12 May - Puente la Reina to Estella (22 km)

Happy Mother's Day to All Mom's, and for that matter, everyone who ever had a Mom.  Make it a great day celebrating that most important person in your life!

Today was a beautiful Navarre day, crisp and cool with lots of sun.   This was a quiet stage along gently rolling farmland and vineyards with several steep climbs into hilltop villages of Cirauqui and Lorca before descending into beautiful Estella.

Once again we met up with Graham and Linda, our friends from New Zealand, and surprisingly stayed in the very same lodging (Hotel Chapitel Estella) as two years ago with Juan Carlos.   We dined tonight with Graham and Linda and got excited about a future visit in New Zealand.  The world is indeed a small place.  Here are some pics from today:

We start our hike today in Cirauqui, a medieval hilltop village beautifully preserved with narrow winding streets and houses bearing armorial crests and ornate balconies.

We enter the village through a 13th century archway named "Cafe El Portal".

We cross Plaza San Roman (this is an old Roman Village) and exit the village through another archway across the main square.   Note the balconies above the archway, typical of this little village.

As we exit the main village, we come to a stunning view of the Camino to the west.

As we leave the village, we come to one of the best examples of Roman Road on the Camino, stretching as far as the eye can see.

The road climbs out of the village and heads West.

Here is a view of Cirauqui looking back from the Roman Road.

Judi as we leave Cirauqui in the distance.

We head into an area of orchards and farmland.

Wheatfields as we pass through rolling farmland

We cross under the highway (Rt 111) and come to a modern petroglyph done by a local artist.

Mike is tempting this two dimensional beast.   Go ahead, take a bite!

We follow along a country road and pass a modern aqueduct.

The road is lined with Poppies that line a growing field of wheat.

We are following Camino signs like this one, pointing to "heaven"

We turn left and cross the famous medieval bridge (now restored) that crosses the Salt River

We pass a colorful house decorated in flowers.   Can you see the Camino sign on the gutter pipe?

Judi and Chris admire the poppies that line the old Roman road.

Heading into the town of Villatuerta (population 1100)

Lisa crossing over the bridge of the Rio Irantzu

Looking back as we depart the Villatuerta

We pass the large Church of the Assumption

And are soon back on the Camino Path headed for Estella

The trail passes the old Church of San Miguel

And parallels the highway as we approach the Rio Ega

We cross a footbridge on the Rio Ego.   We see an old factory and locks used to harness power from the river.

Soon we have a full view of the River.   Estella is on the far side. A fellow Pilgrim holds the Teddy Bear she has been carrying since first we saw her earlier in the week.

Guess who shows up?   It is Graham and Lynda Mann from New Zealand.We are staying at the same hotel.   We agree to see them tonight at Dinner.

We walk past the old Pilgrims Hospital (now closed)

We cross the river into Estella

Just over the bridge is our lodging at Hotel Chapitel.   This is a great 4-star hotel that we stayed in during our 2017 Camino Trek.

We have a lovely room overlooking the adjacent church.  

We had a lovely dinner with Graham and Lynda.   Afterwards, Chris and I went for a walk to check out the main plaza that we enjoyed so much two year earlier.   Then early to bed for our walk tomorrow to Los Arcos.