Blogs from Navarre, Spain, Europe - page 9

Left Zubiri 8:30 this morning after stopping at an incredible pastry /cafe leche' shop in town . We needed it as the day was long with many up hill climbs. One great thing is we have noticed our strength and stamina increasing . The hills are easier but still steep and our trekking lasts longer without a break. Still we are not ready yet for the Himalaya 's ..soon maybe.:) Besides the beautiful scenery we are meeting many very interesting and friendly people from all over the world . Truly encourging. We have arrived in Pamplona exhausted with spirits high. Staying in the old part of town at a comfortable hotel . Going to hold up for a couple days before heading out. ... read more

A taxing day for anyones body but we made it to Roncevalles Spain alive and decrepit. The Pyrenees is behind us now so it should get easier(so they say). If you watched the movie "The Way" you'll recognize the. Hostel we stayed in the picture where Yost and Martin Sheen sat outside at night and talked alls good ..meeting nice people . Next stop somewhere between Roncevalles and Larrasoana ... read more

Today is a bit of a rest and recovery day. I managed to get Wifi at last so I spent some time with emails and this Blog. The Wifi in most places has been poor but this could be due to demand being high. After lunch we walked into town where a festival was happening and it would be an understatement to say the Spanish know how to have fun. Walking through the dense crowded streets, the noise was unbelievable. Groups of musicians, singers, mobile DJ's with dancing crowds following them, all pumped up the atmosphere to 11 out of 10. A few pictures really can't transport you to the joy, the voices, music and aromas of food vendors poised on each corner. The parade consisted of oversized puppets dancing and swirling, again followed by hundreds ... read more

Walked with Dana and Renee from Texas, USA, and Doug and Libby from Tasmania today. We started in the dark and walked along a path in a wooded area where tree roots protruded and crisscrossed our path. It soon became obvious headlamps were required to do this safely so we muddled in the dark to correct this problem. A lesson learnt for next time: prepare for every possibility. We walked the few kilometres to the village of Burguete before stopping for breakfast and a coffee. We went to a very nice little bar and were lucky to be some of the first to arrive as it soon filled up and had a pile of backpacks parked outside. Usually the level ground is relatively smooth to walk on, changing to loose rocks and rubble in rain washed ... read more

I think the late Chrissie A. was right, there's a fine line between pleasure and pain and I think I crossed into pain today. Nothing much can prepare you for the first stage of the Camino. We had breakfast at the albergue at 6.30am and headed out into the street to begin walking. The night before was an Aussie contingent with Libby and Doug from Tasmania, Connor and Beth from Canberra and Sue and me from Victoria . The walk to Orisson is 8 kms up a steep hill and we were informed it then becomes an easier crisscross sort of walk to the peak. Rubbish ! It was a grind the whole way, over tarred tracks, dirt tracks, and tracks that were covered in rocks. The latter were mainly downhill. We walked through shaded beech ... read more