Camino: Pamplona to Puente la Reina

Today’s walk will be the longest so far. Officially 14.7 miles. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why someone would put a mountain in the middle of it, but there it is–about a 1200 foot climb. I thought of the scripture that said that we could say to the mountain be uprooted and planted in the sea; however, knowing that people have been walking this way for over 1000 years I suspect that many have prayed those exact same words before me. Apparently it is God’s will that we climb… and so we climb. Therefore, seeing as how I will be winded by the time I reach the top, I’ll save my breath for a different prayer.

It is not intentional, but we all have a way of grouping up as we walk along. The first picture is looking back towards Pamplona, and the other one is looking forward towards that silly mountain. The silly mountain wasn’t too bad and the reward at the end was absolutely brilliant.

From here we climbed. It’s funny that you will pass and then be passed by the same people all along. Just depending on when you take a break or how much oxygen you need. (I can’t believe that there are people stopping to take smoke breaks! I think that would just about kill me.)

On the way up, I stopped in a small church in Zariquiegui for a few minutes—Iglesia San Andrés— and received a stamp, and was also given an olive leaf.

I only need one stamp a day, so this one will be it.

At the top we reached perhaps one of the most iconic scenes of the Camino de Santiago.

The wind was absolutely screaming up there. I have my hat crammed down on my head just so that it will not end up somewhere in the Mediterranean sea which is several hundred miles away. Looking west, the horizon just kept going.

Regarding the statues, from Jean Mitchell-Leham’s book The Lore of the Camino de Santiago: A Literary Pilgrimage: The sculpture exhibits a small history of pilgrims and the pilgrimage…through various stages of development, from the beginning in the Middle Ages up to the present day, in the form of a procession. Of the twelve pilgrims, the first pilgrim appears to be searching for the route and symbolizes the beginning of interest in the pilgrimage. Next is a group of three that depicts the growth or rise in popularity of the Camino. These three are followed by another group depicted as merchants or tradesmen on horseback that symbolize the medieval era of merchants hawking their wares to the pilgrims. Spaced away from them is a solitary figure that characterizes the decline in pilgrimages due to political, religious, and social unrests from the mid-fourteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries. At the very end of the procession are two modern-day figures depicted to show the renewed interest and rise in popularity of the pilgrimage in the late twentieth century.

After about a total of 15 miles I finally entered town. I’m not sure who the city architects were but this is an interesting place. The more modern portion has wide streets and so on, but the older part of town where I am staying is quite unique. I’m guessing it was designed to assist in the event of an invasion.

More pictures of churches. This is where I stopped. Pray my rosary today. It was stunning. Very peaceful.

I thought I’d treat myself to a nice dinner. Ordered the Argentinian steak—A) these folks need to order some Oklahoma beef OR B) that cow was old when Charlemange was raiding the countryside—I don’t think the Argentinians would have claimed it OR C) chef needs to retake the cooking steak class.

After all that, I am in my room. Oh… My room. It is small quite nice. I’m getting used to sleeping on twin beds again. I haven’t rolled out once. And after walking umpteen miles… Who even notices?

Me lying in that twin bed dictating this post. A little too pooped even to sit up at the moment.

17.3 miles/35,599 steps.

424.04 miles to Santiago.