Spain Uterga

Discover travel destinations of travelers writing a travel journal on FindPenguins.
Travelers at this place
  • Day 5

    Tag 5 - Tag der Entscheidung

    May 10 in Spain ⋅ 🌩️ 13 °C

    So, jetzt nicht wundern, aber jetzt kommt schon Tag fünf. Ich hatte mir eigentlich vorgenommen den Eintrag immer erst einen Tag später zu schreiben, damit ich Luft habe wenn ich mal keine Lust habe. Das fühlt sich aber nicht gut an, deshalb ab heute praktisch live. Dafür vielleicht an manchen Tagen nichts.

    Ausschlafen wie ein Profi

    Zwölf Stunden Schlaf. Zwölf! Mein Körper hat sich bedankt – vermutlich mit einer kleinen Polonaise der Mitochondrien. Dank der 30 Kilometer gestern standen heute nur 15 auf dem Plan. Also: Zeit für Luxus. Duschen, Rucksack packen, entspannt zum Frühstück schlendern.
    Gestern hatte mir der Hospitalero noch ganz genau erklärt, wo beim Frühstück was steht. Ich dachte noch: „Kann er mir das nicht morgen sagen?“ Nein, konnte er nicht. Denn heute war niemand da. Das Frühstückszimmer sah aus wie nach der Apokalypse. Alles leergefuttert. Ich ergatterte das letzte Toast von ganz unten – das, das keiner will – plus Erdbeerkonfitüre. Sonst nichts. Kein Kaffee, kein Saft, kein Wasser.
    Pilgerfrühstück light.

    Also wieder mal mit fast leerem Magen los. Laune: unterirdisch. Nach zwei Stunden überquere ich eine Brücke und stehe vor einer Pilgerbar. Drinnen spielen zwei Spanier Gitarre wie die Gipsy Kings auf Speed – das hebt meine Stimmung. Ich stelle mich an, niemand wartet auf mich, also alles entspannt. Und dann, an der Theke, treffe ich eine Entscheidung, die mein veganes Herz kurz aussetzen lässt (Lina, bitte jetzt nicht weiterlesen): Ich esse auf diesem Weg Eier. Genauer gesagt: Tortilla Española mit Zwiebeln. Das Nationalgericht der Spanier, ein Eier-Kartoffelkuchen, der hier wirklich überall zu haben ist. Dazu Kaffee und Wasser.
    Die Bar wird voller und ich setze mich einfach auf eine kleine Bank und genieße meine Tortilla in Zeitlupe. Ich kriege nichts mehr mit von den schnäbbeligen US-Amerikanern um mich herum. Ich genieße einfach nur mein Essen. Ich hatte Angst, dass mein Magen rebelliert, aber nein – das war das Beste, was ich seit Tagen gegessen habe. Nach 45 Minuten Slow Food gehe ich weiter und – unglaublich, aber wahr – plötzlich fühlt sich vieles besser an. Klar, das Eiweiß ist noch nicht angekommen, aber mein Körper ruft: „Hömma, geht doch!“
    So sehr ich meine vegane Ernährung liebe und schätze – auf dem Camino esse ich jetzt Eier. Basta. Mein Körper braucht das, und ich fühle mich gut mit dieser Entscheidung.

    Schuhwerk & Blasen-Check: Alles richtig gemacht

    Mir fällt auf: In jeder Bar sitzen Pilger, die ihre Füße verarzten, Blasen aufstechen, Pflaster wechseln. Ich? Nichts. Kein Muskelkater, keine Blasen, nix! Danke, Kieser Training. Und danke, KI (Lina, Augen rollen erlaubt), die mir nach stundenlangem Abwägen zu Trailrunning-Schuhen von Salomon geraten hat – eine Nummer größer, weil die Füße bei dieser Belastung abends immer anschwellen. Am Anfang kam ich mir mit Schuhgröße 48 vor wie ein Clown auf dem Weg zur Zirkusvorstellung, aber jetzt schwebe ich wie auf Wolken. Und: Die Schuhe sind extra nicht wasserdicht. Klingt komisch, macht aber Sinn – nasse Schuhe trocknen so viel schneller. Heute waren sie pitschnass, jetzt sind sie wieder trocken. Clever, oder? Auch mit wasserfesten Schuhen hätte ich heute feuchte Schuhe gehabt. Diese wären aber in den kommenden Tagen immer noch klamm gewesen. Denn: Wo schlecht Wasser rein geht, geht auch schlecht Wasser wieder raus.

