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We really enjoyed our arrival into Zarautz and as you saw enjoyed a vino or two to celebrate. We also knew that as we were having a family lunch on the Sunday that we were to enjoy a day off to rest and recuperate. To be honest we were all feeling fine and by Monday morning we were again ready for the off!
We really were making use of the commute around Eva's home town. This application is asking me where we stayed but we only actually needed to stay away from Zarautz the one night which was on day 4 into Markina~Xemein.
Another early start in the dark saw the four of us walking into town to collect Eva's sister, Jaione, who would walk today's stretch across to Deba. We left Zarautz behind us just as the sun began to rise again full of anticipation of what lay ahead.
The coastal road around to Getaria would remind us Northern Ireland folk of stretches along the Antrim Coast. Getaria is an important fishing harbour for the area and there is a statue in the town dedicated to the famous Juan Sebastian Elcano who was the first man to successfully circumnavigate the world. Following breakfast of a coffee and croissant we head up and out of the village towards Zumaia. It is a pleasant walk and we are afforded wonderful views as we meander through the countryside taking photos of the Txakoli vines as we pass.
Txakoli from Getaria (Wikipedia)
Getariako Txakolina in Basque, Chacolí de Guetaria in Spanish. This variety comes from a small region in Gipuzkoa around the towns of Getaria, Zarautz and Aia and is of a very pale yellow to green color. This was the first variety of txakoli to receive the DO certification in 1989.
The cultivated area has increased from 60 ha to 177 ha since certification. Annually some 900,000 litres are produced in this area, mostly on south-east facing slopes to protect the vines from the harsh Atlantic weather. Unlike the other varieties which are grown as most varieties of grapes, the grapes for this txakoli are grown according to the treille or trellis system (called parra in Basque). In this system, the vines are cultivated at a greater height above the ground, with the foliage forming a contiguous canopy to improve the microclimate. The white variety used is Hondarribi Zuria, the red grape is Honarabbi Beltza...
We move onwards through Zumaia snapping photos both heading down into the town and at a pit stop for some fruit at one of the local supermarkets. We knock the door at 'El convento de San Jose - Albergue Municipal de Peregrinos' to try to take a look inside and get our credentials stamped but sadly there was nobody around to see us so we moved on. Onwards and upwards out of Zumaia, another decent ascent got the hearts pumping again and it was not long before we stopped at a fountain conveniently placed under a tree to take a breather and stock up on water. Those who have walked this stretch will know exactly where I am talking about. A young band of Spanish students passed us and passed the time of day with us, wishing us 'Buen Camino' as they went...
...we then arrived at Elorriaga, a tiny village with a bar which the boys were delighted sold Ice Creams and where we managed to get another stamp...we were lucky enough to pass the owner who spotted us with our rucksacks and knew we would need something to cool down...she was actually on her way to feed the chickens on a neighbours farm.
The next stretch of the walk was fairly open with great views across Guipuzcoa and we cantered along happily under a scorching sun, spirits high! Finally we descended downwards past a Basque farm which was selling farmhouse cider chilling in a bucket beneath a tree(see photos). We took a bottle and left the money in the box (with a little tip of course) before moving on.
A while later and following more ups and downs we finally arrived at the 16th Century 'El Santuario de Santa Maria de Itziar' which is church that overlooks a Roman Temple at some 275 metres...here we kicked off our socks and boots and sat in the shade for lunch...bocadillos from Juanita of course! Jaione made friends with a local donkey as we left Itziar (tosx, tosx, tosx she beckoned the donkey forward with some fresh grass).
A few miles later we descended into Deba, passing 'la Ermita de San Roque' (see photos) before taking an outdoor escalator (or two) from the top of the town down to the main street which led us into the plaza. Tired and weary we stopped for a quick refreshment before clambering onto the Eusktren for the journey back to Zarautz and a well earned rest...zzzzzzz......................... .....................
We really were making use of the commute around Eva's home town. This application is asking me where we stayed but we only actually needed to stay away from Zarautz the one night which was on day 4 into Markina~Xemein.
