Los Arcos to Najera
Tuesday I walked most of the day with a couple from Brazil, São Paulo, very nice. This helped me make it as far as Viana, 18km. It felt good to be walking and feeling OK. I was somewhat tired and sore for the last hour or so. The weather was overcast, with spitting rain.
Since I had not slept well the previous night, I decided to check into a hotel in Viana, the Hostal San Pedro. I had a nice lunch, unexpectedly, with a German pilgrim, and her German Kurd boyfriend. They met Tango dancing. I went to the pilgrim mass in Viana, and attended a Jesus meditation at a pilgrim gathering center.
Wednesday I walked most of the morning with Karina, a Dutch Social worker. In Logroño, it felt too early in the day to quit, so I pressed on. In the afternoon, I walked with Lejandro. He is an engineer from South Paulo who is taking a year off, to travel the world. Total distance today, 22km.
I have entered La Rioja, the premier wine region in Spain. 
I am so happy that I feel good and that I can walk more than a few km. I am also seeing again certain people that I had seen before, including my Irishman from Derry.
Hitting my stride, I think.
I stayed in a refugio In Navarrete with a private room, and a bath down the hall, 20€. There were only three of us in the whole place.
Thursday, the walk to Najera was 16 km, over the small pass, El Alto de San Anton. Vineyards dominate the landscape. It had rained overnight, but in the morning it was cool, sunny and windy; we could see fresh snow on the distant peaks.
In Najera I visited the very good Monastery museum, with the tomb of kings and queens, and another amazing altarpiece.
I stayed in a regular refugio, the Puerta de Najera, so bunk beds, 8 to a room. It was full; A private room tomorrow sounds good. I attended the 8 pm pilgrim mass, where the priest invited each of us to go up on the altar, and ring the bell.
Sent from my iPhone
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