Distance: 15.2km (67.6km).
Altitude (start / end / highest): 498m / 420m / 534m.
Weather: Sunny and clear blue sky.
The third day on the Camino became a small letdown compared to the two previous days. My expectations might have been too high, but there is something of a known fact that the walks into the larger cities on the Camino are boring. I had put Pamplona as the target on the map for today, though the distance there felt too short, but I wanted to see something of the city where the bulls runs the streets.
Early in the morning in Larrasoana.
Yet again, we arose early and it was dark outside when began walking. Both Torsten and I had forgotten to arrange breakfast for ourselves today. Emma however, had been clever to take care for it yesterday. She kindly gave something of her food to us two unexperienced pilgrims, which we ate down by the riverside of Rio Arga. We went together afterwards.
The first part after Larrasoana went through the forest alongside the river Rio Arga.
The first part of today's walk was nice, but not very exciting. The section just after Larrasoana was perhaps the most pleasant, a small forest track alongside the river. Afterwards, the trail alternated between going on a road and small roads on each side of Rio Arga. Some nice hamlets, otherwise little of interest. Before we got closer to the suburbs of Pamplona, we crossed over a small hill, the walk went next to a highway and was very little inspiring. I had hoped that the Camino went higher up in the hill closer to the nature, but had to see that hope dwindle.
A family had made a small café in their own private backyard. Emma, Torsten, Derek and Benito are sitting at the table.
In a small hamlet, there was a small gathering of pilgrims in a small backyard where a family had made their own little café for the walkers. We met again Derek (Canada) and Benito (Mexico) that we had become familiar with in Larrasoana yesterday. I ate an apple pie together with orange juice and tea.
Emma and Torsten in Irotz.
The walk into Pamplona itself begin always immediately after crossing Puente de Arre, we looked at the Convento de la Trinidad basilica before we began walking between the houses of the suburbs. The walk was pleasant enough, passing by some nice buildings. A café we pass by is aptly named Km 714, a subtle reminder of how far we have left to go.
Spain can be dry, a warning sign about forest fire danger. Which is also nice to use as a waymarker for the Camino.
When we arrived in Pamplona, it got clear that the group split up; both Emma and Torsten wanted to keep on walking to Cizur Menor, a small place another five kilometres away. They continued walking together with some of the other pilgrims we had med, Natalie amongst others. I still chose to stay behind, though it was a tough choice.
Puente de Arre. The building to the right is next to the Convento de la Trinidad basilica that also houses one albergue.
Both Signe and Christel was however still in Pamplona and we all got a bunk in the quite modern albergue in the city, Albergue Jesus y Maria. They were however tired after the first days and I ended up looking at the city and eating dinner alone. In that way, the city's many tapas places was great, I could sit and watch the crowd while I relaxed with good tapas and a cold beer.
Some of the houses in Burlada had some elaborate ornaments, while parts of a wallpainting was about to disappear.
Some company I still got later in the afternoon, in Signe and Daniel (also from Denmark). We walked the streets, in a bustling crowd. In some streets, young people were sitting down on the ground outside the bars and drinking.
Walking through the streets of Pamplona.
I ended the day at a bar lying at the top of the city walls. In the vicinity around, I could see the lights from the houses and suburbs. Further behind, the contours of hills and small mountains. And somewhere was Cizur Menor, where the rest of the group now was located. I did regret it a little bit that I chose to stay, though it was nice here in Pamplona. For some reason, I never did manage to find the famous statue with the running bulls.
Casa Consistorial, the town hall of Pamplona.
The walk from Larrasoana to Pamplona was not the most exciting and appeared not so much as something other than a mere transport leg.
View from the city walls of Pamplona in the evening.
<- LarrasoanaPuente la Reina ->
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