Zabaldika to Pamplona

After a typical Camino breakfast of fresh bread, jam, fruit, yogurt and coffee we saddled up once again to follow in the footsteps of the millions of pilgrims that have walked this same path before us. The two volunteer greeters at the albergue attached to the convent, one from France and one from Sweden, gave us a hug and bid us Buen Camino!

We said our goodbyes to the big hearted nuns that run this place last night. They do not charge to stay here or for the food. It is up to you to donate what you feel led to and if you are a poor pilgrim that is fine too. I have to say that this place and the people here really touched my heart.

We ended up walking into Pamplona with three ladies that we first met in the Pyrenees Mountains at the Orisson Alberque. The two older ladies are from British Columbia, Canada near where my wife Joyce grew up. The other young lady is from Norway. We had a good time walking together today.

We passed some breath taking country along the way. It seems that around every corner there is something else to stop and take pictures of.

It didn't take long for us to find the next village and make our way through it. There is never much activity in the villages in the mornings. Just a few wandering pilgrims passing through, gawking and taking pictures.

It feels strange sometimes when you walk through an entire village and not see a soul. It would be a perfect setting for a new spin off of The Walking Dead. A bunch of backpack wearing zombies stumbling around the trail.... oh wait.... some days that is a pretty accurate description of us anyway. 

Anyway where was I before I stumbled off into Zombieland? Oh yeah...we walked through a couple of villages before we came to the small town of Villava where we decided to stop for a coffee and a short rest.

After we chewed the last of our cups of coffee, we were fired up for the final push to Pamplona. It was only another kilometer before we came into the outskirts of the old city.

The old fortress walls are still standing around the city and you enter by walking across the draw bridge and through the gate.

The knights that guard the gate must have been on lunch break because they were nowhere to be seen. Probably part of their union contract along with breaks for sword sharpening and flogging practice. Anyway it worked out for us because we were able to slip through the gate.

The Camino path led us directly through the historical district of the city. Every one was out for church, eating and socializing with their families as we walked through.

There are always a lot of tourists that visit Pamplona but the scallop shells on our packs indentifiy us as Peregrinos or Pilgrims. When the local people see that we are pilgrims, they are always very supportive and friendly because the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage is part of their culture. We hear Buen Camino many times a day from the locals that we pass.

We ended up in the center of the historical district and stopped for lunch. The five of us shared a 4 cheese pizza that was amazing. It was huge and there was enough cheese on it to stock a West Texas grocery store for a month. The food in Spain is fantastic. Local hams and cheeses seem to be endless and very afordable.

After lunch the three ladies decided to move on down the path to a small albergue outside of town. Savanna and I opted to grab a hotel room in the historic district because we desperately need to have some laundry done. Apparently turning things inside out everyday does not make them cleaner. That is what Savanna says anyway. They seemed fine to me but I gave in to her more sensitive nose.

After taking advantage of the hot water in the hotel and sending out our clothes to be washed we went exploring.

Of course we had to end the day with a nice Gelato from one of the little ice cream places along the street. I could get used to this life style very easily. The local people love socializing along the plazas every day. Their kids play together while the adults enjoy chatting and drinking coffee or wine. 

It started getting late and we had to head back to the hotel. We have a 17 mile walk tomorrow and our goal is to reach Puenta Reina. I never get enough of the architecture in Spain. We passed a beautiful church with the setting sun shining on it.

I would love to come back to this city and spend more time getting to know it. But it is  not to be this time. The life of a pilgrim means moving on along the Camino toward Santiago. So until tomorrow... Buen Camino!