Day 5: Trinidad de Arre to Zariquiegui, 15.7km
(May 31, 2023)
This morning all of us got up 7:30am as per Nina's request.
As I was packing my bag, I noticed Lilian was not moving. She told me that she was not feeling well and will stop at Pamplona (4km away) for the day. I learned that last night she had accidentally ate the descant with her meal (right before dinner, she asked me for the dried chili pepper Peter had given to me. I gave her the Ziplock bag with the pepper in it. there is a small bag of descant in the Ziplock bag. She mistakenly put it her dish and ate it without knowing it was a drying agent). I was wondering why she did not eat much at dinner thought because she did not like Stephen's cooking. So, we bid each other goodbye and wishing a Buen Camino.
Maria and Freida were quick walkers and left first.
Nina and Antonio still have not packed their bags and were chatting while Stepen and I walked out the door together. We went to take a last look at the bridge and decided to go to the grocery store to get some snacks. Once we arrived at the store, then discovered it was not open yet. We then stopped at a coffee shop to get some croissant. Stepen then decided to have breakfast there. I big him goodbye then continued walking the Camino.
Earlier, Stephen and had suggested to me and Maria we would stay at Cizur Menor. He knew this new old Church he had once stayed at. As you can tell by now that Stephen had walked Camino many times before and knows the best places to stay and had given me and others advice along the way. Maria also had previously walked the Camino 20 years ago but want to revisit some of the same places she had visited 20 years ago which included the place we stayed last night, and this old Church Stephen suggested for today.
The walk from Arre to Pamplona was relatively short. Walking through city of Pamplona I navigated the city streets with caution, keeping an eye out for the yellow arrow signs that marked the Camino route. Along the way, I made a brief stop at a small convenience store to grab some fresh fruits. I didn't have time to explore any of the famous sites in the city. However, I couldn't help but feel that someday I would return to it to experience the renowned bullfighting festival, for which the city is famous. It was beautifully depicted in "The Sun Also Rises," and I believe it's an experience worth revisiting.
Leaving Pamplona behind, I continued my journey along well-paved roads. As I ventured further, the scenery transformed into a picturesque countryside with wide open fields that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Around noon, I unknowingly arrived at Cizur Menor and decided to take a rest by the roadside. It was then that Stephen appeared, informing me that the church we had planned to stay in for the night had closed. He suggested we continue walking to Zariquiegui for staying the night and said that he had already informed Maria and Frieda of that.
Before resuming our journey, we made a stop at a coffee shop for a refreshing cup of coffee.
After bidding Stephen farewell, we each set off at our own pace. That day, I only come across few pilgrims on the road including a brief reunite with Antonio when passing the ramparts and France Portal. It was a remarkably tranquil and serene experience, allowing me to immerse myself fully in the beauty of the surroundings, feeling a sense of liberation, free from any worries or obligations.
Notable landmarks I encountered included:
-The ramparts and France Portal
-The Church of St. Mary
-Taconera Gardens
-The Bridge of the Magdalene
-Pamplona City Hall
