Where there’s smoke ...

Nearly every building in Spain has a lovely set of window boxes filled with gorgeous flowers.

And nearly everyone in Spain smokes.

Those two facts came together to bring a spectacular end to Day 2 of our Camino adventure, complete with a visit from the fire department and a midnight trip to the street outside to make sure it really was safe to stay in our room.

It appears that one member of the herd of Shetland ponies that checked into the room directly above ours shortly before midnight had a hankering for a cigarette. Rather than going down two flights of stairs and smoking outside of the non-smoking hotel, this individual decided to smoke on the balcony and extinguish the cigarette in the flower box.

Flames. Smoke. Fire truck with flashing lights. Dead flower box smoldering on the sidewalk outside the front door.

And a debate: Do you smell smoke? I smell smoke. I think that’s a fire truck. Quick, open Google Translate. What does Bomberos Suhiltzeraileak mean? Should we stay here? Should we go outside? Why isn’t anyone knocking on our door? That’s definitely smoke. Holy crap!

Aside from that, you probably couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful day of hiking. It was mostly flat, in shade almost all the way. We were inspired by Anita and her husband from Sweden, who three years ago at ages 72 and 80 walked from Saria to Santiago to get their compestolas before they died, and now are walking the rest of the Camino, although they say they have no intention of doing that bit from St. Jean Pied de Port. They’re not crazy, after all.

We passed a family whose youngest kiddo was having a terrible, horrible, very bad, no good day; remembered to stretch thoroughly when we stopped at a café for refreshments, and saw more cows and horses.

On to Zubiri!

Glorious scenery, but not sure exactly what the SOS was in reference to.

Doing some balance work while crossing a stream.