|
|
TRAVEL BLOG ENTRY
|
|
Day 14 & 15, May 31st and June 1st
Puente la Reina to Estella, to Los Arcos
665km to Santiago, 287km from start
Distance: 21km, 22km
People in the dorm started getting up early. I didn’t want to see anymore pilgrim body parts, so we got out and on the road as quickly as possible. We were on the road well before seven. The day started cloudy and cool with the trail along a river. After an hour we headed up to two villages. The last, Cirauqui was very nice. Down the hill and out of the village was an old roman bridge. That started a segment for a couple of kilometers what was on the remains of a roman road. Very cool in theory, but the road had seen better days, was extremely uneven, and a everywhere was an opportunity to trip or turn an ankle. I love roman stuff so despite the rough going, it was cool. Don’t need to do any more of it though.
The sun came out mid-morning, and the rest of the stage was uneventful through rolling hills and villages. We got into Estella after noon and got an inexpensive hotel overlooking the town square. It was market day, so after the normal recuperative malt-based beverages we walked the stalls and got supplies for lunch and the next day. Then just rest, dinner, and bed.
We started the next day only 2km away from a fountain that provides wine rather than water. It’s sponsored by a vineyard and is a big draw on the Camino. It wasn’t working when we got there. Since this was a big selling point of mine to Marie for this trip . . . it was not good news.
Otherwise, it was a good day for travel: cool, smooth roads, and only one big hill. Los Arcos was another small village with a great church. In the day, the Spanish brought back a lot of gold and silver from the New World and used a good bit of it in their churches.
In the evening the church had a Pilgrim Mass. At the end the Priest invited us all up to the front for a blessing and discussion. Very nice.
Villages: Puente la Reina, Maneru, Cirauqui, Lorca, Villatuerta, Estella, Azqueta, Villamayor de Monjardin, Los Arcos
previous travel blog entry
mojo says:
oh no! no wine in the fountain?! i think the vintner owes you big time. haven't had a chance to look through all of the entries (though i am extremely impressed at your technological prowess -- how did that happen?). sounds like a great adventure so far.