A grand day out

Day 2. Pamplona.
Weather. Very wet and really quite chilly.

We started with a fabulous drive through the Cantabrian Mountains to Pamplona, the capital city of the second Basque Province, Navarre.  Spectacular views (or it would have been without the rain and mist.) excellent modern, well-maintained roads(we should be rightly envious).

I saw a huge bird of prey through the window - no chance of a shot but I Googled and it suggested it might have been a Basque Iberian Eagle. No way of knowing for sure but it looked special.

We arrived in Pamplona and our driver dropped us off. The walk to the start of our walking tour was tough. Apparently it was more than a mile and a half on slippery urban roads (one member of the group said it was more steps than she’d done in five years ,). Not easy in the rain and wind.

We all met the guides in the Cafe Irunya, a favourite haunt of Hemingway, built in 1888, and splendid (with good loos too.)

Our walking tour was amazing. We learned more about the famous San Fermin Running of the Bulls, and saw the streets where it takes place every July.

The architecture was fascinating. The cathedral was shut. The Bull Ring, the third largest in the world. 

The most impressive was the Town Hall - today’s blip, with the most blue sky we saw all day.

A group of enthusiastic protesters appeared and unfurled a banner in front, demanding a minimum pension per month. They were loud and impressive.

More pintxos. A fascinating insight. I sort of heard a bit to explain the Gigantes. Some of the tourist tat was original and interesting (extras).

A spectacular drive back to San Sebastián, thawing out, but it was all shrouded in rain, more rain.

Tomorrow…the French Basque Country……and French rain we anticipate.