Day 6, Wednesday, August 28th, 2019: Mañeru to Azqueta
We were completely wiped and got little rest last night, but we headed out early, nonetheless. Of course we reconned our way out of town the evening before so as to not have a repeat performance of getting turned about. It just so happens we encountered our first small town, Cirauqui, and the way was very poorly marked. It was very discouraging, but we found our way through this town with a little smart thinking and a bit of deductive sleuthing!
We had been struggling to find our “groove” to this point and had some heated conversation about it sitting on an old bridge. What we eventually decided was that in order for us to enjoy this experience and get the most out of it, we needed to go together at the same pace. Yes, another “Camino Lesson:” If you’re going to go together, be together.
I read somewhere “to go fast, go alone. To go far, go together.” We often put ourselves and our needs ahead of others. If we are truly committed to doing something with someone else, we need to focus on how to do it together.
We had a much more relaxing walk today, stopping to take many pictures and talking more than we had. We reached the larger town of Estella and head out to the legendary wine fountain at the Bodega Irache.
What a treat! As we arrive to the fountain, a bus load of tourists out of Pamplona were closing the gate for a group picture! LOL! Once they were finished, we drank from the fountain to “gain strength for the Camino!”
We arrived in Azqueta to our Albergue La Perla Negra, and were greeted by our hospitalero, Helena, a single mom running her own business and doing a damn fine job of it. It was the first night on The Camino that we had a room to ourselves!
Helena fixed a wonderful pilgrim dinner for us and our new friends from Spain, Fran and Maria-Jose. They spoke little English and my Spanish is okay, so Google Translate to the rescue again!.
Helena used ingredients from her mother’s garden and her own to create a wonderful meal of potatoes and beans, a tomato and onion salad, and a lovely Spanish torta with zucchini, potato, onions and egg. So good!
We chatted with her before heading to bed and our best rest on The Camino so far!
Cirauqui from a half mile away in the dark
A beautiful field of sunflowers greets the sunrise in Valle de Yerri
The old church at Villatuerta
My sentiments exactly!
The magnificent church in Estella
Terri at the wine fountain at Bodegas Irache.
La Perla Negra, our home for the night
