Time Arrived: 12.15pm
Distance: 14.5
Cumulative Distance: 68
Percentage Completed: 8.5%
Weather: Cloudy
Accommodation; Hotel Puerta del Camino
Feelings: Henk - Good, Neil - Eager, Di - Positive
What a difference a day makes! We woke to a cloudy and cooler day. At 6.00am I could hear Camino walkers with the clicking of their walking sticks on the pavement as they went past our room. It was still very dark. A lot leave early to beat the heat of the day and to make sure they can get a bed at the next Alburge.
Today's walk was quite an easy one with a few ups an downs. For the first part we walked alongside the small and pretty Arga River.
There were many rustic, old farm buildings.
We caught up with the German woman shortly after we started and she looked much better and was hoping to get to Pamplona today. At a little over an hour we came across a cafe catering for walkers. As we had less kilometres we decided to make the most of it and enjoy its hospitality and had a banana smoothie. There were still many undertaking the Camino.
Our hotel which is in the city centre is right on the Camino trail. Our room, not surprisingly, was not ready as we had arrived too early. We were able to leave our backpacks at the hotel and headed straight into the crowded narrow streets looking for lunch before the shops shut for afternoon siesta. We found a great tapas bar and I was able to use some of my Spanish for the first time. Up until now the language has been predominately Basque which is very different from Spanish. When we emerged from the bar the shops were shutting and there were a lot fewer people. Henk and I had a rest in the afternoon whilst Neil had a further look around the ancient walled city.
We met up with Neil at six o'clock and by this time Neil seemed to have fully acquainted himself with the city after having walked around it for the afternoon. He guided us around the major points. Whist we walked around we called into a number of chemists to find some foot products. Henk and I are experiencing some foot issues (As of today I have a blister on the ball of my foot and Henk thinks his feet are feeling bruised) so we went to a couple of chemists to pick up some silicon inserts to cushion the feet from the hard surfaces on which we are walking.
We found an open air cafe on Plaza del Castillo to have dinner. It was busy when we arrived at seven o'clock but dinner wasn't being served until eight. Most were enjoying a drink, smoke and tapas. We didn't mind the later time as we enjoyed a drink in the cool of the evening watching the passing parade of people. It was very relaxing and enjoyable. After eight we were the only ones having a main meal. We are going to have to get used to eating later. The shops open from 10.00am to 2.00pm then reopen from 5.00pm - 8.00pm.
When we returned to our hotel at 9.30pm it seemed that the whole of Pamplona had come out onto the streets.
Our hotel which is in the city centre is right on the Camino trail. Our room, not surprisingly, was not ready as we had arrived too early. We were able to leave our backpacks at the hotel and headed straight into the crowded narrow streets looking for lunch before the shops shut for afternoon siesta. We found a great tapas bar and I was able to use some of my Spanish for the first time. Up until now the language has been predominately Basque which is very different from Spanish. When we emerged from the bar the shops were shutting and there were a lot fewer people. Henk and I had a rest in the afternoon whilst Neil had a further look around the ancient walled city.
We met up with Neil at six o'clock and by this time Neil seemed to have fully acquainted himself with the city after having walked around it for the afternoon. He guided us around the major points. Whist we walked around we called into a number of chemists to find some foot products. Henk and I are experiencing some foot issues (As of today I have a blister on the ball of my foot and Henk thinks his feet are feeling bruised) so we went to a couple of chemists to pick up some silicon inserts to cushion the feet from the hard surfaces on which we are walking.
We found an open air cafe on Plaza del Castillo to have dinner. It was busy when we arrived at seven o'clock but dinner wasn't being served until eight. Most were enjoying a drink, smoke and tapas. We didn't mind the later time as we enjoyed a drink in the cool of the evening watching the passing parade of people. It was very relaxing and enjoyable. After eight we were the only ones having a main meal. We are going to have to get used to eating later. The shops open from 10.00am to 2.00pm then reopen from 5.00pm - 8.00pm.
When we returned to our hotel at 9.30pm it seemed that the whole of Pamplona had come out onto the streets.
They were only up to drinks and tapas and we were ready for bed! Tomorrow is a rest day.
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