Camino Frances Journal – Day 7

A glimpse into the journal I kept for all 38 days on the Camino Frances, including up to 10 photos (not necessarily the best pictures but more that they represent that day in some particular way). Today is day 7 – April 27^th. Obanos to Estella

Spanish flat is the bane of my existence. Seriously – is this country solely made up of hills?? Today we [yep, still with Robin] pushed things and walked about 24km. We started late but I have no idea how – got up before 7am but was slow in packing, I guess. Wasn’t until nearly 8am that we left. We stopped at a restaurant in Puente de la Reina. 4€ got breakfast of real orange juice, café con leche, and pan tostada. Spent too long at breakfast; about 9:30 we were finally truly off. Passed over the 12^th century bridge that had been built specifically for pilgrims. …

Stopped at Cirauqui, a medieval town on a hill, and bought bread and juice. Had it with cheese we got earlier. Ate on a bench outside of the 13^th century church. Cirauqui also had a table on the route with the town’s Camino stamp – you can stamp your pilgrim’s passport yourself with it. After lunch, we really started making bad time. Nothing felt right to me – my hips hurt, I have a bruise on my collarbone from the bag strap, bag felt heavy. Dragged myself to Lorca and had a snack of tortilla and a coke. …

Barely made it alive to Estella – was exhausted, tired, cold, hungry, and getting cranky. Tried one albergue – closed. Tried the parochial albergue – full. Then tried to find this particular hotel – took forever and had to ask for directions but eventually found it. …

We spent a bit of time wandering town before dinner. Estella is lovely. Atmospheric old narrow streets, marble rain gutters, interesting architecture, a rocky river, old churches, lively population. Dinner was okay… Italian guy named Rosario turned up his nose at the tomato sauce on my pasta.