El Camino Frances – Page 4

Sto. Domingo to Belorado

May 13, 2016April 28, 2024Posted in El camino de Santiago, El Camino Frances, French WayTagged Buen Camino, Camino Frances, El camino de Santiago, Santiago de compostela

Today was the most challenging day for me, it’s not only that the body is getting tired, it’s the emotional aspect, I’m tired of the rain and wind and for the first time, I had a breakdown on El Camino. I was hungry, tired, and had no sight of a near town, it was the first time that I question myself, why am I doing this? Jeremy has tendinitis in his left shin, which is slowing him.

7:30pm, we went for dinner at the restaurant where most pilgrims go in Belorado, Albergue Cuatro Cantores; it was like a party, everybody was happy to see each other, people catching up about how was the walk, how the injuries are doing, the rain, and so on. It has been a very delightful dinner with fellow pilgrims.

9:25pm, time to go to bed, tomorrow is a new day.

Nájera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

May 12, 2016April 28, 2024Posted in El camino de Santiago, El Camino Frances, French WayTagged Buencamino, Caminofrances, El camino de Santiago, Santiagodecompostela

This afternoon we arrived at Sto. Domingo, around 2 o’clock, we heard the church’s bells playing, and we learned it was a special day when all the worshipers from the mass left the church. We were trapped by the mob. Here we are, two sweaty, dirty pilgrims walking along very well-dressed people celebrating their saint’s day.

Logroño to Najera.

May 11, 2016April 28, 2024Posted in El camino de Santiago, El Camino Frances, French WayTagged Buencamino, El camino de Santiago, Santiagodecompostela2 Comments

Today we walked the longest stage in our itinerary, 30 kilometers, which is about 19 miles. At this moment, we are mesmerized by the fact that our brains want to keep going, but the body is breaking down, slowing us down with knee pain, skin rash, backache, and so on. But on the other hand, we are very grateful to live this experience of simplicity in our life, basic material things, thinking a lot about ourselves and spirituality.

Los Arcos to Logroño.

May 9, 2016April 28, 2024Posted in El camino de Santiago, El Camino Frances, French WayTagged Buencamino, El camino de Santiago, Santiagodecompostela

Today we walked 28km; it has been the longest walk so far. We left Los Arcos early this morning because we knew we had a long walk ahead and also wanted to arrive in Logroño before the afternoon rain. Today’s walk was through vineyards and olive trees; for the next few days, we will be walking through the famous Rioja region.

Estella to Los Arcos

May 8, 2016April 28, 2024Posted in El camino de Santiago, El Camino Frances, French WayTagged Buencamino, El camino de Santiago, Santiagodecompostela

We had great weather the first four days of our pilgrimage; now we are not sure what is worse, a day with rain or an intense windy day. Today was challenging to walk due to the strong wind in El Camino.

Puente la Reina a Estella

May 7, 2016April 28, 2024Posted in El camino de Santiago, El Camino Frances, French WayTagged Buen Camino, El camino de Santiago, Santiago de compostela

With today walk we completed about 113km (70miles). Today we walked through grain fields, olives trees and vineyards in this region of Navarra. We had some rain but that didn’t stop us from walking.

Pamplona a Puente la Reina

May 6, 2016April 28, 2024Posted in El camino de Santiago, El Camino Frances, French WayTagged Buencamino, El camino de Santiago, Santiagodecompostela

After a day off in Pamplona we headed to Puente la Reina. We walked 23km through grains and mustard fields.

Zubiri to Pamplona

May 4, 2016April 28, 2024Posted in El camino de Santiago, El Camino Frances, French Way, HikesTagged Buencamino, El camino de Santiago, Santiago de compostela

Our third day of walking found us off to our usual 8am starts, leaving the village of Zubiri and heading towards the provincial capital of Pamplona. We had visited Pamplona prior, but we were eager to arrive as we had built a rest day into our stay. This was good planning on our end. But more on that later…

The day found us covering mostly level terrain with pretty hills and valleys and very few steep climbs or descents. The first seventy percent was mostly rural until we hit the outskirts of Pamplona. And with our entrance into the suburbs, we experienced our first significant pilgrim transition. Prior to entering the satellite towns of Pamplona, we were pilgrims amidst pilgrims. Everything revolved around the Camino, including all people who crossed our paths. However, entering back into everyday Spanish life, with the hustle and bustle of the city, we realize that we were invisible. Everyone was busy with their lives, their work, their family, and the distractions of living, and here we were, arriving, each of us with our own reasons for walking, but with only the immediate need to keep on walking, our every day lives very much in the background. For us, at least, it was a moment of appreciation to have this month to step back from our daily routine and do something of great introspection.

Roncesvalles to Zubiri.

May 3, 2016April 28, 2024Posted in El camino de Santiago, El Camino Frances, French WayTagged Buen Camino, Camino Frances, El camino de Santiago, French Way, Santiagodecompostela

Today was an easier hike than yesterday. We walked 22km with only a few uphill or downhill sections. The weather was fantastic for hiking this morning, and we ran into many people that we had seen on the trail yesterday or at the hotel. It feels like a kind of camaraderie since everyone has only one objective: to walk and reach the next town. As courteous pilgrims, we salute them with “hola” or “Buenos Dias,” followed by the official sentence “Buen Camino” (have a good way). In the past two days, we saw people from many different countries. It is like being in Silicon Valley, hearing different languages spoken on the streets.