After a couple of beers the night before and a room full of snoring, it was a tough call waking up this day, but Tony was still laughing.
Brekkie!
We set off alongside the River Arga, after passing a Magnesite factory and onto a tranquil path…
We pass a the Abbey of Eskirotz & Ilarratz ” La Abadia” that was being voluntarily looked after which was on the way to Larrasoana. Incredible inside.
We stopped for a cuppa at Larrasona
We continued through Akerrta and Zurian
The last town before Pamplona, Puente de Arre
and we finally reached our funky digs “Hostel Hemingway” in Pamplona , where we were all shatterred and looking forward to our rest day on the Saturday.
Saturday 14th – Rest Day
Lots was going on including a half Trialthon, a festival with giant puppets and musicians .
Our Hostel was opposite a market, Mercado.
The on into town to see the sites
The view South , where we will head on Monday…
and I met a mad bunch of people dancing around in giant costumes and playing unusual flutes.
who’d come through all the streets and gathered at the Town Hall
Whats that?
So I saw a cute piggie and realised thats how the advertise their butchers…
Some fried baby octopus and calamari for lunch, VERY good
Then onto the Cathedral for some culture, and a wedding part were preparing with a VW for transport.
…it is MASSIVE.
The onto the incredible Art Deco interior of the Café Iruna (yes you had to be there to appreciate)
That evening we all wandered out and ate some good food
and I bumped into some friendly people, including a Carlos Biurrun who exports his Nekeas Rioja wine all over the world. He insisted that I try this local spirit whilst I talked computer programming with an Ernest Hemingway Jnr 😉 They are definitely a very civilised society, where couples, families, elderly all mixed and played during the day. No excessive alcohol, no violence, all good spirited and happy fun. A heck of a town that I look forward to revisiting again and i HIGHLY recommend you go.
