Etxebarria to Zenurruzako

We got up late and set off in the rain through the village, past a little shop where we got some pastries for breakfast, and, after a stretch on the road (mistake) found that there was a proper path along the river past a shrine to Markina-Exemein. In the town, we followed the river to a hermitage with three huge rocks surrounding a statue, an impressive arrangement. We then headed back to the town to find a bakery for second breakfast, and then went to look for the tourist office (closed) and the church (unexpectedly open). On leaving the church, it had started to rain heavily, and it kept getting even heavier, so we headed to a supermarket for cover. There we bumped into the Australian lady again, who was going to get a taxi to guenica, and had just received a present of an umbrella from a friendly shop assistant! We continued on, and the rain got heavier and heavier, until we arrived completely soaked through at a friendly bar where we got a hot Cola Cacao. The locals there recommended going up the road towards the monastery, where after another closed church in the town, and an old stone road, we got to the monastery of Santa Maria Zenurruzako. The church was open but the Albergue was closed. and so we waited over an hour with four spanish girls who had arrived by taxi because they too had got soaked. Eventually a monk came and opened up for us, where we found a very basic room, but warm showers, although in a room reached by external stairs. We discovered that our rucksachs were soaked through, but we managed to find some reasonably dry clothes in our plastic bags, and after the church service, we all collected in the refectory for a simple but warm and filling meal, and some lively conversation.