Day 6: on to Puente la Reina

23.5 km 14.6 miles. Started at 0700 AM, bit dark still but was so nice & cool specially after the night rain.

I got to Puente la Reina at 4:45 PM in 9 1/2 hours. I think I am getting conditioned, I still walk slowly & everyone still passes me by. When I got to P. La Reina, the 1st Albergue was full. I was dismayed as I don't want to stay in a gym again. This is a smaller town but it has 5 albergues so I was able to get a bed.

I did not want the Pilgrim's Dinner so I went to the Super Mercado, bought a piece of steak, 6 eggs, cashew, 1/2 a baguette ( I learned this in Paris) & apricot & peach jam single serve. For E8.46, I have dinner tonight, breakfast & lunch tomorrow. Their breakfast at the Albergue is E3.00 for coffee & Danish roll. I have bought green tea so I am set.

All the cooking utensils, pot & pans are available for use. I just have to wash up after use.

Right now a man is playing the guitar & singing some beautiful Spanish music.

Here are some memories of the day...

Buen Camino,
Josie

Apartment in Pamplona

Still Pamplona

This was the view from my bedroom, the Catedral Maria la Real. I was able to join the Rosary prayer. The altar with the Virgen was so beautiful but so well lit that the IPad could not take a good picture.

Day 5: Pamplona

A mere 2 1/2 hour walk from Arre to Pamplona.

Day 4: Zubiri to Kloster de Arre

This morning, Chris bought me breakfast cause I wash our laundry last night, dried, folded for her. Everybody helps one another in the Camino. Tracey from Ireland lent me her 1 pole which was a life saver on the steep downhill walk. No blister, a little achy but OK.

This was the bridge in the movie The Way where Martin Sheen dropped his pack.

But Moi, soak my tired feet in the cold Arga River. Felt sooooo good. 

 My 3 adopted girls opted to sleep or read a book.

Along the highway which we had to traverse or cross to follow the yellow shell of the Camino.

Could not make it to Pamplona in time, so we stayed here in Arre at the convent of the Holy Trinity, an Albergue .

Day 3: On the Road Again

A selfie while drying my towel on the way, my shirt pinned to my backpack. Then I thought why not just place the towel on my head, it was wet & cooled off my head.

Since it took me 10 hours from Roncesvalles to Zubiri, there is no room at the Albergue. The only space to sleep indoors was in the gym, on hard concrete floor for E2. The Korean girl gave me 1 of her 2 boxes she got at the Super Mercado, then I slept inside my sleeping bag liner, socks on, clean socks over my leather gloves, fleece jacket. It was so cold I put on my poncho in the middle of the night. The sleeping pill did not work, I did not sleep at all caused there was a really loud SNORER. It was like a symphony, different tones, timing. Now I know how the homeless people feel. Surprised that I woke up without pain, a little stiff.

My Roman friends, Flavio & Valentina who invited me to have dinner with them, pasta with tuna. Delicious!  So for the day, it only cost me E5 for breakfast, E2 for lodging.

One of many bridges on the Camino

I was so happy to see my Irish friends, Tracey on my right, lent me her 1 pole which was a lifesaver. They are all part of my Camino Family.

Buen Camino,
Josie

Day 2: Along the Pyrenees

The crossing to Roncesvalles was 6-7 hours, started at 7:00 AM & took me 13 1/2 hrs. The last 8 km. was to be only 2 1/2 hrs. But the terrain was too steep as it got to Roncesvalles. I was the last one the mountain at 8:30 PM. It was good that there was still light. The big Albergue was full so I had to sleep in the overflow area in a trailer with 4 bunk beds, 6 women & 1 man. 

I met Ty Wheeler & his family. The 3 year old was riding a car shaped stroller. He took my pack & took it down the last 1 km, which was so great at it was getting dark. He asked if I can send him pictures as his camera was out.

Had dinner at La Posada, Pilgrim menu, 1st course was pasta with cheese, main course was fish & dessert was yogurt. This was in the movie The Way. 

At breakfast, the woman who served the cafe con leche was in the picture with Martin Sheen & the Spanish actress who was the hospitalera.

With 1 year Los Olivia from Australia at a drinking fountain along the way to Zubiri

Ursula from Germany has a luggage carrier, her " donkey", she gave my pack a lift till we got to this water drainage. She went up the road & I crossed on top of these concrete blocks

Buen Camino,
Josie