Estella - Such a Beautiful Farm Town

I think that Leischen has just arrived into the most beautiful areas that  I have seen of her trip thus far.  ( what do I know, I am only searching the internet and we have Mountains in Washington)   

She tells me that when she left Pamplona at 5:30 a.m. in the morning ( Too much snoring and too many beds in this huge room)  she started her day and walked 19 miles, by the time she got done she was too tired to text.  I don't blame her, at that rate she will be coming home early  or more likely exploring new areas.

Leischen sent this picture of her walk today.  This is a very famous art display on the road to Santiago.   I have seen several pictures and it is on the internet.  It depicts the 1000 years of walking the St. James Trail.

Well, I noticed that one of the ladies on the this trip posted a picture with Leischen's name on it in facebook.   Her name is Suzan and she is from Canada.... but it said she was born in Lakewood, WA?


Leischen hasn't told me this, but I am not above copying the picture so I can see her on her walk.   Thank you Suzan Casanova, whoever you are traveling with my daughter.

She commented this morning that the area so so beautiful.  She took this picture of the fields above. I notice the tractor in the picture and what looks like wheat fields.   Suzan shared the one below.

It looks like corn, but it is a little late in the season.... so I have no idea... but the hills are beautiful.

I think it would be pretty incredible to be walking down the road and see this town on the hill.  Looks like they raise grapes.

 Leischen is taking many pictures with her camera.   She does not think that the quality of the  phone is great, but it does give us an immediate look at where she is at.

A Warm Welcome

I was taken by the color of the sky and the lights of the city as twilight approaches.

The lady in the red - beside gal in purple is Suzan I think.  ( Looks like her facebook page )

Leischen says she goes to mass often.   It is a nice service but it is also where all the Art displays are.   There is always a tour of the chapel and the fabulous artwork they have collected for centuries.  ( cheaper than a museum)

Each town has a fresh water fountain for travelers and the water is very safe.   Leischen said that these wells have been available for centuries.  Leischen has a two liter bag that is part of her pack.   You can fill a small amount for light days or really fill it for long hot days.

She is ready to leave again at 6AM   for another go at it.  It is suppose to be hot tomorrow.

Comments:

Roxie                   Wow!! such sights!! I love the metal art work along the beautiful country side.  
                              Fun pictures of Leischen as well.  She looks so happy.

Carol                      Thank you!!!  Enjoy the update!! 

Grandma C.            I love the pictures, and I enjoy all your work of finding the pictures for us to see.   
                                 I think Leischen looks wonderful, and without makeup too.

Puente La Reina - Bridge of the Queen

 Leischen is in the more remote area of Puente La Reina.  The name of the town in spanish means " Bridge of the Queen".

We did not hear anything from her today which says she is in a albergue without wi-fi.    As I look for pictures, everything in this area seem to center on the reflection of the bridge above. ( Now that I have looked up the information on the town... I guess it is pretty obvious why the bridge is the feature.

Each picture shows how the light reflects into a perfect circle.

 Does anyone else think that the bridges and the towers like the one on the right..... look a lot alike?

Comments:

Mike                 Lark, I am thinking you and I should do this.

I am walking to Pamplona ( That is pretty fun to say!)

Hello from Pamplona,

Oh my gosh, Pamplona is so much fun.  We have a real Pamplonian in our group and she took us to see the city.  We had pinchos (tapas), we saw the city, had gelato, went to mass and now we are off to have a drink before bed.   Fun day

Lark - (oh, how fun... I bet it is worth all that saving you did throughout the year to get there)

Oh my goodness.  It is just so cool to be here!!  So many different things to see... It is a feast.



She sent a picture  - This is a Pinchos/Tapas Bar in Pamplona -  I asked what was hanging and she said "Cured ham  it is very good "+

(tapas = small Spanish savory dishes, typically served with drinks at a bar.)

We are in a very big Albergue (like a Hostel  pronounced Al Bare gay) in Pamplona.  Hundreds of beds in an open room.  think a gym with scaffolding.   It will be a very noisy night and morning.   I might as well get up and get going.   The bed was only 8 euo though.   

Lark - I saw one of those in the movie.   I bet it will be noisy on July 6th ( running of the bulls)

Oh gosh!  You should have heard the town on a normal Saturday night.   Many bands playing, streets jammed full of people.  You can't imagine!  It was nuts.  Just rivers of people and noise.








This is the city that is most known for the running of the bulls.    That doesn't happen for another week ( July 6th).   It is a good thing, or the prices would be much higher and rooms would be impossible to find.

