Vizkarreta to Akerreta

This turned out to be quite a long day. I set off bright and early at 8.00a.m.  I wasn't in any hurry because I knew my room would be waiting at Hotel Akerreta no matter what time I arrived (thanks to booking.com).  The way took longer than I expected, first a climb out of Vizkarreta and then a very steep and long descent into Zubiri. It was beautiful weather early on, but soon became rather warm and humid. I thought I'd be having coffee on Zubiri but this turned into lunch! However I chanced upon the Cafe del Camino with good wifi and an equally good kitchen, and enjoyed a really good salad with tuna and all the trimmings and this fortified me for the afternoon's walk.

There were lots of stony downhill tracks today which I took very carefully, using my stick to help me so as not to take a fall, as there is always the danger of falling in such circumstances, especially at the end of the day. It was a relief to see Larasoana on my right across the river. My hotel in Akerreta was only 700 m away up the hill.

This place is another of the Camino's hidden delights. It is a traditional Basque farmhouse which has been converted into a small boutique hotel, with wooden beams and exposed stonework. It was used in the film "The Way" in a scene with a mad guy pretending to be a bullfighter upstairs. 

After I arrived, a sudden freak storm passed over, with 1 cm hailstones bouncing off the windows. A herd of about 10 ponies in the field nearby were running backwards and forwards in terror, not knowing how to escape! Within half an hour it had cleared, so I went around  the small village to take some photos.

Looking across the fields from Vizkarreta 

Vizkarreta Church

Vizkarreta village

Approaching Lindtzoian this morning

Wildflowers 

Orchid, I think!

Forestry work going on before Zubiri

The Way

Hotel Akerreta 

Horses and foals in the village

The Church

Typical house doorway in this region, with the date of construction above the door, in this case 1741.