Day 3
The day started with about twenty minutes of wasted time as we tried to work out where to go. Going back to the guide book and then back tracking some steps showed us the way and we were off.
I'm coming to the opinion that if there is an easy way and a difficult way the guide book always sends you on the more difficult way. In some cases you are rewarded with a better view but quite often you are just rewarded with difficult terrain...
At around 10AM we arrived at Larrasoaña which was the alternative stop from yesterday. It had been a reasonably difficult walk but we were feeling fresh still.
Around 1:30 - 2PM we entered an outer suburb of Pamplona, Villava.
We had just come down from a hill, where a very enterprising man had set himself up with some fruit & soft drinks which we availed ourselves of!
We were determined to get to Cizur Menor so we pushed on into Pamplona itself. It is now a university town.
I have no idea how they join the trees together, it must be beautiful with leaves!
In years gone by Pamplona must have been a fort.
It even has a draw bridge, which as you can see Andrew is bravely defending.
Once in the main part of town we discovered that there was a fiesta on with the streets crowded with people enjoying the mild winter weather (about 12°C and blue skies).
I was very surprised to see that my old boss had a branch practice here!
Finally, with both of us in absolute agony we arrived in Cizur Menor and checked into a very nice albergue run by a very helpful lady. Luckily we are the only ones here as our standard technique is to explode the bags everywhere!
Finally we went out to dinner and had a very cheap meal. They have special pilgrim meals available. 23€ bought us two beers and a three course meal, a bottle of red wine (which we couldn't finish).