PAMPLONA – PUENTE LA REINA

28 MARCH

24.1km

In anticipation, we left our hostel early that morning and said “Buen Camino” to each other. “Buen Camino” is the common phrase between pilgrims meaning “good path/way”, but it could also be interpreted as “good luck and happy journey/travelling”.

Ready for some serious walking

The first part of the day’s walking was quite easy … maybe because it was our first day! The sun was shining and the scenery beautiful.

On our way to Alto del Perdon – the highest point of the day

In Zariquiegui

In Zariquiegui we walked past a tiny shop. We peeked through the window and saw these big red apples. Berto could not resist buying us each one. Maybe just in time, because we then started to climb a long steep hill to the highest point of the day, Alto del Perdon (altitude of 790m).

Sweet apples

On our way to Alto del Perdon, we walked passed a group of young Korean girls. They were such a happy bunch and greeted us friendly. (We would see them almost every second or third day until the day we reached Santiago).

Walking the Camino during spring time – beautiful

On top of Alto del Perdon we had stunning views and could look back to Pamplona. It was almost hard to believe that we already walked such a long way … not knowing of course what was lying ahead of us in the next couple of weeks.

Alto del Perdon: Wrought iron representation of medieval pilgrims … and one real pilgrim!

After a steep downhill, we stopped in Uterga where we shared an ice-cold Coke. On our way to Uterga, we met John from Ireland – he had done several Camino’s already – and told us that every time he does the Camino, it’s a different experience. We were looking forward to our own experience.

Beautiful green fields on our way to Puente la Reina

In Obanos: The impressive neo-Gothic Church of St. John the Baptist

Yes, we are definitely on the Camino!

Walking through Obanos

As we walked into Puente la Reina, we were welcomed by a friendly guy at Albergue Jakue. We there and then decided to overnight at this albergue.

Our dorm consists of 36 beds, but it felt quite private with the bamboo partitions. It was anyway just the two of us and later two Italian girls joined us. They also had a dog that was walking the Camino with them.

We walked into the town and bought snacks for the next day. Later that evening we sat outside by the bar area until late discussing our first day.

The streets of Puente la Reina

It was a good day.

Our bunk beds behind bamboo partitions in Albergue Jakue