Puenta la Reina to Villatuerta

Leaving Puenta la Reina we ran into people we met on the train and thought they would be 1 or 2 days ahead of us.

We decided on a shorter day than we had planned -  11 ish miles instead of 14 ish miles. Glad we did, the Albergue Casa Magica is very nice, 12 euros each and pilgrims dinner is 13 euros- paid cash!

Our day:

Our 40 roommates started getting up around 5:00, we got up around 5:30, packed up, ate a peach and were on the camino around 7:15.

Pilgrim statute right by our albergue

Puenta la Reina, the Queen's Bridge, from 1090 AD on the way out of town

Grapes looked like they would be good, we didn't try bit we have been eating blackberries along the way.

Stopped for an apple around 10:30 holding out for a cafe/bar to get breakfast and my cafe con leche

Another warm day so I decided to zip off pant legs!

Back on the Way

Just a Roman wall! Actually very cool thing to see.

At last 12:30 - java, tea and frittatas, we ordered another frittata to share - we were hungry 

We get stamps whenever we can, we are going to fill our first credencial will have to buy a second one later on

Our Albergue ala Casa Magica

All set for tomorrow morning

Well almost ready for tomorrow 

Buen Camino

Pamplona to Puenta la Reina

WHEW! You can say that again.

WHEW!

Breakfast was good. Eggs, bacon ham, cheese, yogurt, granola, fruit, juice and cafe con leche 2 cups for me and tea for Marilyn. We ate a lot - didn't need to stop for lunch, only an apple and banana from hotel along the way.

Started out at 8:30 a bit late arrived in Puenta la Reina at 3:30.

Long hot day. Right around 15 miles.  Long climb up to Alto de Perdon and then sharp decent to Uterga.

Our hotel in Pamplona

On the way up to Alto de Perdon

Getting water at fountain on the way up the hill

Alto de Perdon

View from the top

Marilyn leading the way down

Sue hanging out

Our home for the night - basement of the hotel Jakue with 40 of our new friends!

Showered and doing laundry in washer and dryer not by hand-great.

Going to grocery store to pick up food for tonight and a few things for tomorrow.

Pamplona

The Hotel Europa was great, in the old historic area of town, two blocks off of the camino, 1 block from bull fighting arena etc.

After our pinchos for dinner we are eating breakfast at hotel before heading out for a 12-15 mile day.

We're off

Zubiri to Pamplona

Getting ready to leave Pensione Amets at 7:15 (pretty good for us) and decided to grab breakfast along the way. I'm having a bad hair day:

Decided to go with my clean green shirt today.  On our way out of Zubiri and back over medieval bridge.

Coming into Zubiri was a steep decline so we started the day going back up.

Walked through some beautiful small towns as we kept looking for cafe to get cafe con leche and breakfast.

The path is well marked.

Marilyn leading us onward.

Breakfast/lunch and java at 11:00

Cafe and tea and frittatas 7 euros:

I was almost done eating before I remembered to take a picture - it was tasty. Marilyn raned her plate too.

And another medieval bridge in the back ground.

How the path is marked on pavement in Pamplona.

And yet another medieval bridge in Pamplona.

We checked into the Hotel Europa and did the routine - showered and laundry.

Walked around Pamplona. The area for the bull fights:

Gate where bulls run into the arena:

Streets where bulls run:

We had pinchos aka tapas for dinner and chocolate croissants for treats and a beer to wash it all down.

It's crazy busy - I never thought so many would be on the camino in September. Hard to get places to stay. People are calling ahead, we don't have phone, or leaving early to arrive by 12 or 1 to get a bed.

Heading out tomorrow for Puenta la Reina and hoping we have a roof over our heads!

Buen camino

Yikes!

Roncevalles to Zubiri

We left the Casa Sabina, our hotel, about 8:00.  I looked out our room window at 6:00 and lots of pilgrims were already leaving- still dark out.

I took a picture of one of the albergues in Roncevalles - the beds are lined up:

.

Our last look at Roncevalles:

Marilyn and I walked to Burguete, 3 kilometers, and stopped for breakfast - we each had a piece of spinach pie and I had my cafe con leche and Marilyn had tea con leche.

The path was wonderful and the weather sunny and warm.  We stopped in Bizkarreta for lunch at the Cafe Juan- we shared a ham sandwich (I had another cafe con leche - need my java).

Cafe Juan:

We arrived in Zubiri at 3:00.  Thank goodness we had a reservation - the town is sold out, every pension, albergue, room is taken.  After  arriving we made reservation for the 7:00pm pilgrims dinner at one of the albergues in town.

Arriving in Zubiri - medieval bridge:

Laundry is done and hanging on the line, we are showered,and are going out to sit by the river.

Orisson to Roncevalles

We started walking at 9:00 am. We were walking in the clouds until we were coming down to Roncevalles.

Sunny in SJPP 

Once we got to Orisson we were in the clouds.  We began our walk over the Pyrenees into Spain.

 

Coffee, tea, hot chocolate etc available up the camino - busy place.

Crossing into Spain

Only 765 kilometers to go! We got this.

Casa Sabina - our lodging tonight in Roncevalles 

Roncesvalles 

Roncevalles 

Across the road from our lodging,

We went to the pilgrims mass and received the pilgrims blessing,  We will take all the help we can get.

We had the pilgrims menu at the Casa Sabina 9 euros  - very good, pasta, pork and  fries, ice cream bar for dessert.  

Buen Camino