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Spain Guenduláin

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  • TravelerSDC
    22
    Day 4–7

    Pamplona today, Puente la Reina tomorrow

    May 2 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    My apologies for not posting more often. Truth is I intended to, however, the Camino fun times and challenges have stolen the time away.
    Currently in Pamplona. I missed Zuburi because of a booking error.
    Yesterday 2 of the Camino ladies, I met in St. John Pied de Port, recognized me and suggested I join them for a Pamplona walking tour. I did and am very grateful. The Guide (Mexican) spoke excellent English has lived (and married) here. Also ran with the Bulls. The walking tour took 3+ hours and included Hemingway's Pub, Pamplona's Cathedral, a Museum dedicated to the Running of the Bulls (started in the 1800s). Also Pamplona's and Spain's history.
    The photos start with Cathedral Pamplona where we wiitnessed and, heard the Nuns and Priest's Choir. Then the photos are from Hemingway's Pub followed by scenic ones.
    Weather 9⁰C this morning, 12⁰ C tomorrow 🤞    Read more

  • TravelerCamino de Santiago - May 2025
    1211
    Day 7

    Day 5 - Up up up, then wet wet wet

    May 2 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Pamplona to Puerte la Reina
    29.2km
    The day started out with a 25% chance of rain, so a reasonably early start to have a quick breakfast, then walk through the suburbs of Pamplona and university towards Alto del Perdon. It took a couple of hours to leave Pamplona and then about an hour to summit the hill with bad weather and thunderstorms threatening. The Alto del Perdon is iconic, so a thrill to get here. Then a race down the sometimes tricky decent with loose rocks underfoot. And then the heavens opened and we got drenched in rain, thunder, lightning, and hail. The walk through the fields of wheat, peas, and rapeseed was nice though. A well deserved hot lunch of tortilla and coffee at TJ e Nueva Apertura Gastrobar in Uterga, which was heaving with drenched pilgrims. Later bumped into Cas from Perth and Erica from California, and we walked the rest of the afternoon together in the rain. Saw the Statue of the Pilgrim in Obanos then took a detour to see the church of Saint Mary of Eunate in the countryside, which was closed. Eventually got in to Puente La Reina at 4pm after a big day, 29.2km.
    Moments of the day included the experience of getting drenched and seeing the hail falling. The big moment was that I have now walked further than ever, exceeding the 85km Old Ghost Road to a new personal best.    Read more

  • TravelerMy Camino
    211421
    Day 7

    Zubiri to Pamplona

    May 1 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F

    Today was another long and arduous, although beautiful, day. They say that the first third of the Camino is a physical challenge, as your body adjusts to the mountainous terrain. The second third, through the hot and flat meseta, is said to be a mental challenge. And the final, more populated and industrial third, is said to be a spiritual challenge. So far that's right.

    Today's path was through beautiful woods with the river running alongside, the sound of the water a soothing melody. Little waterfalls and areas of rushing whitewater added to the music. We passed through charming little towns with their narrow streets and stone homes set up on the hills. Flowers are starting to bloom everywhere in yellows and purples, and farmers are busy repairing fences and tending the fields.

    A bright spot was the riverside cafe in Zuriain, almost 13 km past Zubiri and the first food of the day, since my albergue didn't offer breakfast. I had freshly squeezed orange juice, which was delicious. A hundred or more pilgrims congregated here, enjoying the music and chatting together.

    Terry, Vanessa, and I turned down the spinach tortilla to hold out for pizza cooked in the outdoor pizza oven in Iratz, just another km further. But it was May Day, a major holiday throughout the EU, and he was closed. Many businesses were closed, with families gathered in parks where the men grilled the food and women and children chatted and played in the grass. In the towns, people thronged to the bars, laughing and talking over drinks.

    Just as I thought I couldn't walk another step, Pamplona appeared in the distance. We came to the wall of the ancient fortified city and crossed over a drawbridge with its huge gears to enter. May Day celebrations were in full force in the crowded streets. I was too exhausted to explore, instead making my way straight to my hotel.

