Day 4 - Cizur Menor to Puente la Reina - Tilting at windmills

Today I feel a bit like Don Quixote with his battle against the windmills; there are hundreds of them. OK they are a bit more hi-tech than his but they keep on appearing over the horizon.
I walked for about an hour and a half before finding breakfast. A simple meal of cafe con leche and choc au pain (whatever that is in Spanish; you know, the yummy croissant that is full of chocolate)

Another hour and I am ascending to the top of the last of the Pyrenees mountains. There is a magnificent flat iron sculpture of medieval pilgrims with heads bent into the wind. (Photo below)....
As I stop for a long draught of water after the ascent I meet again with Paul and Gina. (We have lost the German at last; but not for ever I am sure)
A bit later on Paul and I took a longer detour to visit the 12th century church at Eunate; supposedly one of the jewels of the Camino. It was a very old and significant place of worship but I am not sure if it was worth the extra miles. Gina takes the short route as she is still suffering.
Some great scenery with mountains in the background and wonderful fields and flowers; the poppies here are abundant and blood red.

 
A brief conversation with another pelegrino (pilgrim) yesterday:
Him - "what time is it?"
Me - "Why?"
Him - "Good point!"

After about 23 kms we reach Puente la Reina (the Queen's Bridge) the first thing I notice is a 100 ft high tower with a massive nest on top with a pair of storks. There is another nest on the main church. A special Sunday service is just finishing and everyone is parading in their finery. The young girls on their confirmation dresses like miniature brides. The church has a strong smell of incense but they start closing the doors just after we arrive. Maybe they can detect the smell of pilgrim over the incense!
The hostel tonight is on top of a hill ; as usual; and we struggle up it with the promise of a swimming pool. On arrival the advertised pool has no water; damn. We have to settle for a beer instead. This single beer at the end of a hot, tiring day is magical. It always tastes better in the sun when you still have the dust and sweat on your brow.
We decide to walk back down the hill to the town for the evening meal. A good meal but it means another climb to return and get a good night's sleep.