Viana-Logrono-Burgos- Final entry until next time!

The remaining days were a blur of walking, arriving at the alburgues, immediately washing clothes and setting them out to dry. Treating blisters and then food was always the next item on the list, either finding a market to shop for food then going back to the alburgue to cook it or finding a bar with something I'd want to eat for dinner (not always an easy task since by that time I was pretty sick of ham baguettes). At the same time, talking to people and sharing information or supplies if you had something they needed or vice versa. The Camino is a constant manifestation of one of the adages I saw once on a Camino video:

"Give what you can, take what you need"
And its all there.
 

Los Arcos to Viana- (18kms)

From Estella to Los Arcos- (21kms)

So the famous wine fountain is on the way from Estella to Los Arcos. No really, it does exist and it does dispense rather good red wine. It was one of the things I had heard about and I had really been looking forward to seeing it. Did I drink from that fountain, you ask? Hmmmfff...I'm not going to justify that question.

From Puente la Reina to Estella- (about 22kms)

 Leaving Puente la Reina.

From Pamplona to Puente la Reina- (about 25kms)

There was a climb after Pamplona that culminates in this fantastic view all around and a monument to the Peregrinos (which are the Pilgrims walking the Camino) at the top of this area called Sierra del Perdon. Its quite something to stand there after you've been climbing up this rocky terrain for a few hours, feeling hot and winded and generally uncomfortable. There is a sense of relief that now the climb is over but then you also get this inspired feeling of movement from the iron sculpture of the Pilgrims on their way.


Leaving the city of Pamplona in the early hours, streetlights are still on...

Original construction of this portal was 1666

The sun is just coming up.

Many times along the way, you will see small messages of encouragement like this one written on a rock from other walkers, referred to as 'Peregrinos' in Spain or Pilgrims.

 This is the monument to the Peregrinos. A rest at this time is in order after the climb preceding this plateau.

Given the rough terrain and the sometimes very narrow and very rocky trail, it was amazing to see some of these cyclists pedal past us.

Most every sign I saw up to this point and a bit beyond was in both Spanish (Castellano) and Euskera (Basque). In some cases, the Basque was the sole language, as is the case here where the author is letting you know you are in the state of (Navarra), Nafarroa.

From Zubiri to Pamplona- (about 21kms)

I did not take many pics on the walk from Zubiri to Pamplona. It was a particularly nice day and it was hard to detach myself from the moment to remember to take a picture.
Arriving in Pamplona I felt myself just settle in. It is a fabulous place from my perspective with a wonderful, Basque ghetto that I felt very much at home in. In fact, a shopkeeper there was inquiring about my backround as he was convinced I was from that area. I told him I wasn't but my paternal ancestors way back were (east of Pamplona).

There were many other walkers along the way who walked with me at one time or another....and local musicians like this one who wanted to stand still.

 A Basque snack in Pamplona.

In the Basque ghetto with two locals...

Of course I was going to take this pic.