Routine on the Camino

Hola! We just finished Day 6 of our Camino and we now have more or less a routine. We usually get up at 6am to pack up, get ready and eat breakfast. At 7am we start walking. Daily, we walk 26kms on average and traverse 4 to 5 towns on the way. We buy lunch and supper usually from grocery stores to save money. We take breaks to rest our feet, our shoulders and treat blisters. Every day, we pray Morning and Evening Prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours and we also pray the rosary daily. We usually call it a day around 3pm at whichever town we´re at and find an albergue or refugios (Pilgrim Hostel). They are very affordable at around 5 to 10€ per night. Our meals cost about 8 to 10€ per day because we pruchase them from grocery stores. So, our daily cost has been between 13 to 20€!

As soon as we find a hostel, we settle in, take a shower, prepare our sleeping bags and rest a little. Then we go out walk around town and pick up food. Then, we find a nice spot to eat - a park, on a sidewalk, or back at our hostel.

Then, usually at 8pm there is a Mass specifically geared for pilgrims. We try to attend mass everyday. Then, we go back to our albergues to go to bed early so we can get up early the following morning. On some nights at 9pm we go online to check emails and write blogs. But not all albergue´s have internet. At night, we usually put on a sleeping mask and ear plugs to have a more comfortable night sleep because there are usually many people in one room. People make all sorts of noises and it can be a challenge to fall asleep.

It´s been a great first week so far. I think our bodies are getting used to the grind of 20 to 30 km walk daily. So we don´t feel as tired as we did on Day 2 or Day 3. I´m also almost back to normal health. No more diarreah and cold! Thanks for the prayers guys!

Day 4: Pamplona to Puente La Reina

Day 5: Puente La Reina to Estella

I got my first blister. I had to poke with a needle and put a thread through it to keep the hole open and airdry the blister. It´s kinda gross but I gotta do it if I want to last another 30 days!

Day 6: Estella to Torres del Río

Our longest walk so far at 36,950 steps or 30.7kms. We´re not as tired though because the weather wasn´t too hot. It´s a big cloudy and breezy, so we´re not feeling too exhausted.

On our way today, we run into a water fountain, except it didn´t give water. Instead, it gave wine. It was a neat marketing strategy by a local winery.

Tonight, we are staying at a really nice albergue here at Torres del Río called Albergue Mari. The owner is very nice, friendly and hospital. She gave us discounts on our stay and food!

Enjoy the photos below!