A day of solitude and spiritual intensity. The mountain track started at 1150m and climbed up to 1570m in a superbe alpine scenery in amidst of low rhododendron bushes, fountains and remembrance crosses.

At the top of the ascent is the famous Cruz de Fierro, a simple metal cross atop of a tall wooden pole, which has been traditionally used by pilgrims to leave stones with special auspices for themselves and for their loved ones.

The pile of stones is now several meters high, and in addition to stones, pilgrim leave personal objects with thankful messages of love and peace. I felt trapped in the spiritual intensity of the place which mire than any one reflects on the humility and on the universality of a pilgrimage. I left the stones given to me by my family members and friends and which I carried with me all this time, and I have added a few more.

I picked up from the pile one for me and will carry it back home as a commitment to continue the inner Camino also when the physical one shall come to an end.

On the long and extenuating descent, I kept thinking at the words of the friar in Rabanal about the searching process of the pilgrim. I thought about my Camino so far. With no intention of sounding grand, I figured out it was similar to the journey of Dante in Hell, Purgatory and Paradise so admirably described in the Divine Comedy. In reality Dante’s journey was through the Seven Deadly Sins and the necessity of men to work out own shortcomings against each if them through prayer and practice of virtue.

I will dedicate the next stages to meditate my shortcomings to each of the Deadly Sins as my personal search.

I am travelling totally alone. After a very brief encounter with Lynette this morning, she volatilized into thin air. I hope she’s good and that she maintains the committment to complete her own Camino all the way and how she wants to do it.

The interactions with the other pilgrims is becoming more and more essential as everyone is folded in the achievement of its own purpose and all respect this need.