Monday July 8 Sunny and Hot!!

Deba to Markina-Xemein 26km

6:15 woke up
6:45 left albergue and had breakfast at the pasteria.
7:15 on the camino
there are two route in today's etapa but the one is closed. hospitaleiro drew a map for us. I got confused as it was different from the route but luckily a few pilgrims showed up.
met Nicole a French boy and French father and daughter walking together. we walked together for a short while.
took a break at the fountain. took off shoes and bathed in the fountain. so refreshing and cold! I met a German family there. The parants, 3 kids-9, 7 &5 & 2 donkeys are doing camino by camping from their home since last August! they started with a carriage but it was too difficult to do on muddy paths. what a family.
13:30 arrived at Markina-Xemein.
Albergue was closed till 15:00 so we all changed shoes and waited outside. there are 28 beds here and I was the 4th one to arrive. for sure I will get a bed.
after daily routine, went out to eat but just missed the lunch time had to wait till 6:30 at least... so got fruits and juice at the supermarket and rest in the albergue.
18:30 went to nice local culture club for dinner. nice asked for ice and hit water again as well. the pilgrim menu here doesn't come with wine so I ordered thacoli. it's nice to have good wine with nice food, Greek salad & sautéed turkey. chocolate cake for dessert. pays basque foods are all soooo good!!
a few people were practicing salsa in the corridor. I joined them for a while:)
back to albergue with Julia, a Danish woman. it's so true you never walk alone on camino!

3.50 breakfast (cafe con leche & Neapolitana) cereal croissant
8.00 dinner (for pilgrims:Greek salad, turkey with tomato sauce & chocolate cake)
1.50 thacoli
3.00 snacks(orange juice, plum, banana & nuts)
albergue: donation