Day 6 Los Arcos

Los Arcos is still in Navarra, the Basque province that abuts the Pyrenees and France.  On the banks of the Odron River, the town was once a Roman town called Curnonium.  It grew from a village to a town based on its position on the Camino Santiago, and the people do seem very friendly towards pilgrims.

The Pilgrim´s Mass in St. Mary´s Church of the arches (Los Arcos) was moving, the church small but richly decorated.  Afterward, the priest called all the pilgrims forward, and blessed us all together.  Then he greeted each one of us in turn, in our own language - Spanish, English, French, German - gave us a copy of the pilgrims prayer, and asked us to remember him (Father Joseph Michael) to St. James when we reach Santiago.

A Pilgrim Blessing

After Mass, we got dinner, then stopped at a deli to get sandwich makings for the long 30km walk to Logroño the next day.  Who was standing in the deli but our friend Jose from Lorca!  Jose seems to be everywhere!

Logroño will be the first town in the province of La Rioja, famous for wine.  A long walk in the hot sun tomorrow.