Sunday, 13Sept2026 – Day 6 – LaGuardia to Navarrete

Sunday, 13Sept2026 – Day 6 – LaGuardia to Navarrete

It was a beautiful day for a walk through the rolling hills of this wine-producing region of Spain. The vines, miles and miles of them, were heavy laden with dark purple bunches of grapes. In each town I passed through I saw farmers driving their tractors pulling wagons laden with fruit to the many bodegas (wineries) throughout the region. There was a sense of abundance and joy at the harvest. At the same time, the impact of Europe’s long drought and series of super hot summers was evident everywhere. Everything is bone dry and the reservoirs are extremely low. Today was a day of festivals. The day began in LaGuardia with a solemn procession carrying a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 7am in the square outside my window. At the 10am Mass I attended at the Church of St. John the Baptist the altar was decorated with beautiful flowers and there was a special novena prayer at the end. They were continuing a long tradition of holding a novena in September to La Virgen de la Pilar (the Virgin of the Pillar). As I passed through the town of Fuenmayor, there were large groups of people in parks and squares enjoying food and drinks in a festive atmosphere. I learned that they were celebrating the Fiestas de la Cruz (the Festival of the Cross), dating back to the 18th century when a relic of the Holy Cross was donated to the town. My first stop was in the lovely little town of Lapuebla de Labarca where I thoroughly enjoyed a cafe con leche and a huge croissant. I will rest here in Navarrete for a day giving my feet and everything else a well-deserved break. The theme for today’s walking meditation was on the reality of sin in the world and its devastating effect on history, the present, every person, our communities, and our precious earth. It was a lot to ponder and pray about.