Akretta to Pamplona

Today was a remarkably short walk….the guide book lies, we walked only 14 km. The day started with breakfast in Akretta and Lori locking herself in her room…well sort of, she needed to try the handle and she was able to “escape” (the key has subsequently emerged in her suitcase in Pamplona). We set off again in early morning mist which burned off quite quickly. After the Pyrenees, this was really quite an easy walk and we were in Pamplona by 1.00pm. One of the joys of this walk is chatting with people on the way and everyone has to love an Irish accent. Today I lost it on the path in hysterics with Carmel from Ireland who spent the better part of 45 minutes explaining that she has given up chocolate biscuits to take up what sounds like Milk Arrowroot biscuits “but with lashings of butter and jam” (say that with an Irish accent). She then went on to wonder why she would even think of doing this but in the most beautiful Irish logic….Lori was behind about 100 meters talking to Carmel’s walking partner, Ray the Maltese guy from Melbourne, and wondering what the heck was going on up front. Everyone seems remarkably united in the one goal – Santiago.

Pamplona is beautiful. Squares and church’s and beautiful four story buildings with ornate wrought iron balustrades (from which my socks and jocks are now drying) and cafes and restaurants in all the squares. The Cathedral of Santa Maria la Real is the most amazing labrynth of churches and chapels and the most beautiful of cloisters which are currently being restored. You still draw breath when they are excavating and finding mosaics from Roman times. Dinner in a square and another day here tomorrow before we set off again.