We caught the train from there to St Jean Pied de Port in the foothills of the Pyrenees! We started our incredible Comino trek from there and the scenery was breathtaking!!! There were lots of other pilgrims doing the 1400m climb, experiencing varying degrees of difficulty but even those who had to stop and gasp for breath regularly were rewarded with amazing views of the mountains and valleys.
Our first night in the Pyrenees was at an old converted monastery at Roncesvalles. We even attended mass in the very old and beautiful gothic style Colegiate Church/Santiago Chapel and got a Pilgrims blessing and a tour of the church 🙂
Next day we enjoyed a change of scenery walking through beech woodlands, bubbling streams, conifer forests, meadows and cultivated fields of corn and empty wheat fields. We ended up at the gorgeous old style Hotel Akerreta. Our rooms were in a modernised attic with lots of timber beams and a big bath tub to soak our weary bodies in! We have been eating like galloping gourmets as the food has been sensational! We sample the local wine or sangria every night and found Frangelica is really cheap 🙂 so it is a good thing we are doing lots of kms every day to walk it off!!!!
Next day we discovered the Church of St Stephen at Zabaldika and met a lovely Nun who gave us a great insight into the history of both the church and the true spirit of the Pilgrimage. She even encouraged me to take the 59 steps up to the bell tower and ring the bell! I was rewarded with awesome views and a very impressive vibrational experience 🙂
Our next night was in Pamplona – didn’t run with the bulls but saw the signs and what looked like blood on a wall – from an unsuccessful runner?? We went through the HUGE Romanesque style Cathedral of Cabildo and absorbed the tales and ancient history of the place. We have SUCH a fabulous group – we have LOTS of laughs and good times – poor David our guide is a good sport and just shakes his head at our shenanigans!! There are 11 of us from Aus and everyone is here to have fun so we get on very well!
We went from Pamplona to Beautiful Estella yesterday and stayed at a lovely hotel by the river Arga – we walked beside the river and cultivated fields and vineyards during the day and then explored the city before dinner. Today we mainly went through cultivated fields, vineyards and olive trees and are staying in Logrono. We had lunch in a square in Los Arcos and had lots of fun with our crazy waitress. There was the most incredible church of Santa Maria – very different from every one we have seen so far – right beside the square.
Tonight there is a festival in town so lots of music and dancing I hope 🙂
I will keep u posted! Sherryn
Filed under: Adventure travel