    After a long, hot shower and a little rest, I headed to the bar next door. The glass case was full of pinxtos, small plates of the most amazing food. First I had roasted artichoke hearts on a bed of mustard sauce with crisp, salty ham on top. Still hungry, I chose a skewer of shrimp and octopus with peppers and onions and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. It was a heavenly end to a long, hard day. Now for a day of rest and planning!    Read more

  • Camino de Santiago
    1
    231
    Day 10–11

    Cirauqui to Azqueta

    April 30 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F

    Another sunny day in Spain. 14.45 miles today, a bit longer than planned but all in a day’s Camino.
    So far, in the 74.5 miles we’ve walked in 6 days I think there’s been a maximum of maybe 11 feet of level ground. I guarantee every person in this part of Spain that had to walk to school
    (or anywhere else for that matter) had to walk uphill both ways.
    It’s not just a myth! 😉
    We had lots of climbing needless to say. Also had free wine! Fuente de Irache.
    There’s a winery on the path that has a spigot on the wall of one of their buildings. BYOC (bring your own cup) or Camino shell.
    Our friend Pip Taylor was on our minds today. Pip was another CO friend we met and fell in love with instantly and like us, she and her husband also had a home in TX. Pip was genuinely a one of a kind. Quick to laugh and love fiercely and one of the most generous folks on the planet to anyone she met or who was on need. ALS took her from us in a few short months in 2022 but she is forever in our hearts.
    Seeing a single red poppy growing in a sea of green reminded me of her today. She would have been the first to say “ You were born to stand out. Never blend in.”
    Life is good!    Read more

  • TravelerCamino de Santiago/ Camino Fra
    11
    Day 9

    Day 9 Puente la Reina To Ayegui

    April 30 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Day 9 Wednesday April 30 from
    Puente la Reina To Ayegui

    Left the Albergue at around 8am with a new friend Stephanie from Folsom, California. We figured that we walk the same pace so we agreed to leave at the same time. The sun was shining and weather was great. Today I decided to take my backpack with me instead of having it shipped to the next place. I thought that there wouldn’t be too many hills .. well I was wrong and we walked about 26.5 kilometres. The scenery was beautiful so green. What i am realizing is that when you walk you really appreciate the nature around you. Spain is beautiful! It was a long day snd we didn’t arrive to the Albergue till about 4:30. I was very tired by the end of the day!Read more

  • KerstinOnTheRoadVon Andalusien nach Brüssel
    Day 25

    Stromausfall, Pamplona und Fazit Spanien

    April 29 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Von dem Stromausfall haben wir kaum etwas bemerkt . Wir haben uns nur etwas gewundert: warum das Eis aus der Kühltruhe so weich ist, warum es kein Netz gibt, warum ein Auto einfach durch die geschlossenen Bahnschranken über die Gleise fuhr und warum der Mann im Supermercado unser Gemüse ohne zu wiegen abrechnete, mit einem kleinen Solartaschenrechner. Wir zelteten irgendwo in der Pampa und lasen erst am nächsten Morgen in den deutschen Nachrichten, dass das ganze Land ohne Power war.
    Am Nachmittag sind wir dann in Pamplona eingerollt. Dort traf ich meine alte Freundin Mariluz, mit der ich vor über 30 Jahren in Grenoble studiert habe. Ein sehr schönes Wiedersehen 🥰
    Wenn man auf Komoot Karte schaut sind wir schon ganz oben, quasi durch. Wir hatten drei tolle Wochen! Von gelben Wüsten zu grünen Hügeln, endlose Ebenen, hohe Berge, zerklüftete Täler. Temperaturen von Null bis 30 Grad. Regen und Sonnenschein. Fantastischen Zeltspots und interessante Unterkünfte. Wir hatten unvergessliche Begegnungen mit Spaniern. Wir haben kaum andere Touristen getroffen. Alles fühlte sich einzigartig an. Was vor allem daran liegt, dass diese Tour komplett individuell geplant war. Und zwar von Cajus, dem wir schon am Nordkap hinterher gefahren sind. Niemals im Leben wären wir ohne ihn auf die Idee gekommen durch diese Gegenden zu fahren. Wer seinen schönen Reisebericht lesen will findet ihn hier im Radforum.
    https://rad-forum.de/topics/1550674/Indalo#Post…
    Vielen Dank Cajus, dass Du Deine tollen Reisen teilst . Und mit Rat und Tat virtuell mitfährst 💕
    Von Spanien hatten wir vorher keine Ahnung. Es fühlte sich manchmal seltsam an, Tage irgendwo in einer Sierra ohne Menschen und Mobilfunkverbindung zu sein. Man wusste auch nie so genau, welche Art von Straße einen erwartet. Ich danke den Speichen, dass sie durchgehalten haben. Wir kamen ab und an an unsere Grenzen. Aber nichts wäre langweiliger als eine Reise ohne Überraschungen.
    Nun wollen wir die Pyrenäen überqueren und dann geht’s weiter in Frankreich 🇫🇷    Read more

    See translation
  • Camino de Santiago
    12121
    Day 9–10

    Chasing Don Quixote to Corauqui

    April 29 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F

    Long day. 15.44 miles with a 2K elevation gain. We climbed out of Pamplona to Alto Del Perdon. A high ridge and long accent (and then descent) with windmills and a well known, to Camino travelers at least, metal sculpture.

