As the bus pulled up to it's stop, I caught a glimpse of the parade brewing. Four tall figures (people on stilts wearing big headed costumes) were lined up with a couple of bands warming up near by. Parents and children were coming from all directions,
Rockets fired, the children scrambled to collect candy and toys raining down from the rockets explosion. One boy showed his dad the most cherished prize, a parachute person, he nabbed falling from the sky.
Brass bands, composed of men in white shirts and brightly colored scarves, took turns playing songs. Groups of youth in white outfits with colored trim denoting their affiliations gathered in circles to dance.
The tall figures danced down the street followed by several short big headed characters. A local woman approached me totell me that at one o'clock in the center of town there would be a beautiful dance.
I observed groups gathering on the side streets preparing to join the parade. I asked people and looked for signs to the monestrary San Benitos. No one seemed to know where the convent was and told me that the monastery of Irachi did not have an albergue. I did not think the office of tourism would be open on Saturday afternoon during a parade, but I took a chance and started searching. The kind woman inside also wanted to direct me to closer place to stay, saying that the convent San Benito did not have an alburgue. I insisted that I called ahead and was given a place to stay. Something rang a bell and she showed me on the map that the monastery San Benitow is adjacent to the cathedral of the Virgin of le Puy, patron of Estella whose feast day is tòday...thus the big celebration.
Feeling lonely and tired, I followed the map up the hill to the cathedral. I walked by a group of men dressed very much like Knights of Columbus waiting for the parade. A police officer regarded me sternly, and viewed my heavy pack. II have learned that a big smile breaks the language barrier. He returned my smile with a warm Hola! At the top of the hill, i was certain a lovely building was the right place yet I could not figure out how to enter the convent, so I joined the Mass at the cathedral. It's is an amazing modern cathedral. At the end of mass people were lining up so I joined them. The lined moved to the back of the altar were people were paying respect to their patron
by making the sign oif the cross, kissing or touching a representation of the 8 pointed star and cross. A star that guided shephereds to the top of this volcanic rock where they saw a beautiful woman, the virgin of le Puy. I asked the sacristan where the convent was located. He told me that for a place to sleep I needed to go down into the town. A young woman with two children directed me to a door up a long flight of stairs. I saw a nicely dressed family entering the door. That was confusing and I thought it was their home. A local girl passed by and she said she had never gone there but she believed it was right door. I buzzed. No one came. I heard people inside. I buzzed again. Cameras came on a
I heard a voice spoke in typical speaker sound, having no idea what to do I smiled at the camera and said hello I am pilgrim carol.
The door soon opened and a stylishly dressed tall young woman stood there. Confused, I asked her if this was the convent . In a second, a nun appeared. The young woman was of the family there celebrating the birthday of their aunt, the abbottress. I was shown a beautiful room, marbel floor with a throw rug, dark simple furniture, a single bed with crisp ironed sheets that smelled oh so very good, a big window opening to a view of the cathedral and the city, and a sparkling clean bathroom with a tub! It appears I am the only pilgrim to stay here in the guest rooms on the second floor.
Hermana Esperanza is in charge of hospitality. I sent her greetings from Jen de la Riva, who I walked a bit with last Camino. And she tells me Jennifer will be here June 3,4 as she is coming to walk the camino to the coast.
Esperanza tells me I must speak in Spanish as there is no one here who speaks English. She speaks slowly to me and I understand her entirely. She invites me to rest while she prepares me some food. Soon the young woman knocks on my door and takes me to a social area where her family is visiting the abbottress. While I eat, the teenaged boy walks by and says "hi" " bye". After the second time I invite him to sit with me and practice English. He gets a book to show me. He is in his second year of secondary school and has written a fantasy story which is available on amazon.com. Wow! We discuss his book and I invite him to ask questions about me and my country.
I return to my room to rest and Esperanza comes a little before 7 to show me the church inside the convent. All the sisters show up and they sing vespers. It is so beautiful I am moved to tears. I return to my room, and cry some more. It is so good to be here.
At breakfast, laudes prayers and Mass I am joined by a woman who drives a Coche between here and Barcelona. Although she has no English she helps me follow the prayers. Mass is comfortable as I know the prayers and responses in Spanish. Again the singing is so beautiful I cry. After communion we sing to the tune of How Great thou Art. The nuns, priests and men sacristans boom out voices that fill the building. My heart is touched by the familiar melody.
I will rest here a few more days. I need this time to reflect onthis past month. This is a place of reverent prayer. It is good to be here.
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