I found this map that does a pretty good job of showing where Leischen is walking.   She started in France and is now in the circled city of Pamplona.   If you look left to the coast you will see Santiago de Compostela.  In my minds eye I thought she was walking diagonally south through the country.   I can now see that she will be exploring the North of Spain.    The cities that I have been curious to see are Barcelona and Siville.   It is obvious now when I ask.. "aren't you going to stop in Barcelona and see all the art??"   She answers that  she isn't anywhere near it...."   I have become that foreigner that asks if we aren't stopping into Seattle while we are visiting NYC.

I hope she gets a few camera shots of this!   Can you imagine getting water from the source to different locations with this system of aqueducts?   This is actually a picture of the Pilgrim Path so she is on this road.

City Square when they are not running the bulls.










The city when they are running the bulls.  Lots of protest photos and graphic pictures of bulls goring runners. I will save those for your own google search. ;-)

Leischen watched this on television on the 17th.    The whole thing took 2 minutes and 18 seconds.  

Zubiri, Spain

Safely in Zubiri.

Another hard day down hill. I have a blister on the bottom of my foot. I am working on it and trying to dry it out for tomorrow.  We have a flat day tomorrow. I really need it to be. Very tired but happy. Glad to be in for the night . 
Leischen


I found this map and thought it would be interesting
to see how far she has walked.   She started in France ( St. Jean Pied de Port)  

 

Ronscellves

I just got settled in for the night.   We went to the Pilgrim's Mass in Ronscellves tonight.
It was a beautiful Cathedral

Note:   Pilgrim = anyone who is taking the Camino de Santiago Walk

I looked up the Ronscellves Cathedral  and it is beautiful.  See Below

I have been reading and it seems that all the pilgrims are looking for yellow arrows that have been painted and repainted for centuries.


















One small dog in waiting... ( My office-  Are you done yet grandma???)

Comments:

Marvel M.           It is fun to 'travel' with Leischen! Nice pictures

Grandma C.                Beautiful cathedral, and very sweet little dog patiently waiting.  Just too cute

Orisson, France - The Beautiful Pyrenees Mtns

(Note to family)
 Leischen has free international hotspot texting (iphone to iphone) so I am sharing what I know and looking up pictures of the areas she is talking about.  If she sends a picture, I will forward it.. if not, I will share what I scavenge from the internet to enjoy what she is seeing..  Come along for the ride.
Love - Larkie


My first Day was very rainy and I luckily had booked a room at the 1/2 way point up the Pyrenees Mountains.   I started out and hiked  8 rainy miles of incredibly hard  and steep walking.   I would have died doing the whole thing in one day.     I managed to get there by noon.  The mountain views are just to die for.

Orisson is not a town, but a small refuge.   I will have to show you the real pictures when I get home.
My whole Camino group stopped here for the evening together.   We even picked up a couple extra people who are joining my group.   ( What group???? you went by yourself)

Oh.... What villages in Norway were your grandparents from?   I am traveling with a Norwegian.

Comments:

Mike:       What Fun, Makes me want to do it!

Carol:       Thank you Lark, Yes, I would love to come along for the ride.  The Mountains are lovely. 

                 Rain and steep climbing, I am glad Leischen is in shape.

Grandma Corrine –

                     Grandpa Sigurd Orvick was from Tysvar &, Haugesund area in Norway.

                     Grandma Burtha (Aga) Orvick was from Odda, Norway

                     My Mother was from the Lofoten Islands,  Skaftnes Ure---

                     Her parent home which was built so that the fishing boat could come in under their house, it is now a museum.

                     My Dad's home was near Egersund.  

                     His family name was Melhus, and the mountains they lived  on were called Melhus Mountains.

I'm Here

Greetings all!

I  made it to Spain! 
I had a very long flight and trip to get to Pamplona, but here I am and after a shower I feel alive again. I was wondering about it for a while.

I was picked up at the airport immediately, and we then went to pick up a nice girl my age from Atlanta.  I got to my albergue and found 2 women in their 50's from Olympia!!!  What a small world we live in!  I am excited to leave for St. Jean tomorrow and get walking. The excited feeling is here!   The place I am staying is wonderful and I scored a room by myself for tonight. Yay! I need a good nights sleep. Here is the view from my front door!

(Side Note to Mom - Day one )

Well  I am settled and safe and made it through a horrible series of flights.  It was not pleasant and I lost my lunch on both the flight to Madrid and Pamplona. I got in, slept for an hour and then took a shower, I am feeling alive again. The world is new.

But I have already met people and my host is really wonderful. I am so excited to have a place to sleep my myself tonight. I really need a good nights. Sleep.

I am very excited and can't wait for tomo  All is better now.



Open a new window,Open a new door,
Travel a new highway,That's never been tried before;
Before you find you're a dull fellow,Punching the same clock,
Walking the same tight rope As everyone on the block.  (Mame!)

Simply travel a new high way,
Dance to a new rhythm,
Open a new window ev'ry day