Quick Links to Spain Pages:
Pamplona!
After a week at the villa we parted with our friends and headed north to Pamplona for one night and then on to San Sebastian. We lucked in to a great hotel in Pamplona called "Palacio Guendulain"
We were able to pull right up to the front door, unload and not see the car again until the next day.
Some scenes from Pamplona.
We continued to experience great weather!
Lorri's looking for a place for a snack
and here it is! These little guys on the right were some of the best pintxos I tasted. Charred calamari over crispy fries and crusty bread - perfect tastes and textures!
And this is where we ate them.
The Plaza de Castillo. According to my sources, from 1385 to 1844, bullfights were held in this square.
Cafes lined the boulevards
With a tourist shop here and there
Here I am "running" with the bulls. Fortunately for me they were of the stuffed variety.
Some colorful buildings across from the cathedral
The Cathedral of Santa Maria built in the 14th and 15th centuries on the site of a Roman temple
Pamplona, the capital of the Kingdom of Navarra!
Euskal Herria means "Basque Country". I'm not sure if that plaque has anything to do with the gargoyle thing but I notice there is no "Welcome to" in front of Euskal Herria.
A little plaza around the corner
See the France Gate below
The France Gate
The City Wall
Time for more pintxos and a vino tinto y un blanco
and a selfie
Who are these guys supposed to be?
When the bulls get tired they use these to chase people around
This is the street where the bulls run during the Feast of San Fermín
Run this way!
This will tell you a little more about it. Pick your language.
The permanent Bull ring
Papa!
It's all Hemmingway's fault!
Our room at the Guendulain. Doesn't look like much here, but it was a nice hotel.
Our room had a small deck.
It overlooked the hotels atrium
and it also had a door for hobbit access
Getting on toward evening the locals start to come out
How about some shoes
Made in Espagna!
Ernie gets around
The town really came alive later in the evening
It seemed like all of Navarra was in town ready to party
I had to go back for more of the calamari tapa
It was really good.
Hanging out just like the locals
Another excellent combination of flavors and textures
Photo bombed
Typical street on Saturday night. We had a blast!
Sunday morning breakfast. Ten for two Euros!
This place looked better in the fading daylight yesterday. See above.
Who's that knocking at my door?
Can I give you a hand?
How about an apple?
100% local tempranillo for 1.25 or go all out for the reserve at 2.99 Euros!
The Camino de Santiago passes through Pamplona.
We walked to the Parque de la Taconera and the Citadel.
These "nests" were part of an art exhibit
The Citadel was built in the 1500 and 1600's. The French took it in 1808.
These guys were going at it!
They had a scoring system that I didn't quite understand. It was based on which guy scored more hits. They did not actually behead or stab one another.
This is the guy responsible for the nests.
Pamplona was a revelation! We really enjoyed the town, the people and the food and wine!
Back to: