Time Arrived: 12 noon
Distance: 16.5
Cumulative Distance: 194.5 kms
Percentage Completed: 24%
Weather - Sunny and warm
Accommodation: Hostal Hispano
Feelings: Henk - Great, Neil - Good, Di - Relaxed
My morning:
I was guided to the bus stop by a friendly, old woman who shouted the directions to me from the top balcony of a very old building. I think she thought I was a lost pilgrim until I shouted in Spanish that I was taking the bus. She motioned me with her arms flying everywhere and I successfully found the bus stop. The Spanish are so helpful.
I was joined this morning by Marlene, a Canadian who although has no problems has decided that the Camino is not about the walk but the people we meet along the way. She has had trouble finding a post office but she was very pleased to learn when I told her that the postal service is in the tabacco shops.
Najera is larger than Navarrete and when I got off the bus at the central station I had no idea where I was as there were no references in the skyline. Usually I head for the old church tower as that is usually the central part of the old town. Two policemen showed me the directions to the hotel and I was only 200 metres away. Lucky again!
I spent the majority of the morning at the monastery of Santa Maria la Real (Royal Saint Mary) which is worth some time. It is built into the side of a hill where there is a crypt housing Virgen de la Rosa (Our Lady of the Rose).
It is believed that an image was seen in this precise cave and a monastery was founded. The cloistered arches are magnificent. The monastery closed at 1.00pm and Henk and Neil visited it when it reopened 4.00pm.
I had arranged to meet Neil and Henk at 1.00pm at the hotel and arrived a little early. They had just emerged onto the street after booking into the hotel.
Henk and Neil's morning:
The majority was flat walking through vineyards. This stretch is listed as having little variety and there didn't seem to be many water fountains. At the seven kilometre mark we stopped on the outskirts of the small, hillside village of Ventoso for morning tea. The cafe was packed with walkers. We chatted to two German men using my (Henk) Dutch and to a Spanish family of six who are undertaking the walk. Their youngest child has just turned six and is coping very well.
Many walkers form rocks into small cairns and frequently leave notes as tribute to loved ones or make commitments. We came across a large area where many walkers had built these cairns but weren't sure of the reason for the building of these in this area. At other times the pilgrims makes crosses out of twigs and tie them to fences.
Henk and Neil's morning:
The majority was flat walking through vineyards. This stretch is listed as having little variety and there didn't seem to be many water fountains. At the seven kilometre mark we stopped on the outskirts of the small, hillside village of Ventoso for morning tea. The cafe was packed with walkers. We chatted to two German men using my (Henk) Dutch and to a Spanish family of six who are undertaking the walk. Their youngest child has just turned six and is coping very well.
Many walkers form rocks into small cairns and frequently leave notes as tribute to loved ones or make commitments. We came across a large area where many walkers had built these cairns but weren't sure of the reason for the building of these in this area. At other times the pilgrims makes crosses out of twigs and tie them to fences.
The walk into town seemed more industrial with factories and light industry.
We had tasty pinchos and drinks for lunch at an outdoor cafe. We are now getting used to the siesta time and stay out of the heat in the afternoon. Everyone seems to emerge at about four o'clock when the shops open again.
Dinner was at an outside cafe alongside the green banks of the small Rio Najerilla. It was very pleasant. We had the Menu del Peregrino which is the Pilgrim's Menu of multiple choice over three courses. These range in price from 10 to 12 Euros and usually includes wine.
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