Zubiri to Pamplona - May 4, 2015

 Day 3 was another 22 km walk to the first major city, Pamplona, most famous for its association with Ernest Hemingway and for the Festival of St. Fermin ( The Running of the Bulls ) in July. It started out great with a bit of rain and not too challenging terrain. Unfortunately, the Camino ate my hat somewhere along the way. I had not yet worn it (no sun ) but as soon as I was aware it was gone, blazing sunshine (of course ). Then I stepped on and broke the waist clasp of my pack, curses ! ( hikers know this is the most important one to prevent back and shoulder strain) and then I got lost : ( 

  Ultimately put back on track by first someone speaking only French ( Etes-vous perdu? Oui!! ) and then a kindly Spanish man who turned me around before I marched off again in the wrong direction.

Struggled into Pamplona, a very old fortified city that was founded in first century BC. Lovely place. Somehow was able to rally enough energy to go out for a walk around, a glass of rosada (rose wine, very nice) and dinner with  Catherine and Helen, my Camino friends from Ireland, that I had met in St. Jean, a day that seems like a lifetime ago. I have a rest day here in Pamplona but alas, they are just doing part of the Camino and must trek on so we will part tomorrow. :(

Above, industrial complex at Zubiri that a knowledgeable Australian woman "from a mining district" told me produced magnesium and below, a small snake on the path (no Gini, I did not pick it up or otherwise disturb it other than a gentle poke to see if it was dead..it wasn't, just moving slow like me in the morning :)

13th century Iglesia de San Estaban, maintained by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart

Beautiful altar in tiny San Estaban

Very old buildings

Coming into Pamplona, fields of canola

Arre - a town, not a pirate's cry. Just before I got lost..

Church  in Arre ( where I broke my pack buckle..curses were heard here)

The walled city of Pamplona, at last

Cafe Iruna, associated with Hemingway

Interior of Cafe Iruna, maintained the same style as in the time of Hemingway

Left to right: Catherine, Rosada, Helen.