DAY 9 - IS IT FRANCE or IS IT SPAIN?

SPAIN

DAY 9

From:           Pamplona - (NAVARRA)

To:               Pyrenees - France/Spain

Distance:     135km / 83 miles

Climate:        7C - 18C = 45 -65F

Altitude:       549 Meters /1 805 ft

Is it France or is it Spain?

Peregrinos (Pilgrams) :  I still have to say a few more words about the Peregrino's         (Pilgrams). They are everywhere. Spain indicates there are about 200,000 a year who come to walk the CAMINO de SANTIAGO and I think we must have already seen 50,000 of them in just a few days.

To give you an example. The entire walk starts in France and ends in Santiago Spain. It is a total of 900 Km or 552 miles. By foot! It's the same as walking from Augusta Georgia to Washington DC- on foot!

We met a few the other day and here are some of their interesting stories:

• 3 from Korea - walking 500 miles ( 800km) in 6 weeks starting from France. I asked why? They said they are trying to find their way in life.
• 4 from Finland. Walking 400miles (250km) in 14 days. I asked why. Their answer. They have no idea. It seemed like a good idea. They see it now as very challenging.

 Anyway, everywhere we go, from the small back roads, to the more populated roads, there is a Camino Sign! Fascinating. And oh yea.. people on it walking!

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HAPPY EASTER

When they say it rains every Easter in Spain this one is no exception. It rained all day until 5pm. 

I am sorry to say that I cannot find any of the photos I took today.

It is such a shame because the scenery today was breathtaking We crossed over the Spanish side of the Pyrenees into France. Had lunch in a quaint mountain side French restaurant and came back to Pamplona. 

• The Pyrenees are a natural mountain range border between Spain and France. Hard to even know when you are in one or the other. We only knew it when our cell phones kept changing carriers.  They extend 300 miles across the country.

During the day we found the most gorgeous paths ( thanks to the suggestion of  a local - Miguel, the hotel owner). It was truly a path less taken. In fact, it was a one lane looking driveway, up and over the Pyrenees with fog, dew, misty rain and no side rails. I was driving and had to stop and let Bob take over. It was a bit too high and dangerous. We were sure we were lost, except how can you be lost when you have no real destination.

The best thing we did so far on this trip was to have bought a TOM TOM. For $200 this wonderful British lady alerts us to Radar, wrong roads, dead ends and dangerous paths. The only problem is that most of the roads we were on were labeled "unnamed roads". 

Bob was sure we were the only ones in the world to have taken these roads today. I begged to differ as I am sure there were some local animals who found their way on them as well!! 

Gorgeous waterfalls, fresh green spring forests and then the valleys open up and you can see the Pyrenees as far above as you can see. Breathtaking!

We didn't even know when we crossed over to France until we were having lunch. The lady serving us was speaking in French. Bob asked me "Are we in France?" I had just come back from the Toilette and answered - "For sure". What does the Toilette have to do with the answer? Well.... in France the toilettes are MUCH smaller than in Spain. (No offense to the French).

Another notable difference ( even along the border) is the architecture. ( Wish I had the photos I took to show- Boo hoo). The homes in France have shutters all along the windows while the Spanish have bars usually on them with Geraniums in planters. The French have their shutters painted in greens etc. Plus the fact that we saw only Peugeots helped us know where we were. 

There in the middle of the Pyrenees with only villages of 5 or more homes, we came upon a road with cars lined up on all sides.. for about 1 mile or more. Bob said - what is going on!!! I said, they must all be coming for Easter Mass. Haha.. that was farther from the truth. There must have been more than 5000 people parading in on this small village for what we later found out to be a festival. Busy busy valley full of locals. 

We decided to go back to Spain - but today was not as easy as before. All the signs were written in Basque and we could not understand where we were. I spoke to the locals in French and Spanish, but could not understand any of the towns name. Basque is quite difficult sounding.

TIP: How many languages are spoken in Spain? 5

1. Castellano ( official Spanish language)

2. Catalan ( Barcelona area and Baleric islands)

3. Basque ( Basque region)

4. Galician ( Near Galicia - NW side of Spain)

5. Aranese - Pyrenees area

The signs are in several of the languages when you are in the area. Some are different lettering and therefore hard to understand such as Road signs etc.

For example - PAMPLONA is also called IRUNA. So if you see a sign for IRUNA that is how you get to PAMPLONA. Crazy huh?

Same with San Sebastian . It is called Donesta.

Easy to get lost if you aren't paying attention to the dialects.

Sorry for losing the photos. 

John D, if you are reading this. I took some great photos of Bobs 5 course meal today - just for you!

The only thing I can show you from today is the hotel we just checked into and what you can get in Spain for 60 Euros- Tax and breakfast included.

Happy Easter!

Yesterday is a memory

Today is a gift

Tomorrow is a mystery

Stay tuned as we have yet to know where we will be tomorrow!

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