Author: Mary Day

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Menu of the Day

The Menu of the Day ( common along the Camino) includes a choice of beverage, appetizer, entree, and desert. This meal was €14

The menu
Salad
Chicken and the ubiquitous French fries
Walnut/apple cheesecake
Salt and pepper are never provided on the table. I asked for salt, and they had to pour some into a little bowl for me.
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9/10 Stage Five: Pamplona to Puenta la Reina & Alto de Perdon

Up and down another mountain. The Camino is busily training me. I had been dreading the rocky descent past the peak (Alto del Perdon) because it kicked my rear last time. However, this time, I didn’t find it so exhausting. At the bottom, I passed the bench where I’d stopped and stretched out last time ( wondering how I’d get up and continue the last 11 km). I wasn’t even tempted to sit for a bit.

Industrial area leaving Pamplona
Finally out of Pamplona
Up and up to Alto del Perdon
Stopped to visit with the two Danish women who were sitting on the side of the trail tending to their feet.
Lucy from Brazil. She was so excited to meet someone from Texas. No one has heard of Kansas, so unless the person has lived in the US, I just say I’m from Texas. Their response is the same every time: Ahhhhh! Texas!!
Chris, a videographer from Maine. Age 51. He took some excellent drone footage at Alto del Perdon. You can follow him on Instagram: JustWanderingChris
La Guardia Civil. They only serve pilgrims. They look after our safety and will help us if injured or distressed ( They do not rescue if we are only whining about sore feet. )
With Chris on Alto del Perdon

Church in the small village of Zariquiegui
Rocky descent from Alto del Perdon
The bench that saved my bacon in 2019. Had to stop for a moment and pay homage.
Onward to Puenta la Reina
Arrived! Puenta la Reina

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Pilgrim Larry

Meet Larry, from the Czech Republic. His name is too hard for us to pronounce, so George just calls him Larry. Now, he is introduced as Larry and answers quite cheerfully to his new Camino name.

Larry
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Pilgrim George

Meet George, a retired Air Force pilot from Alabama. He’s 81 and on his 6th Camino: this is his 4th Camino Frances, and he’s completed the Camino Norte, and the Camino Portuguese from Lisbon.
Front and rear views! He has several Camino tattoos.

George
Notice the Camino tattoo on George’s leg
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Stage Three: Burguete to Larrasoana

9/7 – 25 km / 16 miles (Actually came out to be 17 miles)

Beautiful and treacherous! Just about the time I’d think the treacherous trail would go on forever, the Camino would offer a respite (and then say, Just kidding! Here’s more rocks for you!

Leaving Burguete
Pilgrim Ann on the path in Erro
Keeping us company-Erro
Going up! Pilgrim Ann
Esteribar –

A hard day. Hard. If I’d navigated that trail any slower, I’d have been stopped.
Esteribar. We stop in the villages along the way, rest, refresh, and walk some more. George & Ann

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9/6 Over the Mountain and through the Woods

These first few days are hard. I walked this same path two years ago, and what I remembered was the beautiful forest walk. Just as well I’d forgotten about the steep climb and relentless, steep, rocky descent.

Share the road.
The red and white striped marker is the marker for the Camino in France. Once in Spain, we follow yellow arrows.
Rocky path

More to come. More photos. More narrative. I have a day off tomorrow and will catch up.