DAY 6 : SPAIN : PUENTE LA REINA to ESTELLA - 21.2 kms - 6 hours

Distance walked so far in France and Spain : 869.5 kms

Weather : cool 15o

Local bakeries and bars open at 6 to
cater for pelegrinos.

 

Typical breakfast offered - freshly squeezed juice, pastry
and cafe con leche (white coffee) - 4 euros

 

Leaving Puente La Reina

 

Leaving on the pilgrim bridge.

 

View of bridge as we move westwards

 

Walking towards Cirauqui. Pebble and stone paths today-
no mud - what a relief! Grapevines and fallow fields.

 

Original Roman road leading on to a
single span Roman bridge.

 

Snack in cafe in Lorca with Stuart (still feeling the results
of pintxos in Pamplona), John and Margie (concerned about
blisters) - a very cheery crowd.

 

Communal albergue in Estella - 6 euros.

 

View from our window

 

Plaza Mayor Estella.
Spanish National Day - not celebrated with much gusto in
Basque and Catalan areas.

 

Church of San Pedro de la Rua
Legend has it that a Greek bishop en route
to Santiago died here and was carrying the
shoulder blade of St Andrew, which is
believed to be buried with him.

It was here that the Kings of Navarra took their
oaths.

 

12th century cloister attached to the Church of San Pedro.

 



 

A good day's walking - days are getting cooler. There seem to be more and more unfamiliar faces staying in hostels, as walkers join in at different stages. My decision to send my sleeping bag home, and just use my sleeping sheet, a month ago has come to haunt me..with the weather changing and many albergues not providing blankets (to avoid the possibility of transferring bedbugs) I'm having to make some interesting clothes' choices when I go to bed. As they say if 'you've made your bed, you have to lie in it' - highly appropriate for me at the moment.

 

Farewell dinner to the Irish lads

 

With Paco, our waiter, who warmed to us ....eventually.

 

 M&M

12/10/12