A Welcoming Rest Area

Although I had only been on the road for about 5 km this morning since Estella, my rest stop in Irache was most welcomed. For the couple of days leading up to it, I had been looking forward to passing through Irache. Yes, it’s the spot right on the camino where the local bodega has a spigot with “free wine.” It’s as delightful to watch my fellow pilgrims sampling the  local grape as it was to take a few sips from my conch shell. Just steps beyond the bodega is this lovely green area seductively inviting weary pilgrims to take off their boots and pack and relax a while. Although it was too early in the spring for the plane trees to be able to offer any shade, it was still cool enough in the early morning hours to bask in the sunshine.