April 17: Walking Day, Villatuerta to Villamayor de Monjardin

Miles walked: 9.66

Flights of stairs climbed: 101

Only about 1/10 of a mile walk to and from lunch place so most of that 9.66 was on the trail.

We really enjoyed our stay in Villatuerta last night in a beautiful private room with two good beds and a window! Slept well, got up early for a simple but nutritious breakfast (coffee, boiled egg, yoghurt, toast) that had been left for us in the albergue. Chatted at breakfast with a man from Phoenix who complained quite a bit about Trump while we ate. (He was a republican.)

Got on the trail by 7:15. We’ve been trying to leave early in the cool mornings so we don’t have to walk as much in the afternoon sun. It’s been in the mid 70s and very sunny the past few days. The sun is quite hot when you are in it with no shade, especially going uphill. We are glad for the partly cloudy forecast tomorrow.

It was a pretty walk through green rolling hills. Tonight we are staying in Casa Rural Montedeio. We stayed here in 2013 and 2014. Worth repeating! It is now run by a family from the Netherlands. We will have dinner tonight with the family and any other guests who opt to dine with them. 17 euros each.

Getting an early start. Mornings are cool enough to require ear covers.
Standing by itself in a field near the Camino path. Abandoned monastery built in the X or XI century. Now hermitage of San Miguel.
The Irache wine fountain for pilgrims. The handle on the left dispenses wine, the one on the right dispenses water. We met this delightful young Spanish man from Andalucia there. He was friendly and asked us where we were from. We said United States. He asked “where in United States”. We said Albuquerque, New Mexico. His eyes lit up and he said “Breaking Bad!”
Yes, I got some wine. Just a sip. Too early in the day. And not their best wine, I’m sure.
Nice views on the walk.
A great bar to take a break, get out of the sun, listen to classic rock music. They had a juke box booming. CCR, Beatles, Lennon (Imagine), Elvis, whoever it was who did Johnny B Good. This was the third or fourth bar we’ve been in in the last two or three days that has been playing classic American rock music.
We’ve spotted a number of Palestine flags hanging from people’s balconies along the way.
Now we are blogging on the patio of this casa rural.

5 thoughts on “April 17: Walking Day, Villatuerta to Villamayor de Monjardin”

  2. Three things:
    (1) I guess the walks of April 12, 13 and 14 are lost to history. One of those days I think you were in Pamplona.

    (2) I’ve also found that Albuquerque = “Breaking Bad” around the world. It was the breakthrough moment with a group of college women in Egypt. Other places too. Sometimes Bugs Bunny works too (“I should have made a left turn in Albuquerque”).

    (3) I love the classic photo of the long abandoned church, now repurposed.

    Reply

    1. I’m desperately trying to get caught up with those last days. I guess it’s good to know that they will be missed if I don’t do them.

      A number of years ago almost everyone mentioned Breaking Bad when we mentioned Albuquerque. This was the first time it’s happened on this trip. We met a man from Canada who brought up Bugs Bunny.

      Oh I’m glad you like d the picture of the church. It was striking out there by itself. When I get a chance I will add a photo of the road poster about it so you can get more information and will let you know I’ve done that.

      Reply

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