    Am Nachmittag kam ich wie ein nasser Pudel im Hotel an. Ich musste selbst meine Unterhose auswringen.

    Fazit des Tages: Manchmal muss man Entscheidungen treffen und Kompromisse eingehen.

    Mir geht’s gut damit.

    Pilgern ist wie das Leben: Entscheidungen treffen, Kompromisse machen, weitermachen.
    Buen Camino – und danke, Tortilla!

    P.S.: Lina, das erste Video ist nur für dich. Schau es dir mit Ton an.
    Read more

  • Day 19

    A race against Mother Nature to Pamplona

    May 10 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    We saw the forecast - rain was coming! We’ve been lucky 🍀 so far, the weather’s been great. Why should it be any different?

    After studying the forecast, we strategically picked our time to set off, hoping to arrive in Pamplona before the rain.

    It had rained a lot overnight, and there was a lot of mud to traverse, along with pools of water. But we soldiered on, hopeful until….the last 45 minutes when the skies opened and we squelched into Pamplona like drowned rats!

    Despite coming a wet second to Mother Nature, we were cheered on by many locals saying, “Buen Camino”. It was special and although we were wet and cold, we made it! Another long walk, 23km all up.
    Read more

  • Day 6

    Camino D6 Puente la Reina (Total 92KM)

    May 8 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Started the day with a fab home made bfast, a la PP, eggs n jamon made in our apartment to set us up for 24km walk. 1st stop tape up a toe😬.. We hope it's not a sign of things to come! Was an uphill day all the way, the pinnacle of which is the Camino Pilgrims in metal. This was next to the memorial for a grave of many who died in the Franco times.. Hence the stone circle.. A very steep decent on stones, shingle like.. Probs due to erosion. Was not very easy.. We had many beautiful vistas today for which pics do not do justice.. Made it to the Jakue hotel.. Garden bar open duly attended🍻🍻 Fab day, long, sunny n warm conditions shorts all the way, but helped by the great bfast!Read more

  • Day 5

    Camino D5 Pamplona (Total 68KM)

    May 7 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Hard day today, we think a combination of heat, lack of lunch and hills n hills, completed 21.5km.. In any case we made to Pamplona safely. Apologies for this late post but Pamplona is amazing and is a place to return to🙏. On the way we had a little fun with a fallen tree actually nearly fell in the river to possibly be lost forever😬.. In Pamplona we visited the amazing cathedral.. Absolutely beautiful.Read more

  • Day 10

    Camino Day 5

    May 5 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    5 days in and our muscles are starting to feel a little weary so we made the decision to have our fist rest day in Pamplona. However, being Baades we aren’t the best at resting and still managed to walk 10.5km exploring the City. We visited the Plaza del Castillo, Monumento al Encierro, Ayuntamiento de Pamplona, the Cathedral and the Ciudadela de Pamplona. We even managed to sneak in some cheeky beers with Aaron and Lisa and enjoy Aaron’s hilarious impression of the Aussie accent. I’ve even come to enjoy the Cathedral bells that chime every 15 minutes, NOTRead more

  • Day 11

    Lorca to Villamayor de Monjardin

    May 5 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 52 °F

    Today was so peaceful and beautiful. It threatened rain all day, but the heavens never actually opened up. I spent less time looking at buildings and cities, and much more time in peaceful prayer. I sang a lot of hymns like "Welcome, happy morning" and "Morning has broken." It was so quiet and God's creation was so vast. It was hard not to be awed.

    The path would wind mysteriously through fields of wheat and it was impossible to see past the little turn ahead of you. It made me think of Thomas Merton's prayer about not being able to see the road ahead of you and having no idea where you're going but trusting God to lead you. He says he's not sure he's following God on this path but prays that the desire to follow God is enough to please God. What a beautiful way to live!

    Several times today I picked up special rocks and prayed over them for special people. I then added them to the piles gathered at way markers as a lasting prayer. Prayer marked my day in a beautiful way today.

