Day #7 Hotel Irache

We decided to take sort of a day of rest.  This meant only walking 8.5 miles and stopping around noon.  We had made the decision yesterday in the heat if the day to try not to walk after 1:00 or 2:00.  When we reached Estella we realized that we couldn't make it to Villamayor de Monjardin before 3:00 or so and there was a very long steep hill approaching that village.  We knew there was a hotel in Irache just outside Estella and near the Fuente de Vino ( wine fountain ) at the Bodegas Irache winery.

Wow! We are in the lap of luxury.  This is a regular hotel, not necessarily a Camino hotel, used by Spanish families.  We have a nice big room with 2 beds and a really nice bathroom.... no having to keep careful track of our stuff, nor having to use our headlamps to pack quietly in the dark in the morning.  AND THE BIG BONUS - across the road is a family campground with a fabulous pool which hotel guests can use!!  We had a lovely swim and got to lie in the sun instead of walk in it.

I have to say, though, that I'm kind of missing our Camino buddies, the conversations over beers, and the routine.  We'll be back on the road tomorrow at 6:00.

It was nice watching the families and kids playing in and around the pool.  I was thinking how similar kids are everywhere.