Wednesday 27 September

A messy and expensive mix up, a road not taken, a good if shorter walk.

First the mess up.   I thought we booked  one night at Tximista. Nope, two.  Did not discover the error until we tried to check into Mues (Los Arcos berb) a day early.  

Error was mine; hotel did not mention that we were leaving early (pre-paid), luggage company called Follow the Camino booking company about luggage transport but no one followed up with us.

Distance: 16.5 kms

So, we will stay here two nights and pay for the extra night and pay to have a taxi pickup our luggage from  Tximista and deliver here.

Walk begins on a good path ever climbing.

The first attraction is the Irache winery. Famous for having an outdoor spigot which dispenses unlimited wine.   Also it’s ajoining 10th century monestery.   Ran out of wine and monestery closed.  

Wine is quite inexpensive there. That is less than 2 Euros.

When we stopped for coffee and a roll in a small town learned another bit of Spanish.  I asked how to say the name of the pastry (pan ou chocolate) in Spanish.   Neopolitan.  I asked another if this is correct and a third, Italian woman who said also called this in Italy.  Tasted fine.

Small lovely open (few have been) church in Monjardin.  12th century with lovely polychrome. 

We took a taxi from Monjardin.  The guide book describes the walk to Los Arcos  as  of interminable boredom.  Checked our  blog from 2010 which described it as South Dakota with wind. Search on blog for Los Arcos and earlier post will appear.  

Taxi took us to Los Arcos with its magnificent church.

Los Arcos, Now small with 1200 inhabitants, must have been quite rich to build this Santa Maria church.