One Year Ago: Snow!

(from my journal)

Estella
Easter Saturday / 5:20AM

I woke up early and surprisingly refreshed. I wrote some post cards and will attempt to pack my bag before everyone else it up for breakfast.

It’s snowing.

Breakfast in Estella. Eamon and Patrick in the corner.

Breakfast in Estella. Eamon and Patrick in the corner.


Los Arcos
4:30PM

Arrived in Los Arcos about 3PM. This morning, Charlie, Eamon, Petra, and I set off from Estella in high spirits and snow. While not heavy or constant, it was thick, gloopy stuff. It didn’t stick to the roads, but did most everywhere else.

We stopped for a quick café con leche and croissant in the outskirts of Estella before pushing on to Irache. There, we generally made fools of ourselves drinking from and posing for photos next to the famous wine fountain.

The Wine Fountain at Irache

The Wine Fountain at Irache

It’s possible that I over-hyped it in my head, or maybe it was the sleet and snow, but I left feeling vaguely disappointed. The wine wasn’t very good either.

By the time we reached Villamajor, in the shadows of the castle of Montjardin, it was downright Christmassy.

Walking towards the snow

8729597494_8a4c90ca0c_b

8728479337_b0ce38ff49_b

8728478359_167ab3a404_b

8728480033_910cb3be04_b

Spent quite a lot of time talking with Eamon while the others fell behind. Visited the church in Villamajor. While th emedieval statues were nice, the rest of the Romanesque interior looked rather like it had been gutted by iconoclasts. Cold stone with no relief.

We took a wrong turn after the church and started climbing to the castle. We were soon put right and began the descent from the town, only to discover Charlie and Petra waiting for us.

We descended out of the snow , and I walked with Charlie the rest of the day – fascinating fellow. He retired from the British army and worked military sales in Indonesia for a number years before abruptly changing careers in his fifties. He training to become a psychotherapist and now has a small practice.

The Way wound up and down and around hills and ridges through ancient vineyards, until we came happily and at last to Los Arcos, where Eamon and Petra were waiting for us. We checked into the most charming albergue yet, with the longest name we’d seen, Albergue la Fuente Casa de Austria.

8728486115_b68d12d268_b

Early April Vineyards

Early April Vineyards

Los Arcos

Los Arcos

Eamon

Eamon

Petra

Petra

Patrick

Patrick

Charlie and I talked a bit about the Camino and why we wanted – or needed – to walk the Way.

I still haven’t worked it out.


8:00PM

Sunday Mass on Saturday night in the local church of Santa Maria. Impressive enough on the outside, but the interior was a cavalcade of baroque gold, three stories tall. I counted nine altars, but I certainly missed some. We tried to get photos after Mass, but it was impossible to get everything in frame. Afterwards, the priest gave us all the pilgrim’s blessing.

8728495819_ffeff11409_b

8728493879_c429b1b8b9_b

8729610710_5017e51794_b

8728492767_eba5ef9f8d_b

8728508767_d246f5102b_b

8728507539_12fa56b3e0_b

8729620930_e220140ab4_b

8728500519_65c347014c_b

Albergue la Fuente Casa de Austria

Albergue la Fuente Casa de Austria

All the photos: day 5!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *