I can't say we were ready to leave the nest this morning at 8. They tell you when you check in up at seven and out at eight. It was still slightly dark, cold and rainy...
I knew from experience today was in the woods, tons of mud and a huge incline to the light house. Today also involved a short ferry ride on a boat that fits about eight people if some have backpacks.
Here we are working our way out of the auberge, this little town reminded me of a small fraction of Venice three years ago, a great spot to enjoy, difficult to do when it is not raining.
Oddly we all made the best of it and I was really suprised by how well the kids did in the rain.
I love love love our trekking umbrellas from Germany, we have not worn our rain jackets yet, these are fantastic and super glad I splurged to get them!
About to get on the ferry boat taxi, a few minutes from leaving the warm comfort of the auberge.
Taxi boat ferry!!!! It goes back and forth and lasts for about five minutes max....
I wasn't sure where our destination was tonight. San Sebastian is the usual stop but we cut it short due to stopping in Pasajes San Juan. We were pretty sure we would pass right through San Sebastian, when I came through three years ago I stopped at a youth hostel but had no clear plan for us today, a party of six.
Kids really had a blast walking through the rain, but I knew the coastal towns like San Sebastian would be way more enjoyable if it wasn't raining.
We walked...
We slipped and fell with elegance...
This is a difficult walk without the rain, thank goodness we have our trekking legs since we have been at this for awhile...pictures of some of the terrain.
Out of nowhere a man came down a hill with coffee in his hands, he looked so relaxed with a teenage son walking behind him. I kind of joked, asking out loud, "where did he get that coffee?" His son responded that I was more than welcomed to go get some coffee and pointed to the house on the hill.
A welcome sign was there but clearly no sign of any advertised specials or cost of service. I really craved comfort, I think we had only walked two hours or so and expected to walk maybe eight.
This young man reminded me of Reichen, he was the same age but could look an adult in the eyes and converse easily. He said we were welcomed to go inside and get warm and have a drink. I said that I couldn't dare stop, that I couldn't leave the cold rain to warm up and then go back out in it. He suggested that we stay then! He said they always welcome pilgrims and they were the Twelve
Tribes.
He said they had a donation system if someone wants to pay and no mention of money ever was brought up again. I thought about the coffee, looked up at the precious house, really liked this dynamic kid and turned to my kiddos knowing we could afford a generous donation for comfort in the rain and said to the kids, "we are calling it a day and staying here"! I think it was 11:00AM.
The kids shrieked with delight and within seconds we were served tea with honey, homemade biscuits and a young 12 year old was building us a fire. A commercial clothes washer beckoned me to ask if I could pay to wash my clothes and within minutes I was washing two loads and shown to a nice room with beds.
We felt so welcomed and at peace. I was not familiar with the Twelve Tribes, there was literature to read about them but I was never cornered nor marketed to know anything about them. I was told that they welcome anyone who comes, and they did.
Their Sabbath would start tonight and they were busy making food for the weekend so they could relax tomorrow. The kids begged to help, the girls hung around the kitchen my boys helped set up tables for the nights dinner which we were invited to attend and the warmth I felt for the whole duration of our stay will be remembered forever.
We joined them for traditional Hebrew dancing and mackrel cooked on the grill.
By the end of the evening my children were side by side with the communities children.
All of the tribes children seemed so impressive and bright. My girls were included in serving ice cream and these sweet people let our clothes dry in the middle of a room where they had their nightly conversations. Never did we feel we were inconveniencing anyone. Infact, I got wind- thankfully, that I was being given a bed that would have been used by one of the daughters there. Aynsleigh and I shared a bed when I realized this and all was good.
In the morning, breakfast was made and the residents of the home went up the hill to another home for breakfast. They encouraged us to come say bye on our way out. I was emotional at how embracing they were of us. The community stood in the street waving bye to us as we walked away and didn't leave till we were out of sight. They also gave us some goodies for the road.
The rain had stopped and the day couldn't be more beautiful.
Super glad to have stopped there!
The kids will never forget this day and the hospitality shown to us.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
We loved you all and the time spent among you will forever be with us!!!!
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