Aroue to Larceveau

Dennis and I had a wonderful dinner last night at this cute little restaurant.  He had fish and I had an omelet. 

Look at this little chalet...none too shabby!

I heard this pitiful little bleat and right after I heard a pretty loud Baaaa and the baby came flying to Mom, almost knocking her down.  He was a hungry baby.

One of the many bridges I have crossed on this trip.

Graves here are so different from what we are used to. I think they are family graves.  I have seen numerous florist shops and they sell these plaques that people place on the graves to denote different people and their life span.  Some of the graves had ten or twelve plaques on them.

Dried corn for the livestock.  Looks like this one is getting pretty low but the planting of corn has just begun.

This was a very long uphill, photo snapped looking backward.  It was so long and steep that when I got to the top...I wanted to plant a USA flag and claim it as a climb---like Edmund Hilary and Everest.

The views today were spectacular.  I would have walked this entire Camino just for today.

Just so beautiful.

This little hut was at the high point for today.

This tribute to the pelérins was also at the top.

This is a closeup of the center showing a pilgrim. 

We are high in the French Basque country and those are the Pyrenees in the background. About 15-20 years ago the Spanish Basques were trying to secede from Spain and be their own country.  Many cars bombs, etc.  The Spanish wanted the French Basques to join them but the French Basques were more laid back and happy with life. It has been calm in this area for some great number of years.

The writing on this is in the Basque Language which looks similar to the Welsh language or the Celtic language.

Can't resist a good-looking cocky rooster. He was strutting his stuff.

Another monument to the pilgrims in the Basque Language.  Every street sign is written in both French and Basque. The Basque region not only have their own language but their own food, architecture, and customs.

The white churches of yesterday and today are indicative of the Basques.

Another giant uphill climb and it looked like I was going to reach the end of the world.  Felt like it too!

The entire day was spent among farmland with the beautiful Pyrenees background. And I was in the big mountains.  Not a flat spot the whole day. Many big ups and big downs. Buns of steel!

At about mile 13, I came across this little bar and they had Coca-cola light.  OMG!  Did it taste good! And I had the opportunity for a real bathroom.

Look at this little porker.  He was a pink pig.  He ran to the fence, in hopes that I had something to feed him.  He is after all, a pig...always hungry.

I honestly don't know how someone can stand on a mountaintop and not feel the presence of God.  There is such beauty from the top of the world that it couldn't just happen without divine intervention. Some people love the ocean with all of its power and mystery but I am the happiest on top of a mountain.

Right next to my hotel was this beauty.  It was waxed within an inch of its life.

Dennis decided to walk out on the trail to meet me but we missed each other so he sat waiting on the trail and I sat waiting in the room.  Oooops.  At least we were both here in time for a happy hour glass of wine.

So until tomorrow.  Bon Soir!