Day 4 - Pamplona to Puenta la Reina

Pamplona to Obanos to the Alto de Pardon to Uterga to Puerta La Reina. 18.3 miles. More sun today, and another very very big hill and some smaller not another hill hills. Today was a long one, taking 9.5 hours including a croissant and coffee break, a lunch break and a 30 min nap in the shade waiting for seista to end so we could see a unique church we took a 2 mile detour to see. We made it to the very windy top of the Alter of Pedron (Hill of Forgiveness), only to not see the Cross of Forgiveness. Apparently no one saw it - it was blocked by some tour groups and busses. But we got the obligatory picture with the pilgrim sculptures. Saw some nice churches, lots of windmills and trekked up and down more rocky hills. My knees were finally recovering from the first two days, and are now back to being sore. Besides sore feet at the end of the day and a blister on both pinky toes from having wet feet the first two days, my knees have been the only thing bothering me - and only on descents. They’re getting better already, so I’m starting to acclimate. We were going to run to the grocery store tonight for breakfast and snacks, but opted out when we learned it would have been a mile round trip. That pretty much sums up the level of tiredness tonight. Most things will be closed tomorrow (Sunday), so we’ll see what we find for food on the way.

The octagonal church and altar was the detour church, St Maria de Eunentes (st Mary of 100 doors). Very cool. No one knows who built it in 1170, and has features that represent pagan, Muslim, Jewish and Christian religions. There are 33 outdoor arches, an arched entrance door, 33 arches inside and an arched altar. You are supposed to walk the outside 3 times and then enter the arched door to get your 100 doors. Apparently 33 is a powerful number in all the religions I listed above. I walked it once because, well, tired. It had been 16 miles and that hill already.

Time for bedRead more