Another early start in the dark saw the four of us walking into town to collect Eva's sister, Jaione, who would walk today's stretch across to Deba. We left Zarautz behind us just as the sun began to rise again full of anticipation of what lay ahead.
The coastal road around to Getaria would remind us Northern Ireland folk of stretches along the Antrim Coast. Getaria is an important fishing harbour for the area and there is a statue in the town dedicated to the famous Juan Sebastian Elcano who was the first man to successfully circumnavigate the world. Following breakfast of a coffee and croissant we head up and out of the village towards Zumaia. It is a pleasant walk and we are afforded wonderful views as we meander through the countryside taking photos of the Txakoli vines as we pass.
Txakoli from Getaria (Wikipedia)
Getariako Txakolina in Basque, Chacolí de Guetaria in Spanish. This variety comes from a small region in Gipuzkoa around the towns of Getaria, Zarautz and Aia and is of a very pale yellow to green color. This was the first variety of txakoli to receive the DO certification in 1989.
The cultivated area has increased from 60 ha to 177 ha since certification. Annually some 900,000 litres are produced in this area, mostly on south-east facing slopes to protect the vines from the harsh Atlantic weather. Unlike the other varieties which are grown as most varieties of grapes, the grapes for this txakoli are grown according to the treille or trellis system (called parra in Basque). In this system, the vines are cultivated at a greater height above the ground, with the foliage forming a contiguous canopy to improve the microclimate. The white variety used is Hondarribi Zuria, the red grape is Honarabbi Beltza...
We move onwards through Zumaia snapping photos both heading down into the town and at a pit stop for some fruit at one of the local supermarkets. We knock the door at 'El convento de San Jose - Albergue Municipal de Peregrinos' to try to take a look inside and get our credentials stamped but sadly there was nobody around to see us so we moved on. Onwards and upwards out of Zumaia, another decent ascent got the hearts pumping again and it was not long before we stopped at a fountain conveniently placed under a tree to take a breather and stock up on water. Those who have walked this stretch will know exactly where I am talking about. A young band of Spanish students passed us and passed the time of day with us, wishing us 'Buen Camino' as they went...
...we then arrived at Elorriaga, a tiny village with a bar which the boys were delighted sold Ice Creams and where we managed to get another stamp...we were lucky enough to pass the owner who spotted us with our rucksacks and knew we would need something to cool down...she was actually on her way to feed the chickens on a neighbours farm.
The next stretch of the walk was fairly open with great views across Guipuzcoa and we cantered along happily under a scorching sun, spirits high! Finally we descended downwards past a Basque farm which was selling farmhouse cider chilling in a bucket beneath a tree(see photos). We took a bottle and left the money in the box (with a little tip of course) before moving on.
A while later and following more ups and downs we finally arrived at the 16th Century 'El Santuario de Santa Maria de Itziar' which is church that overlooks a Roman Temple at some 275 metres...here we kicked off our socks and boots and sat in the shade for lunch...bocadillos from Juanita of course! Jaione made friends with a local donkey as we left Itziar (tosx, tosx, tosx she beckoned the donkey forward with some fresh grass).
A few miles later we descended into Deba, passing 'la Ermita de San Roque' (see photos) before taking an outdoor escalator (or two) from the top of the town down to the main street which led us into the plaza. Tired and weary we stopped for a quick refreshment before clambering onto the Eusktren for the journey back to Zarautz and a well earned rest...zzzzzzz......................... .....................
- comments
Jaione Sanchez ¡Que recuerdos! Ahora veo las fotos revivo cada momento de ese día. Recuerdo que me levanté nerviosa ese día; nunca había ido hasta Deba andando y no quería ser una carga. Pero al final, lo que pensaba que podría ser un día duro, se convirtió en una experiencia grata, y muy positiva: la posibilidad de conocer este paisaje que nos rodea, y sobre todo la posibilidad de pasar un día entero con vosotros, con mi familia irlandesa, con mis sobrinos... Gracias por compartirlo conmigo!!