Day 5: Puente La Reina to Estella
- sarezend
- Apr 23
- 3 min read
Today’s word: The Swede. First and foremost, I woke to the pitter patter of rain in Puente La Reina. Jeff and I got up and went to a cafe next to our hostel for coffee and breakfast. As the rain stopped, however, Jeff’s knees were still too painful to walk. The Swede, who we met on the way to Zubiri, shared a cab, then met again for dinner in Pamplona, also walked with us to Puente La Reina, and again joined us for breakfast.
At breakfast, a decision was made for Jeff to take a rest day, taxi to Estella, accompanied by the Swede and I would walk the 22km to Estella when rain stopped earlier than expected. For me, a day by myself, walking the rolling hills to Estrella was extremely quiet, but also a day of many thoughts, such as, being age 62, my childhood, parents, etc., all the thoughts in my head for the next 5-6 hours. I left at 8:30am and arrived in Estella at 2:30pm, exhausted but without blisters or really any complaints. Back to the Swede…
Jeff and I met the Swede on our way to Zubiri, 3 days ago. He was in the cafe where we sought refuge from the pouring rain. We sit around a gas heater for warmth and the Swede joins us. He is a young man of 31 years, he tells us, whose quest on the Camino was to learn what it takes to become a man, prepare himself to meet a woman, get married and start a family. The Swede is exactly how you’d think he would look, long blond hair, beard, blue eyes, but to me looked like a 20 year old kid. Everyone looks younger to me these days. The Swede grew up without discipline, without the need of money, works in a family business but recently got in some “trouble” and was now seeking change. What better way to figure it out to walk the Camino and then meet with two 60 plus guys on the Camino in long term relationships who were all too happy to provide advice. He stuck with us for 2 days, much like a puppy dog, following us, asking questions about our lives, relationships, and careers. My first thought was he was a Spy. Then I thought again, nay… Our upbringings compared to the Swede’s couldn’t have been more different. But for a kid seeking manhood, every once in a while he’d say something very wise. We talked politics, Jeff spoke of the difference between our current POTUS and others in the past, and after many clarifications, the Swede questioned whether America has ever been a democracy in the last 20 years. It was a good point when one thought about it. I now wondered myself, but I digress. When talking about childhood, the Swede said, “wow Scott, you had a lot of trauma in your life, have you come to terms with it?” I responded, thats one way to look at it, I thought my childhood was normal, and as far as coming to terms, what choice do I have, you know, forgive and forget, move on. The Swede, however, 30 plus years younger made me think differently about everything. Now, don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade my childhood for anything, but on the Camino, I’m reminded that you can still learn something about yourself, even when it comes from an unexpected source.
Please enjoy the pictures from my travels to Estella:
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