To Roncesvalles by foot … from France to Spain

We woke up in the dark…. left the key to the room on the front desk, unlocked the front door of the hotel and ventured out. We laughed as we forgot to inquire in which direction to walk. But, soon, we spotted a few other pilgrims and with our bags on our backs, we followed one another out of the city… but not before stopping for a cup of coffee and a croissant on our way out of town.

And then we walked…. and we walked and we walked… and we climbed and then climbed some more… and then some more. Just when we would get to a bend in the road and think maybe it would be flat on the other side, for a change, it wasn’t. So we climbed some more. As if going up wasn’t hard enough, coming down was brutal. Anyone who ever tells you the first day of this walk isn’t brutal is simply lying. I don’t care how much you train for it… it’s brutal, and long. But the views and the experience makes it more than worth it. The amazing scenery, walking with numerous herds of sheep and beside free range horses with bells clanging on their necks. Have you ever seen such a thing? The fattest horses we’ve ever seen with short little legs wearing bells. Experiences you just don’t get every day.

What else happened? Among the numerous people walking here, we met a very nice father and daughter duo, Roy and Noa, from Israel, walking for his 50th birthday. An energetic Korean man and Joshua, a young man from Germany. We kept crossing each other’s paths , but mostly walked alone.., funny enough our beds are all side by side in the Albergue. …. yes we stayed in the Albergue!!! We couldn’t walk any further, even if we wanted to!

One last thing, I am also proud to say, no blisters! Neither my mother nor myself! … although coming down was rough and our feet hurt, like really hurt, but no blisters!

Going to eat our pilgrim meal and then straight to bed … with some ear plugs 💤