Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Day 4 Zubiri to Pamplona (Marc 22)

Tonight we are in Pamplona in the Albergue Camino de Perdon. Very nice private albergue run by German women and suggested to us by Dieter the first time we met him in Valcarlos.

Our walk from Zubiri to Pamplona was a killer walk. It was very noisy = between highway traffic and factories. some of the footpaths made for very nice walking but we walked into the Albergue along with Becky the British woman, Zach the young Canadian and Ethan the teenager from Vermont. We were greeted with a hot cup of tea and biscuits which really hit the spot. One of the hospitalleros told the five of us to combine all our laundry and she took care of it for 3 euros. We ate at a recommended cafeteria called the Cafeteria Palace, run by a former peregrino. We were treated like kings!! Lots of wine, good three course meal and an after dinner shot of a local liquor. Palma had her first sol y sombra. A delicious drink equal parts anis liquor and brandy. It was quite a generous pouring. Back to the Alberque for 10:00 lights. Had a good night sleep and lights on at 0600.

This morning we went to the post office and got rid of 4 kilos. We then went to the public library and did a bit of posting. Then back to the albergue, got our packs and started walking. At the Altos de el pedron we were stopped by a photographer doing a shoot for a motorcycle magazine he asked if we would pose for a picture. So if any one out there can get a copy of La Moto mid April edition, we may be in it!! The walk up the Perdon and down to Uterga was tough. I thought I may have developed a blister but my feet are clear, as are Palmas. We are using a ton of Vaseline.

4 comments:

  1. Yep... I think a lot of people find that down hill stretch from the Alto del Perdon quite tough. (I know someone who dislocated his shoulder when he slipped in the mud going down there- ouch!) Great to hear you are on your way. Funny how you don't think you have any surplus gear at all until you start walking and then you discover exactly what you don't need any more!
    Enjoy!
    Margaret

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  2. Discarding extra stuff seems to be part of the ritual of making a camino. We are enjoying your posts and appreciate that you are trying to attend Mass on route. As Catholics, our group of six, attended Mass at every opportunity, prayed the rosary every morning and afternoon while walking (others often joined us), we prayed Morning and Evening prayers together each day and the Divine Mercy Chaplet if we were still on route at the 3:00 hour. We really wanted to make it a prayerful pilgrimage on this ancient pilgrimage route and we are so thankful that we did. We can't relive any of our trip but everything made great shared memories.
    We really enjoyed the pilgrim meals that were available in most towns and we often were able to share them with other pilgrims who had great stories to share.

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  3. I have to agree with Margaret about the ditching stuff!! Took many a wrong turn before we finally found the Correo! and then to find a common language, that was difficult. Finally did the transaction between a Spaniard and myself in German!! Like something from the Twilight Zone! But well worth the effort!

    And as Ruth commented...making the effort to actually attend Mass seems to help connect with all the multitude who have gone down those paths before us. All hoping, praying for something, on their way to Santiago! Enjoy!!! Karin

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  4. Great to hear you are doing well - and learning the lessons of the Camino! One of them being you really don't need that much stuff! Less is more! Brings back so many good memories to read your blog! I walked a couple of hours with a couple of ladies who had started in Pamplona and spent their first night at the Paderborn - they liked it there very much. I spent the night at the Abbey in Trinidad del Arre - which was lovely. One of my favorite albergues are coming up for you soon - the Dutch one in the little lovely village of Villamajor de Monjardin - they serve fantastic communal meals - the breakfast is to die for!! Wonderful, friendly atmosphere there.
    Buen Camino,
    Eva

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