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Robert and other pilgrims,
<p>Here's a canine story from my pilgrimage in November/December 2001.
Enjoy!
<br>
<p><i>Bernie, The Peregrino Dog</i><i></i>
<p><i>I also had the pleasure of the the accompaniment of a dog I met in</i>
<br><i>Castrojeriz. He was known as the "peregrino dog". His owners are
the proprietors of the first bar you reach in the village, the one with
the internet cafe.</i><i></i>
<p><i>When I first arrived at the bar, this rather large German Shepherd
greeted</i>
<br><i>me at the door by jumping up on me, and then he licked my face.
I found out that the dog's name was Bernie. Coincidentally, my middle name
is Bernadette and I often get called Bernie too! Instantly we became buddies
and while I ate breakfast he laid beside my chair, as if to protect me.
They also have a bird that is quite friendly and not caged. The bird flew
over to the table I was sitting at and helped himself to my toast!</i><i></i>
<p><i>Note: You are never alone on the Camino!</i><i></i>
<p><i>Soon I left the bar with an Argentinean pilgrim and Bernie followed
us out</i>
<br><i>the door. We kept encouraging him to go home, but he wouldn't leave
us. We</i>
<br><i>walked at least 24kms to Fromista with Bernie. He would take turns
walking with me, then he would run ahead to walk with the other pilgrim.
When we arrived in Fromista many people called out to the dog, "Ola Bernie".
Little did we know, he was a local hero in this town.</i><i></i>
<p><i>Through various conversations I found out that Bernie selected pilgrims
most days and cheerfully made the trek in their company. However, he would
refuse to walk the 24kms back home. Each day his owners would have to drive
all the way to Fromista to bring him home, only to have him do the same
thing again the next day!</i><i></i>
<p><i>Bernie was just one of the many gifts I received from the Camino.</i><i></i>
<p><i>Sue/Bernie</i>
<br><i>sue.kenneyasympatico.ca</i></html>