In Jaca

[anna_en_route]

And still terribly awed by the scenery.

I didn´t mention earlier but the fort du portalet on the way up to Col du Somport was absolutely amazing. It´s an old prison cut into a sheer cliff face, you could see little windows all the way down the side.

One minor gripe, not too impressed with the CSJ guidebook for Aragon, I´m sitting in the municipal alburgue for pilgrims and it´s fantastic, and not in my book at all (and it´s been around for at least two years because one of the other pilgrims stayed here two years ago.

P.S. my tiny bits of high school French came in terribly handy and I even got to use ferme la porte.
Unfortunately I seem to have lost my Spanish again but i´m sure it will come back.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Just googled Le fort du Portalet and it does look pretty grim! Sounds like you have had a good start, look after your blister.. love Mum

[tatjna.livejournal.com]

I googled it too and went "Wow" - also, Aragon of Katherine of Aragon fame?

Soooo jealous. I will be in Spain next year. I will!

(ps i think it's neat that your mum reads your blog)

[anna-en-route.livejournal.com]

I believe so, it seems to take its name from the river Aragon. I´ve spent today walking among flocks of sheep with bells (moar sheep bell!) under a dazzling blue sky. I think you might quite like it here =)

p.s. my mum is pretty cool!

[oursonpolaire.livejournal.com]

The CSJ book was not much use to me in 2005--- Others, as well as myself, had sent in suggested changes but I do not know how much was incorporated in the 2005 version. Make a point of seeing San Juan de la Pena tomorrow, and I would suggest leaving your pack at the albergue in Sta Celia (although there is a reasonably priced Hosteria in Santa Cruz de los Seros) so that you can do the 2 hours each way walk more easily.

Artieda is a gorgeous stop, as is Ruesta. The albergue in Monreal is very nice, and you can stop in Izco or Tiebas on your way through to PlR.

But just keep your eyes open-- this is among the best of the Camino routes.

[anna-en-route.livejournal.com]

It really really is absolutely gorgeous.

any recomendations as to routes up to st juan de la peña?

[oursonpolaire.livejournal.com]

Do not do the cross-country route through Ares (or is it Atarres?). I found it tough going in 2005, with a very rocky and difficult trail, and I was told in 2007 that it had deteriorated further. Go along the main road out of Jaca, and turn left just after the Hotel de Aragon and then head up the side of that road through Santa Cruz de los Seros, and walk up the road (about 90 min-two hours from the village). The Hosteria cost me about 30E, I think.

If the albergue in Santa Celia is open, you can leave your pack there, then double back a km and go up to Santa Cruz de los Seros by the road to the monastery.

There is a trail from SJdlP back to SC but I found it too vertiginous for me. It cuts about 2-3km from the road walk.

If you go, let me know how you like it.

[oursonpolaire.livejournal.com]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oursonpolaire/tags/santacruzdelosseros/

Looking forward to your journey

[chemincamino08.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

Hi there! I am a Kiwi who walked from Le Puy to Santiago earlier this year. Your Mum gave me your blog address. Am really looking forward to reading your account. I am already imagining starting off another Camino over this pass....

Re: Looking forward to your journey

[anna-en-route.livejournal.com]

Welcome, I´m afraid I´m really not doing it justice.=)