We depart our delightful 4-star Hotel Chapitel in Estella. It's cool and brisk this morning. We will be peeling outer layers once we get walking.
We exit the old city of Estella on the Camino Path.
We stop to check out the large Spanish version of Heirloom Tomatoes.
We cross the bridge over the Rio Ega as we leave Estella
We begin a slow climb out of the City that will continue for several hours as we approach the quaint hill town of Villemayor de Montjardin.
After several kilometers, we approach the Irache Winery, famous for it's "wine" fountain.
Chris stops for an early morning taste of Rioja (free) available to all Pilgrims.
So now we have a Irache red wine for our lunch later today.
The poppies are in bloom as we depart Estella.
Lisa stops to admire the flowering trees.
We cross through tunnels like these decorated with grafitti.
Large fields of wheat surrounded by woodlands, soon to be fields of gold.
Lisa and Jon Lynn taking pictures. The scenery is breathtaking.
We get our first view of MontJardin, a scenic peak along the way. On the top is an old castle. In the middle of the picture are lavender fields that will be in full bloom in June.
We approach the small garden town of Azqueta.
A family garden plot in Azqueta, well along in early May.
As we get closer to Montjardin, we begin to see the outline of the ancient castle on top.
We have a lot of energy today. We seem to working into the Camino routine.
We approach an old well house
As we look in, we see Pilgrims cooling their feet in the icy water. We remember this stop from our trip in 2017.
At the end of our ascent, we reach Villamayor de Montjardin, a quaint village at the foot of Montjardin. Legend has it that Charlemagne battled the Moors for the town and wrested it from the Muslim Army.
The town also has a famous church, the Romanesque Iglesia de San Andres that contains a processional cross from the year 1200. Today the church was locked an we were unable to get in.
The town has a popular cafe Marbiola.
Where we stopped for Coffee and Gatorade.
Next we head for Los Arcos.
Los Arcos was once an important Roman Village that sits at the crossroads of two trade routes. Los Arcos flourished as a market town and continues as an important stopping point for Pilgrims.
The Camino passes through the ancient streets of Los Arcos and turns right into the main plaza and the large church of Santa Maria de la Asuncion.
We have lunch in Los Arcos with Elena, a fellow pilgrim from Rome that Lisa met along the way. It was a lovely lunch and conversation.
We await a car to take us to our lodging (Latorrien de Ane), some 5 km away in the town of Mues. The Hotel hotel was selected for us by Camino Ways as a superior lodging near Los Arcos.
We arrive at our Hotel, a charming 17th century Spanish Home, now a boutique hotel run by the family who owned this home for years before turning it into a hotel.
The hotel sits next the local Church (each small community is built around a church)
Judi enjoying some pre-dinner time in the hotel reading room.
We have a lovely Spanish dinner in the hotel Bodega (wine celler), one of our best meals so far.
So we are off to bed for an early start as we head for Logrono. We select a repeat Beautitude of the Pilgrim to express the gratitude of this day and the great lodging and dinner bestowed upon us: Blessed are you Pilgrim, when you don't have words to give thanks for everything that surprises you at every twist and turn of the Way. For now, Buen Camino!
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