Pamplona to Ponferrada

2 October 2023

Today we said goodbye to Pamplona and we are now in Ponferrada. We had a very interesting five and a half hour train trip. It was interesting to see the landscape as we travelled through the different regions, especially as we had walked from Pamplona to Ponferrada when walking the Camino Francés in 2019. 

The train went more or less directly west from Pamplona, taking us way north of the Camino Francés route but then went south-west to Burgos. From there it continued southwest to Palencia, almost in to the heart of the meseta - with brown fields stretching for miles each side -  then we travelled northwest to Sahagun. From there it more or less followed the Camino Francés route to Astorga before snaking its way through high country - with views out to hills beyond hills with lines of giant wind turbines -  passing through many tunnels, to Ponferrada. 

Before we left Pamplona Jeff read, on information that had been emailed to us, that Spanish rail company, Renfe, prides itself on running strictly on schedule. The email said though, that if a trip was delayed for more than 15 minutes 50٪ of the cost of the fare would be refunded, and if delayed more than 30 minutes the full fare would be refunded - and our trip was delayed by 35 minutes late so we can now apply for a full refund. 

It's a warm evening here in Ponferrada and people, including ourselves, are dining out on the pavements, or strolling by. 

A statue of the running of the bulls during San Fermin, Pamplona. 

I was intrigued with the buildings on Pamplona - in which order were they built, how do all the different roof heights work together without having any internal leaks etc.

I love the different styles side by side. 

The plaza was so empty in the morning. 

On our way to the railway station I spotted what looked like pain aux raisins and just had to buy a couple as I had missed them since leaving France. 

So many goodies. Note the green Oparara Wilderness Trail bag Nathan & Bridie. 

We walked past the Church of San Lorenzo enroute to the station. 

...and we popped in for a visit. 

Still on our way to the train station - it was a two kilometre walk.

We found a green area and bench seats so decided we wouldn't wait any longer to eat our Spanish caracola, their equivalent of pain aux raisins, but what a disappointment. They weren't at all like their beautiful French cousins!

Now in Ponferrada! We enjoyed the whole trip so much.

This chap was our camino angel of the day - he pointed out the correct road to take from the station into the area of Pamplona where we're staying. I later noticed a scallop shell in his tattoo. 

On our way to our accommodation. 

Crossing the Rio Sil.

On our way to our accommodation we walked past the Castillo de los Templarios - the 13th century Knights Templar Castle.

A view from our room - we look out onto the castle.