    I came to the famed wine fountain in Irache, where the vineyard owners fill one side with wine and one with water each morning. It's a gift and blessing for pilgrims. The two sides together are to depict Jesus' first miracle at Cana turning water into wine.

    In the tiny village of Azqueta I stopped at a little bar. Now that I've found my pace I run into the same people over and over. Four of us shared a heavenly piece of banana bread here warm right out of the oven and with a super crispy crust coated in almonds and sesame seeds. Inside, a poster told the story of the place. The now owner came upon the place when he was a pilgrim but found it abandoned and up for sale. He went on to the Albergue up the street for a drink and started to talk with the proprietress. He said he fell immediately in love with her. When he completed his pilgrimage, he came back to the town to econnect with her. They got married and bought the bar so pilgrims would always have a stop along the way. Their hospitality is clearly a ministry not just a job.

    As I walked into Villamayor de Monjardin, St. James greeted me with his encouraging staff. My Albergue is called Oasis Trails and is a wonderfully welcoming spot. My room looks out on the town church, Iglesia de San Andres. The room is named Peace, which has been my special prayer all day.

    It was a chilly day, so a group of us from here and from the neighboring Albergue are warming by the wood stove chatting and sharing drinks. What a great end to a day! Tonight we'll share a pilgrims meal together. These meals bring the whole Albergue together over a long shared table, making meaningful connections and sharing stories. I love the day of prayerful solitude, but the evenings of camaraderie are wonderful, too.

    Steps: 29,680
    Distance: 12.59 miles
    Read more

  • Day 6

    4 May last night in Pamplona

    May 4 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Just a short post to let you know the Camino rewards. Yes Brucee finished his evening with Camino chats with Earesto (an a Mexican_American). Earesto is walking the Camino Francés a 2nd time (proving its a healthy addiction) .
    I must also add, a Canadian chap was pontificating on Canadian affairs with 2 Sth Korean pilgrimages. What he had to say got me off my chair to ask many questions. Enough almost said.... lastly my dear friends the Hospitelo Ceaser popped in the Albergue. Ceaser, like his brother are very efficient and always cheerful.. Hence the photos attached 🤣
    Read more

  • Day 10

    Urtega to Lorca

    May 4 in Spain ⋅ 🌩️ 50 °F

    What a stunning day! My morning worship was walking through stunning fields of wheat and wildflowers: yellow mustard flowers, purple thistle blossoms, and bright red poppies. Birds were singing and bees were buzzing. I found myself singing "All things bright and beautiful" over and over.

    The first town I came to was Maruzabal, close by. It being Sunday, all the bars (with drinks, food, and restrooms) were closed up tight. But I was shocked to see most of the churches closed as well.

    The next town was Obanos. I could hear music as I entered town - it was the Spanish version of a mariachi band who were wandering all through town stopping in different squares and parks to play what sounded like a song of praise. The story is that William of Aquitaine lived here. His sister Felicia walked the Camino and came back determined to become a nun. It enraged her brother that she would turn her back on her royal lineage, and he killed her. Overcome with guilt, he walked the Camino and came back to found the church here, Iglesia de San Juan Bautista.

    Next was the ancient city of Puenta la Reina. The streets are so narrow! Very tall buildings (3 stories) right next to paved streets. It's scary walking when cars come careening through. The Iglesia de Santiago here was so serene, and it's becoming very meaningful to see statues of St. James encouraging the pilgrims.

    The road became more difficult up to Maneru, and I was glad to find a shaded square where I could relax on a bench by the fountain and catch my breath. I passed the lovely Iglesia de San Pedro and its cemetery. I love the idea that the whole town makes an event out of cleaning the headstone for All Saints, even laying flowers on each grave,

    An even steeper climb led to the very steep city of Cirauqui, whose name means "nest of vipers," perhaps because of bandits who used to lie in wait along the brutal road. Leading out of Cirauqui I traveled an ancient Roman road, its stonese worn smooth by 2,000 years f trravelers. There were ruts evident where wagon wheels had worn them. I crossed a Roman bridge before heading onto the rocky trail to Lorca.

    Lorca means "struggle," and the twn is aptly named for the trail to get there. It was a series of steep climbs both uphill and down. It was such a relief to finally arrive in town!

