Published on Behalf of Donna Blackstock – Donna is walking the Camino Frances  – a 5 weeks and 800 km journey that attracts over 250,000 participants.

Hola from Viana!

I am sitting on a roof top patio in Viana looking out at apartments where many people have laundry hanging on their balconies.

Yesterday I started out at 7:30 and the air was quite nippy. The route took me through Lorca and then a very picturesque town, Estella. On everyone’s radar at this point is the wine fountain at Irache. This “fuente” is attached to the local winery and is well supported all day long.

From there it was a steady climb to Villamayor de Mountjardin and the albergue of the same name. As I walked with 2 “pilgrims” from Colorado and 1 from Washington DC we stopped to enjoy the view with our cafe con leche.

It is festival week in this area which means that families meet in the square and the music and dancing continues until the wee hours! I have been beside the main square two nights in a row. The festival music and the churches bells clanging have made sleep a challenge.

Today was my longest walk to date at 30k. This is a farming area for hay, grapes and olives but you do not see anyone and there were no towns for 12k until Los Arcos. At the next town, Sansol, I sat in the sun with my coffee and snacks, glad to see something open as it is Sunday.

From there the peaceful quiet morning turned to a butt kicking 12K endurance test of up and down trails and the edge of the highway to Viana. I was VERY happy to see my albergue, Izar, on a sign to direct me to my home for the night. About 55k covered in these two days.

Adios!

Donna