Well my accomodation in Zubiri was recommended by my mate Blue and it was excellent. (ALBERGUE EL PALO DE AVELLANO) While he hadn’t stayed there he had been there for dinner twice and the food was excellent. Salad to start followed by soup, then some sort of polenta, then fish with onions capsicums and tomato very good. And then finally lemon mouse for dessert which was also excellent. The lady on the check in was hilarious obviously well used to dealing with Pilgrims we were waiting at the door to check in at 1:00pm and she told us wait, wait soon. Then as she checked us in there was an online form they sent when I booked, but we were told at the pilgrims office fill in one form then you have your QR code to scan for your accomodation. No not here, naughty, naughty boy! But she was actually lovely. As for the rooms mine was a dormitory with 10 bunk beds and then another room off the end with shared showers between the two rooms. I was first in so had a shower and organised my washing etc. Thankfully I was on the bottom bunk as they weren’t that stable, I discovered this later on when the 3 French women arrived two on the bunk next to mine and one above me. They were in their 60’s I think and they were also very funny. When they found out I was from NZ they were ahhhh! Nouvelle-Zélande. And they clapped! I am thankful that I had the smallest of the 3 on the bunk above me when she climbed on to the bed it rocked about. In fact every time she moved the whole bed shook. But the mattress was comfortable and I slept pretty good till 4:00am then I dosed till about 6:00am as I decided to have breakfast at this place which started at 7:00am. I have been playing with fire a bit and risking it eating bread as there is so much of it here. And I am pleased to say that it hasn’t caused me any grief thus far. So coffee, juice, cornflakes and tinned fruit salad, and bread with butter and jam. And then I was off on the trail as quick as I could. Met a lovely couple from Atlanta at dinner he was an airline pilot and she was a teacher I had seen them on the trail and it was good to talk with them. Also had 4 people from Ireland at the table as well lots of laughs. Then this morning a guy from Hungry and two women from Sweden. It truly is a global community on the Camino.
The walk to Pamplona today was shorter than yesterday and less elevation. But there was probably a couple of extra kilometres walking into Pamlona to my accomodation. I decided to take a break from the bunks for a night and have booked and apartment. Which is right in the middle of the old town. Apart from saying I could check in early and then not being able to get in to 2:00pm I think it will be good to have a night to myself. I am going to meet Ciaran the Irish Widower I mentioned in an earlier post for dinner, I am going to blame the jet lag for that one.
At least I was able to lock my pack in locker in the accomodation and go and get some Tapas for lunch from a bar 20m from the apartment. It was very yummy. The walk today was beautiful again with a lot of walking on a track next to a river stopped for a coffee on the ay at a cool little cafe another Blue recommendation. And met a retired IT guy from near Chicago and we talked about his church and his new pastor and how he could grow in his faith while he walks the Camino. I also met a retired Security Specialist from the US State Department whose wife works in the embassy in Brussels. She had been to NZ and was walking the Camino with her gorgeous Dog, which I got to pat and it made me miss Pebbles.
I am really enjoying the walking but it is still hard going on the legs I am told that your body adjusts after about a week. After 3 days I have walked just over 68 km’s only about 732 km to go. Whose idea was this? Oh thats right it was mine. But seriously it is a real privilege to be here and walking and I am very thankful. We are going to head to a Pilgrims mass in Pamplona tonight. Anyway that is me i feel so much better after a shower and my washing is in the machine/ Hopefully I can get it dry before tomorrow. That’s it from me for now.
Nga mihi
Mike
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