    I'm staying tonight at the Alberque del Lorca, which is an asolute treasure. The owner greeted me with a cld drink and sent me up to settle in and shower before I came down to check in. I had dinner with 3 Fenchmen, a German, a Norwegian, and 2 Brazilians. It was a huge, gorgeous salad and fall-apart pork cheeks with roasted potatoes. Several bottles of wine were also included. One of my roommates (four of us are sharing a room) is fom China and had never heard of a church community that actually loves and supports one another and whose lives are changed by their faith. It was fun to share with her about Incarnation.

    Well, it's 9:00, which is Camino bedtime. Good night!

    Steps: 33,948
    Miles: 14.40
    Read more

  • Day 9

    Pamplone to Urtega

    May 3 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    Today I finally hit my stride! I walked alone so there was no pressure to keep a certain pace.

    The towns were well spaced out today and had incredible bathrooms. A word about bathrooms: many won't have toilet seats. Or toilet paper. And if they do, it's thin single-ply. It's very hard to get clean. And if you don't, there's chaffing. The struggle is real.

    Anyway, had a delicious orange juice and a croissant from Pamplona in Cizur Menor. It was a nice break. I sat next to a group of young, carousing Australians I've seen at each stop along the way, which was fun.

    From here the climb up became much steeper as we headed to Alto del Perdon, the hill of forgiveness, 2,526 feet up. It was so beautiful as we passed through wooded trails and open fields of waving wheat. It being Saturday, families were out walking the trails and dogs leapt through the tall wheat chasing rocks their people would throw for them.

    The next city we came to was Zuriquiegui. The Iglesia de San Andres was open so I went in. I'm so glad I did! The church was stunning, cool, and serene. The smell of incense filled the air and gentle music played, hushing the visitors. I spent a good while there just basking in God's strong presence. I'm so glad I did, as the peace I felt there stayed with me all day. I think I'm finding MY way of walking the Camino.

    The climb up to Alto del Perdon wasn't easy, but I kept going back to the blessing sung to us last night: "may God hold you in the palm of his hand." I felt lifted up by those words and made it to the top, slowly but steadily.

    And was it ever worth the climb! The statue of pilgrims throughout the ages was striking as it stood atop the wind-swept mountain and it was moving to photograph myself as part of their procession, a procession of hundreds of thousands over thousands of years. The inscription on the statue is "where the way of the wind meets the way of the stars." They also say that here at the top the wind blows away all your sins and burdens, setting you free. I certainly felt lighter coming back down.

    The way down was rough: straight down on loose rocks that threatened the knees and ankles. I crept along at my own pace, though, and made it just fine.

    My destination for the day was a sleepy little town called Urtega which is about 2/3 of the way down the mountain. Now I'm sitting in the sun-dappled garden of the most peaceful Albergue. The owner greeted me with a refreshing glass of mango juice and even carried my pack to my bed! Twenty-four of us will sleep in one room, which is quiet and intimate compared to many places. I'm enjoying a cold bee in a frosty glass and chatting with Hanz from Austria as I write this, my freshly washed laundry swinging in the breeze. We'll share a communal meal tonight which already smells divine. All in all, a wonderfully spirit-filled day.

    Steps: 29,992
    Distance: 12.63 miles
    Read more

  • Day 8

    Day 6 - Here comes the sun

    May 3 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Puente La Reina to Estella
    22.9km
    After the almighty storms of yesterday the sun came out in force today. Initially it was pleasant but after lunch and late afternoon was uncomfortable in the high 20s.
    Today’s section was from Puente La Reina to Estella.
    Jacki Mylchreest from Te Awamutu spotted me in Citauqui, said hi, we got chatting, and next minute we’d spent the day together. It was lovely walking and chatting with Jacki and her sister Laurie.
    Today we were treated to lovely views across the farmlands, poppies, rapeseed, wheat, and all under blue skies and fluffy white clouds.
    The track varied from flat an pleasant, through to some puffing billy uphills, and my poor blisters were at times struggling with some rocks and loose stones.
    By the time I’d got to my alburgue I was well and truly ready for a shower. This alburgue in Estella is the best by far!
    Accumulated distance is now 126.0km
    The moment of the day was the surprise of bumping into Jacki and Laurie, it’s quite remarkable given all the variables.
    Read more

Join us:

FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android