Day 3
I slept like the dead last night. My room had a window which opened up fully to the wonderful sound of the Arga River below and provided a cool cross breeze.
I was up and out before dawn to try to beat the heat and, I kid you not, as I was getting ready, a little white butterfly came in thru the open window. ‘Time to head out!’
My guidebook says this day is ‘easy’ – and I would agree it’s not as difficult as the previous two. Basque Country is beautiful and the terrain was relatively tame.
What the guidebook failed to mention was there’s not a single open cafe the whole way. I had an energy bar for breakfast. Miguel, my walking buddy today from Logrono, and I were both pining for coffee. He was good company and after a while the lack of cafes was just comical.
There was, however, a resourceful entrepreneur selling fresh orange juice at the top of a particularly difficult, hot hill. We sat in the shade of his umbrella and left feeling somewhat human again.
Made it to the city about 1:00 and I had an open face sandwich and a coffee at the first place I saw.
Picked up a SIM card but the young lady who set it up for me didn’t set it up as the primary service – so I was getting pinged by my US carrier with warnings to at I don’t have roaming service. So, back to airplane mode until I can get someone else to fix it for me.
Got the obligatory photo of the famous town hall.
Found my alburge – Hostal Jesus y Maria… thought it’d be a safe bet. It’s got 114 beds (all bunk) and I am grateful to have been given a bottom bunk. Very clean. Free use of the washing machine. Dryer is only 1€. It appears to be in an old church that’s been renovated. Just as I arrived, the clouds broke into a downpour. Great siesta weather.
I’d been wondering if I might have packed too much and that question was apparently answered for me by the laundry service yesterday. Realized when I got here that I’m missing one of my favorite black shirts. If I have the energy I might try to find another – or perhaps wait until Logrono. But, if I can go 3 days without my third shirt – do I really need it?
Dinner tonight and an early night.
More later….
https://www.charitywater.org/marilyn-peterson/marilyn-s-camino-for-water
The Basque Country looks beautiful. Harvest time as well. You do well to get up and out to avoid the hottest part of the day. Thankful too for the entrepreneurial spirit which means if someone can sell you something they will – even orange juice on a hillside!
Yes, nothing like cold, fresh OJ when one has been walking for 4 hours! 🙂