Journey from Pamplona to Burgos

The best bit about doing a road-trip is being able to stop whenever you want, and discovering places you'd never heard of.

What I hadn't realised was that we were following a very famous pilgrimage route, the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St James).

Here's Puenta La Reina, 

a beautiful mediaeval town and a crossroads for pilgrims,

despite threatening skies.

Another town: Estella (Ella, Ella)...

...and another ancient bridge worn down by pilgrims. 

We made a special detour to Urbasa to do the waterfall trail

Once again we weren't on our own: memories of the Black Slugs of Estours (family joke)!

Tine doing an Indiana Jones...

...before we got as high as we could go...

...the stream apparently appearing from a Malham-like cliff.

Pamplona

We stayed in AirBnb apartments for most of our visit and the first was extra-special once you got over the 5th floor location without a lift!

Up in the eaves the apartment belonged to a big Bob Dylan fan

The Plaza del Castillo...

...our home for two nights hidden in the corner to the right.

The town hall by day...

...and by night.

We visited the cathedral... 

...and lots of other churches.

The Portal de Francia,

the only surviving town gateway.

Back home for some well-needed shut-eye!

Next morning we managed a private shower, these pigeons thought otherwise!

A really dark Gothic cross at Plaza de la Cruz

This monument commemorates the Running of the Bulls festival, very popular in Pamplona

We walked around the citadel (very like the Vauban fortifications in France)...

...and found some amazing wicker art!

A well-deserved beer...

...before the walk home along the city walls.

Dropping down into Spain

What a wonderful journey, crossing the Pyrenees at Col Pierre St Martin with its breathtaking views

At the unmarked French/Spanish frontier (we think), looking back towards France... 

...and forwards to Spain, snow still on the peaks mid-May.

We weren't alone though: not many cars but quite a few eagles soaring above

The GPS had fun with the spaghetti roads

We're dropping down into Spain now and this was the view from our picnic spot...

...a short walk from the Dolmen de Arrako

The road follows the Rio Beluga with its turquoise waters...

...and impossible bridges!

Next, the vast turquoise blue Lake Yesa, created by damming the river Aragon in 1960...

...but causing the abandonment of several villages, Tiermas being one.

There are fascinating video clips here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufeHR7-F2Iw and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id5lgDj7oHU 

Pau

And off we started on our adventures: direction Spain. We had a stop-over in Pau but didn't really find much to recommend it, apart from the beautiful castle. It was fun leaving next morning, following the circuit of the Pau Grand Prix which had taken place a couple of days before!

Just before we started the climb into the Pyrenees we found some unusual travellers