Camino Frances | Day 3

Larrasoaña to Pamplona, 15.4 km

On the third day I reached Pamplona. A city famous for the running of the bulls and it's food. it's great architecture and it's people.

After a low 30f chilly night I woke up at 6:30 and headed out. No bar in town to have breakfast. I guess I will need to find one along the way. The battery on the mike kept giving me problems. At this time I’m thinking of just switching to the onboard mic on the camera.

Left town and trailed the Arga river to a bar in the tiny village of Suriani next to a bridge. It was a full house as the other pilgrims from the albergue were all inside. I got coffee and milk, a Spanish omelet and bread.

As soon as the sun came out my buff and down jacket came off. I had to walk on the side of the road for a small stretch, and it just so happened that a Spanish guardia civil car passed me by and even said hi. It is the first one I see. El Camino is no more dangerous than walking in any other industrialized country. Just have to keep an eye open and not do anything stupid and you should be fine.

I took a break at a rest stop and got a chance to change the battery on the microphone. It sounds way better, let’s see how long this last.

I followed the well-marked path past deserted villages all the way to la Trinidad de Arre, and it’s beautiful six arches medieval bridge and waterfalls on the Ulzama river.

The town of Trinidad blends into Burlada, and I fell out of place as the locals walk past me. I took a break at a bus stop to air out my feet as they were starting to hurt a bit.

After crossing the Magdalena bridge and walking through the main gates, I was finally in Pamplona. I took some time to explore this world-famous city, where every summer they host the running of the bulls. I made my way to the starting point and walked the route all the way to the arena “Plaza de Toro.”

I went to Plaza del Castillo where did some people watching from the safety of a public bench before heading straight to the municipal Albergue. I took a much-needed shower and washed my dirty clothes. It was in the courtyard I dropped my iPhone and cracked in the top left corner of the screen cracked. It still works, but it was close.

I went out at sunset with four Spaniards and a German. One of the guys is actually from Pamplona, he was only walking a section of the Camino and is now our official guide to Pamplona. He took us around to eat pinchos and told us some crazy stories that have taken place here over the years.

The city streets were soon filled to the brim with young kids drinking and talking the night away hanging out with friends.

We headed back to the Albergues as the doors close at 10 pm and called it a night.