Days 8-12(Camino Aragones):
Coming down from the Pyrenees the Way veers west in Jaca following the Milky Way.
The Jaca to Santa Maria de Eunate Church just east of Puente La Reina stretch is one of the nicest 5 days of quiet and beauty I’ve seen on any Camino.
Mostly mountain trail and old unpaved roads. Not much tarmac.
A few of the days there were no bars or even people around. I only saw one or two other pilgrims on the trail each day. And they were the same ones; Lazara from Cuenca and Pablo from Madrid.
The 3 of us would be the first to the albergue each day and we would be joined by the same group each night; 8 Spaniards, 3 Germans, and 1 Irish American. A quiet intimate Camino. One of the highlights was the wonderful mountain village of Arrez and one of the nicest albergue stops on any Camino. 2 kind hospitaleros named Francisco prepared a delicious communal dinner.
The final day before Puente La Reina in the middle of nowhere is the 12th Century Santa Maria de Eunate Church. A beautiful Romanesque structure possibly built by the Templars.
Connecting with the Camino Frances I have decided to change plans and will walk to Pamplona and get a train to Ponferrada and walk another lesser known Way, Camino Invierno.
In Monreal, in Iglesia La Natividad de Nuestra Señora is a statue of St. Martin de Tours. Here is the famous depiction of him cutting his cloak to share it with an old beggar. He is the patron saint of roustabouts, reformed drunks, and tavern brawlers, as well as people of mixed race.
