was the 27th Day of the Camino. Our destination was Cacabelos. It was supposed to have been a 13 mile walk but we got lost in Ponferrada for fifty minutes and ended up walking two extra miles around the city. We asked for directions at least five times and got five different answers. The last person (# 6) to give us directions got us back on track. I was upset by this time because we had lost so much time. To top it off, we had a late start in the morning so that meant we wouldn't finish our walk until 6pm. The walk was particularly difficult today because most of the Camino was concrete and asphalt which made our feet and legs very sore and tired.

Today was also the 42nd wedding anniversary of Peter and Janice. 

Despite our getting lost I think they enjoyed their special day. Peter surprised Janice by having a pretty floral arrangement placed in their hotel room. Janice gave Peter a beautiful card and a foot shaped rock that she found on the Camino. 

Before we got lost in Ponferrada we came upon this old castle. I don't know the history about it but I'm sure it's online if your interested in learning about it. (That means I'm too tired to look it up and provide the information for you).

The picture below is a side view of the castle.

In the picture below, my sister Janice is standing next to a statue of a Knights Templar who is holding an image of the Blessed Mother which legend says he found inside the crevice of an oak tree. The title for this image of Mary is: Nuestra Señora de las Encinas.

Below is a picture of Sr. Leota back out on the Camino after a day of resting her blistered feet. I really admire her, Janice and Peter. Despite their blistered feet, aching knees, hips, and age, they all keep trucking along. Sr. Leota received two more nicknames today. 

The first was "Gilligan" because of her white hat and the second was "Elmo" because of her bright red rain jacket.

I prayed this day for all marriages to be open to learning, changing, growing and seeking the truth. May the words of St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians help married couples to understand how they are called to love one another.

13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated,

13:5 it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,

13:6 it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

13:7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

13:8 Love never fails.

Good night and Buen Camino!