Left Madrid via train. I was surprised that the landscape reminded me so much of West Texas. Brown dirt, rolling hills, scrubby trees. We traveled at high speed through this dry, mostly unpopulated landscape where many buildings were made of stone, similar to the barns and farmhouses we saw while in Ireland.
As we traveled norht, the landscape appeared more fertile. Fields with irrigation systems and small orchards were visible. I could see a mountain range with at least one snowy peak in the distance. The few small villages we passed each had a stone church with a steeple. Continuing towards Pamplona, the fields became greener, the trees taller and we passed many vineyards. We passed what seemed like miles and miles of wind farms and solar panel arrays. Just outside of Pamplona, we traveled alongside cultured fields of yellow flowers. Bee colonies were often nearby. Large houses on the hillsides were visible. The flowers were tall, thin reeds with tiny bright yellow flowers. Rolling green hills and flowering fields created a picturesque scene.
Most of the landscape between Madrid and Pamplona was unremarkable. It was only nearer to Pamplona that the scenery became interesting. Especially the fields of yellow flowers. I think they must be some kind of agricultural rather than landscaping crops.
We eventually passed under a huge, high series of archways, similar to the aqueducts in Rome. I'll have to try to find out what they were.
Everyone on the train spoke Spanish, very few passengers were speaking other languages. I could identify German and French. No one else in my railcar spoke English. The ladies in the snack bar could not speak English ether. I ordered my food by pointing at the photo of a sandwich and then ordered Coca Cola, which is apparently universally understood. I paid by putting money in my open palm and allowing them to take what they needed.
I met one other pilgrim in the train station, identified by the Camino Pilgrim's shell on her pack, waiting with me for the train to Pamplona. She couldn't speak English, but we figured out how to tell each other where we planned to start. She was on her way to SJPDP. I told her I was heading for Roncesvalles. We smiled. We were in different rail cars, so we wished each other "Buen Camino" when we parted. My first one!
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