Sanguesa

Leaving Undues Saturday morning -- Michael had heard that rain was coming within the hour.

On and off showers brought rain ponchos out from packs.

An overhang attached to an abandoned building became a shelter from an intense shower.

A stone marker announces we've entered Navarra, the Basque region of Spain and where Camino Aragones will end near Puente la Reina. This kind of marker also indicated entry into Spain along the Napoleon Pass out of St. Jean on Camino Frances. The markers include both the Castillian Spanish name of Navarra and the Basque name for this region, Nafarroa. Susanna mentioned that the Basque language has lots of the letters k, r, and z.

Near Sanguesa there was a pilgrim memorial with walking stick, gourd, shell, and stones. 

The word Sanguesa apparently translates as "bloody bones" -- not sure of the derivation, but there must be an interesting explanation! 

Waiting for the Sanguesa albergue to open

A flower-filled window near the albergue -- bonita!

In Sanguesa Dad bought new pants at a store similar to Dollar Stores in the U.S. He had left his second pair of pants at an albergue so needed a new pair.

Locals protest the Yesa dam project with a sign that includes Castillian on top & Basque on the bottom.

Sunshine came out for a short time, so I toured streets around the albergue. The archway above belongs to the 11th c. Romanesque Iglesia de Santa Maria la Real, which originally was attached to the city's defensive wall. The church suffered damage during the 19th c. and was restored in 1922. 

The iglesia's tympanum (area above portal doors) shows the Last Judgment, a typical Romanesque theme. The depiction of angels on each side of Christ is unique iconography for Navarra -- one angel is blowing a trumpet.

A poster for a basketball camp captures Dad's attention.

Soccer team ready for action

Spanish door knocker -- the hand with the apple (or piece of fruit) is an ancient symbol that wards off evil. This style of door knocker is common on casa doors along the Road.

Disco anyone?

There's a full albergue tonight with pilgrims all in one room -- the rain brought in more people who wanted to stay dry. Other walkers were from Italy, Spain, & Czech Republic.

Susanna and Michael cooked a spaghetti dinner for Dad, Anna, Joaquin, and me -- muy bueno! Salad, pan (bread), chips, and yoghurt also were served. Vino all around the table too.