We got up at 6:00 AM this morning at the alburgue in Zariquiegui, packed up, ate breakfast at the local cafe and started walking at 7:00 AM. I had a tortilla, which is a quiche, with potatoes and cheese, and a banana. I also took an apple for a mid morning snack. This is the map of the walk today from Zariquiegui to Puente La Reina. 
The first 2.5 kilometers out of Zariquiegui are uphill, and at the top of the ridge is Alto del Perdon, the Hill of Forgiveness.
This is a donativo snack stand about halfway up to Alto del Perdon. You take what you need and pay what you can.
This is a fountain along the path to Alto del Pardon. Notice the bird taking a bath in the fountain.
This is the view from the path looking down on Zariquiegui.
This is Alto del Perdon, a notable landmark on the Camino. We arrived there at a little after sunrise, about 8:00 AM.
Everyone celebrates arriving at Alto del Perdon by taking one of these pictures.
It is a cheesy picture. But, if you don’t have one of these pictures they won’t give you a Compostela in Santiago.
Alto del Perdon sits on the top of a ridge. This is the view on the other side of the ridge and shows the countryside we will be walking through the rest of the morning and the early part of the afternoon.
This is a memorial to the freedom fighters from this region in Spain who were tortured and killed for resisting Franco.
St. Christopher insisted that we say a prayer for their souls. Abe, who knows a little bit about freedom and freedom fighters, insisted that we all sing The Battle Hymn of the Republic to honor these fallen freedom fighters. I told Abe that Franco’s tomb is a shrine in Spain. Abe was outraged that such a murderous tyrant would have a tomb like his in Springfield. Abe wanted to visit Franco’s tomb and spit on his grave. Well, not exactly spit on Franco’s grave, but you get the picture. I told Abe that we need to focus on the Camino and not worry about Franco or his grave. Abe finally calmed down and we proceeded down the steep trail to Uterga, the next little village along the Way.
This is a shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary just outside Uterga.
This is the Bible passage inscribed on the base of the statute.
Not a dry eye between the three of us after reading that bible passage. We said a prayer for Anna and continued on our journey.
This is the trail from Uterga to Muruzabal, the next little village along the Way. It was a beautiful walk and these bushes lined the trail.
These bushes gave off a strong fragrance of chorizo. If you don’t know what chorizo smells like I suggest you get a pound of chorizo from the grocery store, put it in a skillet and brown it. Inhale the steam that is coming off the cooking chorizo and you will get the picture. What a heavenly smell. It was also lunchtime while I was walking this section of the trail and I was very hungry.
This is the 13th century church at Eunate.
This church is described as a jewel of the Camino. Based on that description I walked 4 kilometers out of my way to see it in the hot sun with a twenty five pound backpack on my back. Instead of a jewel it was more like a cubic zirconium. I will admit that I was hot, tired and hungry when I got there but this church really didn’t do much for me. In spite of that I did light a candle and the three of us said a prayer for Anna.
After Eunate I walked up the hill to Obanos for a long overdue lunch. Just outside Obamos I passed a garden.
Check out those melons. š š
After lunch at Obanos I walked into Puenta La Reina, checked into the alburgue, showered, washed my clothes and walked down the street for a massage. It was just what the doctor ordered. I had knots in the muscles of my calves and shoulders that the massage therapist worked on for an hour. As I was leaving, the masseuse asked me to say a prayer for her when I get to Santiago. There really is something magic about the Camino.
I had dinner with Laslow, who I met at the alburgue in Zariquiegui. He is a 78 year old retired architect and civil engineer from Hungary. We had paella negro and it was delicious.
I hope everyone had a relaxing Saturday.
Goodnight from Puente La Reina, Spain.
AbeAndMarkontheCamino 
Are you sure you ate that thing above?Love Dad
LikeLike
The paella looked like a pan of worms.
LikeLike
It did look like a pan of worms but it was the most delicious pan of worms I have ever eaten.
LikeLike