I’m trying to stay current and I’ll backfill the dates that I could not login as I go.
Puente la Reina is a really cool town, the Queens Brigde (Puente la Reina) is the big attraction built by Sancho III for his wife Dona Mayor. He wanted to make crossing the rio Agra safer for the Pilgrims. It’s six arches span the river that is much more swift since I crossed it in Zubiri.
History abounds in this part of Spain, walking today takes us down a Roman road and across a bridge built nearly 2000 years ago, most people miss it as they climb over it.
Estella is a bit larger city with an amazing amount of history, I got to experience exactly zero of that. This was home base for the Kings of Navarra and a major cathedral, now ruined, is here as well, I’m told.
We we got in about 2:00 PM and found lodgings at the Albergue Capuchino run by the Capuchin Brothers. Spartan in all senses of the word but clean and cheap. I knew that Leo was leaving in Estella but, I didn’t know that I would not get to say goodbye, somehow we got separated entering town and I never got to say goodbye to mi Hermano.
As as with most days, we were hungry and found a pizza place where we also enjoyed the best beer we’ve ever had…now a daily institution.
Estella – Los Arcos
My daily routine is get up, out the door by 0600, walk for 2 hours and find breakfast, tortilla espanola, juice and maybe cafe con leche.
Back in the harness for 2-3 more hours and hopefully we find someplace to stop and eat again, not too much, just enough for the final 1.5 hours or so.
My stop today was Los Arcos where staying at the Albergue Albeit, a real dump. We do at least have a room with 3 beds again so we only offend ourselves.
Out in the Plaza, we have a drink (or two), catch up with our Camino buddies while our laundry dries and find dinner. Mine tonight was peas with ham, a bistec with frites and ice cream for dessert. We’re burning on average 5600 calories per day so you stay hungry.
Gate leaving Los Arcos
The last hour or so is spent cleaning up, checking you equipment (feet) and in my case, doing this. By 9:00, it will be lights out, assuming the sun cooperates. That is is pretty much a Pilgrims schedule. It’s hot, hot, hot!
Leo, who I met in SJPP is now in Torres del Rio and has to catch a bus to Sarria so he can finish up and get home. Didn’t get to say goodbye in person, I’ll miss him. I did though get to know a couple from Northern Ireland, Bernie and Nigel and so it goes. One door closes and another opens.