Pamplona to Cizur Menor

Wednesday 4 May 2016 - Day 7

Pamplona to Cizur Menor

HAPPY 25th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO ME...and Paul, of course!

I'm starting my writing early today, about 9am, sitting in the sun in the Plaza del Castillo. It's a bit early for the Spanish, so there's only a few old codgers, a street sweeper and me. When the Info Office opens at 10am I'll investigate how to get a bus up the road to Cizur Menor.

I've enjoyed my extended stay in Pamplona, though at first it was tinged with frustration. The old city area is amazingly 'alive', though during siesta you can't see a moving human in some areas. The Plaza del Castillo is like the beating heart, as the day goes on everyone seems to gather there...older people, families, groups of young people. Life is very relaxed.

I took a short walk this morning, out through the Portal de Francia, which makes up part of the old city wall fortifications. It's via this entrance that the pilgrims enter the city. My albergue was just inside this.

One thing I've noticed in Pamplona, is the number of people begging on the streets. Today I saw one begging lady having a chat on her mobile phone!!

Caught the bus to Cizur Menor, about 5km out on the edge of town, giving my blisters another day to heal. Staying in Albergue de Maribel, a private hostel with an amazing garden. Connected again with Lindsay, the young Canadian, who is nursing a lower leg injury.

Maribel very kindly treated my feet and prepared them for tomorrow's walk. She also had an interesting shoelace tying method that she has done to my shoes. Both Lindsay and I intend to go slowly over short distances for the next few days. Elvira is one day ahead, I'm hoping to connect with her again as she's great fun. I'm in a women only room tonight

I've been craving vegetables for the last few days...not many around. Found a little grocery shop with a plentiful supply, so Lindsay and I bought heaps and cooked our own dinner, sharing an enormous bowl of vegies, with cheese and bread.

Have meet some lovely young men this evening, Tony from the UK, Stefano from Italy and Michel,a lovely softly-spoken Dutchman, who tore off to buy vegies after he saw our dinner. Have my fingers crossed for a good sleep and that I can finally get back on track. Really excited about walking again tomorrow.