Category: Camino Frances

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September 16 Los Arcos to Viana 18.5 km / 11.5 miles

Breakfast and planning
Banana is for later. Drank my fresh-squeezed orange juice before I left the counter! Cafe Americana con leche. 
Sort of a late start, but I was tired and I had already shortened my day. I think about 12 miles today.
Leaving Los Arcos. Always watching for the yellow arrows!
Torres del Rio – Parroquia de San Andres
Many rock memorials along the way.
Casita Lucia – Another trail blessing. A chair. Coca-Cola. Snack.
San Sol – That last 3 km to a village is always 5 km long!
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September 15 Estella to Los Arcos 22 km / 14 miles

 
Estella
Estella
Estella
Window shopping – Estella
The only morning I left before light. Won’t carry that headlamp again!
The wine fountain – that way —>
Wine on the left and water on the right. I didn’t see anyone go for the water!
Igúzquiza – Those villages always looked closer than they were. Especially when I was hot and thirsty. Ready to put my feet up and sip on that cold Coca-Cola (with 3 ice cubes and a slice of lemon)
A hot and dusty day
We were grateful to come across this shelter. Boots and socks off! Water. Nectarine. A quick lie-down on that concrete slab. Heaven.
A village with a bar (market/cafe) was usually pretty close. I stopped at every one! Villamayor de Monjardin
Los Arcos. A little rainfall, but it didn’t last long
Pilgrims! We find each other along the way. Over and over. Good to catch up with Evie and Kim this day.
Los Arcos. Evening. Ordering dinner and dodging raindrops
Dinner! And John noticed – no cheese!
Mary and Harriet
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Credential

Getting sellos (stamps) in my Pilgrim passport. Must have at least one a day until I reach Sarria (100 km from Santiago) then I need at least two a day. Most cafes, cathedrals, lodging and othe places have a stamp unique to them.
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September 12 Pamplona Rest Day


This is Pamplona. Notice, there is no trash on the street. Recycling bins are actually used by pedestrians. Except for that beer bottle by the tree…
Mary and Papa Hemingway
Hanging out in the square
Hotel Tres Reyes
Hanging out with Papa. Hemingway that is. At the Café Iruña which is just on the north side of the Plaza del Castillo, Pamplona.
Cafe Iruña
I loved the open affection. Son and dad and mom.
Energy! Vibrant people.
And of course, a cathedral
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September 11 Larrasoana to Pamplona 16.5 km / 10 miles

[Note: Some of these posts, including this one, are being edited by husband John back in Kansas City. Putting these things together in a meaningful way is somewhat difficult using only a phone. John has offered to serve as an editor as Mary continues to hike, take pictures, do laundry, eat, and all the rest… He is making an attempt to put the posts in chronological order, so you may see some new posts further down the page.]

The map to the right outlines the hike taken from Casa Elita, in Larrasoana, Spain to Pamplona, a little over 15 kilometers.

To convert kilometers to miles, multiply by 5/8ths – gets you close enough…

The plan is to spend a couple of days at the Hotel Tres Reyes (Three Kings) and do some sight seeing. This town was a hang-out of Ernest Hemingway in the early 1920s where he wrote, The Sun Also Rises.

The path to the hotel passes the Plaza de Toros de Pamplona where bulls fights still occur.

Leaving Larrasoaña
Esteribar The wall art is incredible all along the way.
Always a welcome sight! These folks along the path with refreshments for sale.
Up. Esteribar.
Villava