Camino 9 - Puente La Reina

We left the wonderful albergue we stayed at last night. Blessings to Charo y Jose who tend the alburgue.  

We walked downhill to Arre and Pamplona.  Honestly I could spend a week in this area. In Arre approaching 9:00 a.m. there were school children and parents bustling about.  Lovely!

This is the entrance to the walled city.  We crossed the drawbridge entering.  

So much to say you'll have to ask me in person. 

After crossing the city we headed toward the next ridge.  On the way there was a little village that we had originally planned to stop at. In a shop we found proper trekking poles. I set my wooden stick that had conveyed me thus far by a fountain and bought trekking poles for Elizabeth and myself. 

Thus equipped we decided to go over the ridge to the next town that had alburgues.  

"Completo" means full and that is what we found in Uterga.

A kind senora at the second bar/alburgue made several phone calls and found us a room 6,5km down the road at Zubi XXI.  After a great meal we are now settling down to sleep.

***

My accountant tells me this was a 32.3 km day.  ;)

Camino 8 2024-05-29 Zalbadika

Today we started in the rain at this Viscarret.  The train was more mild up and down like the upper part of stone door. 

Elizabeth and I went on fairly well regardless of the mist and the wind.  

Midway through the morning we arrived at Zuraian.  There is a lovely medieval stone bridge in the town.

After a snack there we continued the journey, but with finding lodging more in mind.  At about 3:00 p.m. we neared Zalbadika.  The maps noted a parochial alburgue 500 m off of the main course.  We inquired and have been delighted at every turn.  

Okay, I have been busy with people, washing clothes, dinner, more conversations,... So all you get is this picture under one of the bells in the tower.

Camino 7 - A day of rest

Languages:

Here in Biskarret three native languages coexist: Basque, Spanish, and French.  So the name of even the villiagehas many representations: Viscarret, Biskarret... with differing ending schwa's..  Fluid and phonetic.

Greetings people as they pass, there's little chance of knowing their native tongue.  Most greet "bon camino" or "buenas dias".  If conversations ensue a common language is negotiated - English or Spanish being the most common.  But you can not know by outward traits.

Faith:

Many on camino identify as Catholic. Few practice.  More are into New Agie cafeteria culture.  "Faith in the universe...the goodness of all people....". There is for some an allergy to organized religion and to thinking critically but fairly about faith and practice.  

Camino 6 - rainy day from Roncesvalles

Today we start down the hill from Roncesvaux to Zubri or that direction. It's raining but pleasant outside.  We may have 4 hours or so walking. Started the day with morning prayer in the St. James chapel.  Then breakfasted with Cain from Australia. Also Margaret from Krakow Poland. 

***

The day became extremely rainy as we walked. A fair bit of a up and down but not too extreme. At noon we arrived in viscaretta. With the help of Drew who runs a restaurant here we found our resting place for the weekend. It is now after dinner. Our clothes and shoes are still drying off. We have had lovely conversations with several of the residents of this place.