    One of the many reasons I chose to walk The Camino was to honor some friends whose lives were cut short. Today turned out to be Susan Snodgrass day.
    Susan was our dear friend in CO. She was a marathon runner and all round amazing athlete from Florida and loved to hike. We climbed many 13K mountains and at least one 14K together. She was an expert at identifying CO high mountain wild flowers and especially loved the purple ones. We were blessed to know her and looked forward to seeing each other every year but life had other plans as it sometimes does and we lost her just after her 62nd birthday.
    Today, as I was really feeling the struggle and pain of the miles and constant climbing I began to notice purple flowers along the path. First, tiny ones then larger ones mixed in the verdant fields of barley and wheat growing along The Way. I realized my struggles were insignificant compared to what she must have endured and that motivated me to keep moving.
    We miss you Susan but know you’re with us every step of The Way.    Read more

  • Camino de Santiago
    2
    Day 8

    Last day in Pamplona

    April 28 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 61 °F

    What a great day it was! Had coffee and breakfast at Cafe Iruña - an old Hemingway haunt at Plaza del Castillo under blue sky and a warm sun with a local man playing an accordion from a park bench on the plaza. Then spent our ‘rest’ day doing a little laundry in the morning then walking 6 miles around Pamplona on avenues and narrow streets, a little shopping and a stop at the Farmicia for extra strength ibuprofen and sunscreen.
    A really weird thing happened a little after noon. The power went out in the entirety of Spain and Portugal for about 4 hours. Trains stopped, people stuck in elevators, every traffic light in the entire country was out, cash registers non operational and on and on. Luckily, cell service had backup power so it worked. In all of it, folks still gathered at small sidewalk cafes to sip wine or have a beer and chat with their neighbors like they do every day. Just had to pay the old fashioned way - without a credit card. (exact change helped)
    A finally, pasta dinner to load up on carbs for the miles ahead tomorrow.
    Life is good!    Read more

  • Camino de Santiago
    1
    2111411
    Day 7–9

    Zubiri to Zuriain to Pamplona

    April 27 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F

    A welcome rest stop about half way to Pamplona. Two coffees, a nice slice of tortilla and a pastry for 7.5 euro. Bonus: pop up musicians!
    It was a long 14+ mile day. Mud, mud, and more mud and steep accents and descents. So much beauty in spite of the weather.
    Arrived in Pamplona about 1500 on this Sunday afternoon. Most everything is closed in Spain on Sunday. Like the days of our youth in the USA. Our feet are questioning what the heck we’re doing to them and we’re having those same questions! 😎
    We are here for 2 days for much needed R&R.
    Life is good!    Read more

  • TravelerCamino de Santiago/ Camino Fra
    Day 5

    Day 5 Orisson to Roncesvalles

    April 26 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Day 5 Saturday April 26, from Orisson to Roncesvalles. What a day! So far the most difficult. We are told the first two days are the hardest. It rained all day. I walked 20 km and did 30,310 steps. Most of the time we were going up the Pyrenees.
    The Pyrenees Mountains near Roncesvalles, Navarre, Spain, have an elevation of 3,862 feet (1,177 meters). For me it was very hard and going up i had to stop to catch my breath and start again. I was walking with three very nice ladies. We got to a point and we were not sure which way to go. So I was the first one to climb up a narrow path and I fell flat on my back. I got an instant headache by was fine got up and moved on. Good thing is that we found our way! Knowing how difficult it was going to be I had decided that I would have my back pack shipped to the place I was sleeping at that day. I am so glad I did. It definitely made it easier and I plan to do it again for the next two days and then I will see how difficult the way will be!
    Sometimes when I needed some encouragement I would picture my grandchildren saying “go Nanna you can do it” and I did!
    I stayed in the Albergue de Peregrinos de Orreaga-Roncesvalles it is a monastery. There were over 200 pilgrims there. When you enter an Albergue you have to remove your boots/hiking shoes. Then you get your room. Bathroom are shared with women. I was lucky I had a hot shower.
    I went to mass and at the end the priest does a pilgrims blessing. It was very nice and the church was full of pilgrims. Had a nice dinner pasta and trout.
    A new experienced for me, I slept on the top bunk with a man underneath on the bottom bunk - never did that in my life before!
    I actually had a good sleep and no snoring 😴… till tomorrow    Read more

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