Finding treasure on the Camino de Santiago

Friday 3rd June; Km’s walked – 11,89: Steps – 14600: floors – 9

Pamplona (the town of the running of the Bulls) is a really beautiful University town.  We stayed i a family owned hotel in the old city and right on the Camino road. We had planned a rest day and we mostly rested. Except when we counted our steps we noticed we’d walked nearly 12kms just admiring the town.

 When does a Town become a city? Pamplona has a population of 200000 people.  Is it a city?  It didn’t feel overcrowded and  the people seem really well dressed and quite chic. It is beautifully green on the outskirts with lots of parks and squares. A real treat to wander around.  We had a drink at Cafe Iruna, famed for having Hemingway visit often. Didn’t see the statue though as the Hemingway Bar was closed.

Early evening while walking back to our hotel to get ready for Supper, we came across an old gorgeous building in a square and we could hear opera music.  We looked up and on all the balconies of the building we men and women singing opera, the conductor down below. Think of every well known Opera number you can and imagine us sitting in a square at dusk, beautiful light behind us, watching 30 people sing opera in a Square. Priceless.  That crown of mine is working its magic, I tell you. 

We had a wonderful birthday dinner at Restaurant Otano.  A three course meal with delicious wine. Jacque had grilled vegetables and octopus and mango sorbet. I had a light calamari salad, baccalau (fish) and a panacotta with coconut ice cream. A lot of food but really good and we took our time over it. We walked back to hotel at 22h45 content, rested and ready for tomorrow.

Gifts of the Camino today: unbelieveable opera on the square; the joy of just appreciating the rest and not needing to rush anywhere or feel the need to do anything; soaking in the beauty of an ancient town and imagining days of old. Amazing food. Lovely deep conversations with Jacqui