Church of Santa Maria Eunate

Simply stunning 8th century church in the Validarze Valley.. The info boards hint that it was a knights templar church refuge and hospital, bulit to shelter pilgrims along the way . Back then , of course, much of Spain was under the control of Muslims so being a Christian was adangerous  undertaking. 

We arrived too late to go inside - today was a festival day and though there were no signs, we assumed the care takers just closed up when they felt like it( thats normal practice for most things here )

The church is an exact feplica apparently of one in Jeruselum. It has a sacred number of arches and lots of symbogy i side. I was gutted not to have seen them.

There is an albergue here too, which I had hoped to stay in... But it too was closed!

Ahh well.. Onward

The Summit

We had plans on waking and getting to the  summit for dawn( insert gales of laughter here) Sadly Morgan has been pretty hard to raise. I am thinking I need the title of necromancer soon.

Anyway, we had a quick breaky at the bar ( orange juice, super yummy hot fresh pane and potato totilla) and set off for the steep incline.. The photos below will tell you what a glorious morning it was and WHAT a view!!

An easy day up the hill to Zariquiegui

Though we started before. 6.30 this morning, we didnt manage to leave the city streets till nearly 8.30. I really dislike cities.. We got misdirected ( no not lost)  a number of times before finding our way. A few km on the hard cemdnt feels like 10 on a dirt track.

It was our second day carrying all of our gear, and I think we are getting used to it and walking. Both kids have about 5 kg each as well as water; and I have 7 kgs as well as a food bag, usually full of tuna, apples, mandarines and nuts( emergency supplies ) 

Though we have the option of getting our bags sent forward , as a team, we have decided that we want to just walk and stop where we want to, without having the pressure of having to get someplace.

We have met up again with lovely folk and bumped into a French dad with his two kids of similar ages to my two. He has a wonderful outlook on life and his kids were both sweet and polite. Lilly and Lauren are of similar ages and though they dont speak each others language, have had a great time together.