Day 1 – Irun to Pasajes de San Juan

Started the day with good Spanish breakfast. Strong black coffees ( Americano), toasted bread roll (Pan), and orange juice (jumo de naranjo). We found a little cafeteria just around the corner from our accommodation. With a couple of coffees under our belt we are ready to meet the day.

We followed the river out of town through small farms and up into the hills. The first 5km was all uphill, much of it on tracks washed out by recent rains. Very slow going. We passed many farms and donkeys seem to be a common farm animal.

We stopped along the track and sat down for a quick break and ate an orange. The oranges here seem to be much better than at home.

Not much further on we reached Sanctuario de Guadalupe. A church high in the mountains. The views back towards our start point (Irun) are spectacular.

After a short break we continued uphill through wooded hills. 

Everything that goes up must come down, the downward path was very steep at times and we are very sore in the legs. A little old lady who lived half way up the very steep path met us and told us we did not have far to go.

After we checked into to our accommodation, showered and changed we headed off for lunch. We found a nice local seafood restaurant in the town plaza.  

Scallops and sardines for Janice and white asparagus and tuna for me. With a bottle of white wine of course. 

After lunch we went for a walk around the waterfront. This village is an active fishing port and cargo port and the ships are coming and going constantly.