A rebirth today

As, today's story actually started last night where the blog left off.
It is so true that the Spanish LOVE any excuse for a parade and party.  Heck, any ol' band just takes to the streets with no escort and they march away.  Last night left ought with a marching band parading thru town.  After that, much to my great amusement an apparent band was playing American music just out of sight down on the plaza near the river.  Eric Clapton and many others made their music list.  Funny, back at home I would have been livid at such a disregard for peace and quiet, but here in Spain, lovers of the party, I find it hard to be upset.  Perhaps it is because joy permiates the air, particularly around pilgrim albergues.
My friend Camino Ray and I just really enjoyed it, even given we were calling it a night.  If that wasn't enough, just before closing the shutters, ANOTHER band came parading thru!  This one reminded me if an alumni type band and HERE is the great thing, they stopped at the top of the plaza - The other band stopped and let them do their parade and pose for s group picture.  Thru then paraded away much to my amusement, I couldn't help it, i was laughing joyously with no signs of upset.  But wait, it gets better!  I finally make it to bed, lights off, earplugs almost in...  The school band comes parading back thru...  It was too much, we both started laughing and laughing at our nighttime lullaby.
Ah, that would be good enough, but there is more still!  11pm, thru the earplugs I hear BOOM!...... BOOM!...... BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!  Well I'm up, need to use the facility how, washing my hands I couldn't resist any longer, I opened the shutters over the sink and just watched the fireworks going off. Just laughing to myself with sheer joy, not a thread of anger, just joy.
Well, the towns bedtime antics were a prequel to as great nights sleep, washing up naturally at 5:59am to a 6:00am alarm...  That's the way to do it.
Find a little shop on town, the lady actually spoke better English then Spanish (she another to not being from Spain).  She freshly squeezed about 6 oranges into a frosted goblet, which I coupled with a real chocolate croissant...  Note, I don't know if it is the walking or what, but I have been LOVING orange juice lately, finding it very satisfying in many ways.  I think the best orange juice I have consumed on my life has been here, almost always fresh squeezed and very much sweeter and satisfying to the body - it really earns is nickname here of liquid sunshine.
With a great start to the day, we take off from Najera just energized and happy.  I noticeable aches and pains and high spirits.  We depart town and ascent a small hill, with the morning dawn we can see rain in the distance and the faint beginnings of a rainbow.  A rainbow that we first noticed around 8:00am and stayed with us clear thru Azofra and roll we stopped for lunch in Ciruena at 11:10.  The same rainbow that always seemed to arch over our ultimate destination in Santiago de Compostela.  As a group we were just in awe at such a long lasting and symbolic sight.  One of the group said that as a child he was told a rainbow is god's promise not to destroy the earth again.  I don't know about that, but I do know it was so uplifting, that I kept talking pictures to remind myself of its duration and brilliance.
That would make a great day in itself, but alas this day is a much longer story.  When people ask me how I first learned about the Camino, the assume it is from the movie "The Way" (which I love), but it is not true.  I first learned about it when Lee toured Franklin Pierce University.  You know where this is going now.  I'm walking along and come along a young gentleman, Luke.  We get taking and he says he is here with his school... Dead stop on the trail...  "May I ask what university?"...  " Franklin Pierce ". (OK, language filters temporarily overloaded here)... "No Fucking Shit!". We had a great conversation from there before parting to connect with out respective walking family (he is walking solo and has a group meetup spot in a few days).  My Camino walking family were happy and amazed to see the connection as to how I got started with Camino.
Lots more to go here, today is a big one.
So, a bit later I hear, "Is that you Kevin?", turning aroundI see it is Paul whom I did many training hikes with.  We traveled together they lunch and caught up on each other's Camino adventures.  He sadly has to do it in stages, and fears he will not get the same wholeistic gain as I am going for.
Lunch in Ciruena was at a golf country club who open their doors to Peregrinos gladly.  A large gathering a Camino Family around the table made for lots of joy as the days one and only rainstorm we had took place while we dined inside.
Back on the road, I was fully pumped full of energy and joy and was just bounding along at what must have been an incredible place because we got within sight of our destination, "Santo Domingo de Calzada', in no time flat!  The whole pilgrim train just seemed to be in high gear today and we collectively flew down the roads, everyone's spirits seemingly lifted as one.
We are starting at this wonderful place: "Public refuge of the Fraternity. This “pilgrims’ hotel” of the superlatives with elevator offers a posh accommodation to 211 pilgrims in 10 dormitories; very good kitchen, big common area, snoring room. In the yard of the refuge, the backup chicken crew recuperate, after performing their 14-day shift at the local cathedral" for €7.  Clean and well organized.  Happy pilgrims!
We even managed to score a pilgrim meal at 3:30 without having to wait till 7pm.  And guess what town has a little Chinese shop that seems extremely hard to get 2.3amp chargers?!?!?!  Yep, this little slice of heaven does and now u can use my phone on a charger and not watch the battery die.
OK, this is getting to a close soon.
Back at the albergue, Nancy finds out there is this international prayer service at 7am, attended by several members of my close Camino family and a few others.  The priest runs in late, snaps on the big overhead lights, days something about very busy, points to prayer sheets and flies out...  No one could figure out of her was coming back or not, so we took turns performing the service, each person reading a section in their closest native language.  English, French, and Italian prayers were spoken and upon completion we asked everyone if they were willing to share something that were happy about...  Universally everyone spoke how today was so uplifting and a Polish lady offered that today was a rebirth, which resounded positively with the small group.
So there you have it, a very long story on a day feeling like I was reborn.  I end my fat in Spain with earn feelings of safety and security for family and friends back at home and a feeling of certainty that alum will be well in the end for the many in need of prayers and support.

Buen Camino!
Kevin