The Provincial Police have provided help to a pilgrim from South Korea in the port of Erro, one of the points of the French Way in Navarra and a regular stopover for walkers who advance from Roncesvalles towards Zubiri and Pamplona.
The Camino de Santiago once again leaves one of those small stories that show the importance of assistance and safety on a route traveled every year by pilgrims coming from thousands of kilometers away.
On this occasion, the protagonist has been a pilgrim from South Korea who needed the help of agents of the Foral Police when he was in the port area of Erro, in Navarra.
The intervention took place in full French Way, within one of the first stages faced by those who begin their pilgrimage in Roncesvalles.
A delicate point before reaching Zubiri
The port of Erro is part of the stage that connects Roncesvalles with Zubiri, a route of approximately 21 kilometers.
After passing through towns such as Burguete, Espinal, Bizkarreta and Lintzoain, the pilgrims reach the area around the port of Erro before facing the descent towards Zubiri.
It is not a particularly long stage by the standards of the Camino, but it does present continuous ups and downs and a final descent in which extreme caution should be taken. The description of the stage also indicates several intersections with the N-135 highway.
South Korea and its particular relationship with the Camino
The nationality of the pilgrim is not a minor detail either.
The presence of South Korean walkers has become one of the most striking international phenomena on the Camino de Santiago in recent years.
And precisely very recently in Camino de Santiago RTV We have addressed this special relationship between South Korea and the Jacobean pilgrimage: books, television programs and travelers' stories have helped popularize Santiago among the Korean public.
Now, a small intervention in Navarra once again puts a face to that international dimension.
A pilgrim arrived from the other end of the world traveling the first stages of the French Way and some agents who, when needed, appear to help him.
Safety in the first stages of the French Way
The episode also reminds us of something important: the first kilometers from Roncesvalles should not be underestimated.
Mountain terrain, descents, fatigue and weather conditions that can change quickly make it advisable to prepare correctly for each day.
Especially for those who arrive in Spain after an international trip and immediately start walking.
Checking the weather forecast, carrying enough water, knowing the route and avoiding prolonging a stage when significant symptoms of exhaustion appear are simple decisions that can avoid problems.
Thousands of kilometers to start walking
There is something especially striking behind stories like this.
Before even taking the first step on the Camino, a South Korean pilgrim has already traveled thousands of kilometers to reach Europe.
Then another completely different adventure begins: backpacking, mountains, unknown towns and hundreds of kilometers ahead to Santiago de Compostela.
This time, somewhere in the port of Erro, he needed help.
And there was the Foral Police.
A small story within a Camino that speaks more languages every day.
Good Way.
