Zubiri to Zabaldika

Zabaldika felt like a slice of heaven. I arrived in the heat of the day after climbing a steep goats track off the main Camino route to arrive. It was so quiet and leafy & we were greeted by a sister from the society of the sacred heart that run this Donativo albergue perched up on a hill looking over the district. She showed us the church which has the oldest bell in the Navarre region. I walked up the over 100 steps in tiny circular stone staircase to ring the bell and hear it sing to welcome the pilgrims. It felt so peaceful and quiet after the booked out towns in the nights before. Ed had taken the bus to Pamplona as he had sore legs & a blister. I asked if it was ok with him if I stay in Zabaldika & meet him in Pamplona in the morning. I knew he wouldn’t be alone as he was with pilgrims in a Donativo. There was a beautiful mass with singing & we had home made dinner cooked by the volunteer hospitaleros, old local people who spoke no English (& when we didn’t understand she explained further with lots of fast words and more explanations of which we understood nothing 😂) of salad & bean & chorizo stew as a family with the other pilgrims. Best meal in Spain so far. Ed enjoyed his day to himself in the city exploring & I enjoyed my day of peace with heaven smiling on me. 😇Read more