I got away a little late from the campground this morning and ended up running most of the three kilometers to the ferry. The first boat to Santona was at 9 am and I didn’t want to miss it. I was rewarded for my efforts by a beautiful rainbow that descended down into the city.
The best part of the morning was the delicious breakfast I had in a cafe in Santona. Coffee, tortilla, and a giant pastry covered in chocolate. When I was finished, I walked out into the rain and the weather remained miserable for most of the rest of the day. The rain would come in waves, heavy, with a nasty ice-cold headwind to back it up. I dare say that some profanity may have passed my lips this day.
I was reunited with Birte, Greg, and Kaitlin at the famous Albergue La Cabana del Abuelo Pueto in Guemes, home of the priest, Ernesto Bustio, who is probably the most famous person on this Camino, and who was recently awarded a medal by the King of Spain for his humanitarian work.
Ernesto is 80 years old and grew up as a working priest, that is, he not only had duties as a preacher, he also worked with his hands at a normal job, and he continues to work today. His three main programs are a youth program, a humanitarian project in Senegal, and the Camino pilgrims (peregrinos), whose donations finance the other two projects.
Tonight, there are 62 pilgrims staying in the albergue, from 15 countries. I count five Canadians: a couple from Toronto, me, and two young women, one from Vancouver and one from Quebec City. Ernesto says that normally the largest group is represented by Germany, but on this night, there is a large group from France.
Ernesto talks about the Camino of Life, a philosophy that is much more important than the Camino del Norte. He still travels extensively, having just returned from a trip to the United States and Canada, where he was promoting the Camino and his other programs.
All 62 pilgrims ate together at a communal dinner, prepared and served by Ernesto’s team of volunteers. Such a fine group of people they are, supporting this great pilgrimage.