Day15 Sun 06 Apr
On a beautiful sunny day, cold in the morning & warm in the afternoon, our longest day – 25 kilometers to Puente la Reina seemed easy going, even the climb up to Alto del Perdón (735m).  Today was VISTA DAY, views forever.
Puente la Reina (Queen’s Bridge) – many years ago the ferymen were ripping off pilgrims to row them across the Arga, so the Queen built a bridge for the pilgrims. It is the most beautiful in Spain.

Ruins along the Way

Looking back towards Pamplona

Alto del Perdón

Storks nesting Puente la Reina

Puente la Reina

The famous bridge at Puente la Reina

Day 16 Mon 07 Apr
Another beautiful day for the short walk (14 kilometers) to Lorca.  Today is ROMAN DAY with old roads to walk and bridges to cross.  You could almost hear ancient footsteps. We paused in the village of Cirauqui, one of our favorites. We stayed in the Albergue at Lorca, owned by the friendly and hyperactive José Ramón and his Korean wife whom he met doing the Camino in 2010.

Head down & bum up on a steep climb after Puente la Reina

Housing boom and bust - unfinished & abandoned houses

Our favorite village - Cirauqui

The area is famous for its magnificent coats of arms

Cirauqui church, weeds growing in the cracks

Roman road - wonderful to look at, not so wonderful to walk on

Pilgrim crossing the roman bridge

Not another medieval bridge!

Classic Romanesque church at Lorca

Day 17 Tue 08 Apr
A short day, 8 kilometers to Estella, to arrive early. We like Estella, its streets curved to follow the fast flowing stream cutting it in two. Short history – over 1,000 years ago, Estella was established half way between Puente la Reina and Los Arcos to provide overnight shelter for pilgrims to Santiago. It prospered and today numerous buildings of that era remain. We lunched at an excellent restaurant featuring typical local food. Pam went for lamb chilindrón (lamb, red peppers, onion & garlic); and for me the chicken in apple juice sauce – both cooked on a wood fire.

Remote chapel of San Miguel

Church of the Holy Sepulchre approaching Estella ...

... features intricate 14 th century carvings of the Deciples

Reconstructed in 1973, blown up in 1873

One of three large monasteries in Estella

Baroque former City Hall, Estella

Palace of Navarra kings, Romanesque topped by 17th century brickwork

Day 18 Wed 09 Apr
Departing at 0800, we easily made opening time at the free pilgrim’s wine fountain at Irache, a few kilometers out of Estella. Properly strengthened for the 19 kilometers more to Los Arcos, we took the low path, passing through a couple of nice villages. Perfect weather, nice walking.

Irache Monastery

Fortifying ourselves at the Irache wine fountain

Moorish water cistern

Great idea - wayside coffee stall

This way

Los Arcos

Casa de la Abuela (Grandma's House)

Wine from the village (Los Arcos) - nice!

Day 19 Thu 10 Apr
After a good nights sleep at the best place on the entire Camino, Casa de la Abuela (Grandma’s House), we set off energized and made good time to Torres del Rio. After eating a delicious, but huge, apple pastry for breakfast it felt like lead in the boots for the following climb. Still, good weather and good walking, 19 kilometers to Viana – a lovely old town atop a hill. Next – La Rioja.

All the pilgrims, two by two

Torres del Rio

Torres del Rio church

This part of Navarra is studded with old stone refuges

Viana Cathedral

Entrance, Viana Catedral