Camino Day Five

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Puente la Reina to Estella

21.9 km (13.6 miles)

Morning photo--hiking partner still not quite ready to jump up and at 'em in the morning 

This is the puente (bridge) after which the city is named. From our guidebook: Renamed Queens Bridge in honour of its benefactor Dona Mayor, wife of Sancho III. She commanded the magnificent Romanesque bridge to be built to support the safe movement of the increasing number of medieval pilgrims.

From my journal: The village sat up on a hill and was so compact and pretty as we approached, surrounded by hills, fields, and vineyards. In the city we found a little store with delicious smelling fresh bread. We got coffee from a machine and observed the locals: a skinny, friendly, and hungry black cat and about 10 young people (20+ years) who were still out after partying in the night. They carried rum & cokes in cups, hung off of street signs, and were generally harmless and fairly entertaining. It was about 9 a.m.

Many of these towns have very narrow, mostly cobbled streets that seem like alleys or pedestrian walkways. Yet cars utilize them, driving fairly slowly and minding pedestrians. 

The Italians

From right to left: Marco, Andrea, Alessio, unknown guy

Front and center: Ricky

Joaquin ("Joe"), John, and Adam

We met and had dinner with Joe in Roncesvalles. He was only out for two and a half or three weeks time, so he planned on walking the first and last 100 km or so. He was one of several people we met who felt he needed a mental health break and so requested time off of work to walk the camino.

John, Adam, Caroline, and Morgan

From my journal: It is siesta time, so I don't think shops are open. There is a full kitchen here (well, no stove, but 8-10 stove top eyes, a fridge, freezer, pots and pans, etc.), so I hope we can buy groceries and make dinner together. Someone made pasta last night at the albergue, and it smelled amazing.

Later: We set out to buy groceries with J, Caroline, and Morgan. We did find a shop where we found pasta, ingredients for sauce, and wine. Our meal cost 10.16 euros total--before splitting it between FIVE people. Plus we made about 2x what we needed. It was wonderful--shopping together, deciding on ingredients, cooking together (thought it was very simple), and enjoying the meal outside on the patio.

M is 17 years old. His friend and hiking partner fell and broke multiple bones in his ankle and has gone home. 

The trip has been so great. We have met interesting people. We get to be outside--the Spanish countryside. I feel so fortunate that we have the time to be here.