3. Tag - Larrasoaña to Pamplona

First of all, a quick thank you for the many positive feedback on the blog, which has apparently already become a daily evening read for some 🙏🙏🙏

Please excuse me for not replying most of the time because I'm doing a bit of a social media detox. But I read it and it always makes me happy to get the warm and lovely messages. At some point I'll answer everything 🫶

But now to today’s blog:

When I woke up, the room was already empty. I must have slept pretty soundly 😅

But I still set off at 7:30 a.m. It's clear that the others are crazy for setting off so early. There was no breakfast at the hostel, so I wanted to have breakfast in the next town so that I could make the most of the path and not have to take a detour. It was drizzling slightly, but it felt rather pleasant while I was walking. After almost an hour with lots of gentle climbs and descents, I reached it and what had to happen happened. Tuesday is a rest day and it's the only bar in town. So I kept going and I'll make it short. Everything was closed. At some point the path splits. To the right up the mountain, where there is a small village with a chapel and hostel, or down along the river? I decide to take the strenuous route because I hope to find something to eat breakfast there. But unfortunately no, unfortunately not at all. The hostel is already closed and there is nowhere else where I can buy anything. So I continue along the path, hungry. On one slope there is a car selling freshly squeezed orange juice. After this short refreshment, I continue on. Uphill, downhill, uphill, downhill, until I arrive in Burlada and find the "Paradise" bar. Finally, I have breakfast. It is now 10:30 a.m. Well fortified, I then continue only within the town until I reach the "Casa Paderborn" in Pamplona at around 11:50 a.m., where other pilgrims are already waiting. It doesn't open until 1 p.m. I use the time to rub Voltaren cream on my left foot because it hurts a lot. Christian arrives shortly after me. On the first day, I mistakenly called Christian Jean-Pierre because I didn't know his name. He is the French pilgrim who started five days before me and is only walking as far as Burgos.
Jutta and Christoph (the hospitaleros from Paderborn) give us a very warm welcome. We first get a glass of lemon water and a few biscuits and while we enjoy them they explain the way to the old town. The room is for 8 people, but the beds are pretty comfortable. A roommate in the room happens to be a nurse and she talks to me about the burns I've had since the first day. She has a cream for burns with her that she gives me so I can rub it on. Thanks to Ainhoa 🙏After a shower we head off to the old town.

Pamplona is, by the way, the city of bulls, or rather, the "San Fermines" always take place here in July, where the bulls are driven through the old town to the bullring. Everyone can form their own opinion on this...

I won't write much about the sightseeing, but I've attached a few nice pictures.

Back at the house I meet the first German pilgrims on the journey and they all talk about their experiences of the first few days and sit comfortably together in the warmth. In the Casa Paderborn you really feel very well looked after and the price (7.50€ for an overnight stay and 3.50€ for breakfast) is really pilgrim-friendly. At the end of the day we see two ducks on the river bank right next to the house... well, having fun with each other....

I had never seen that before 🤣

Tomorrow's destination is "Puente la Reina". According to the hospitaleros, it is a relatively easy route that shouldn't have too many differences in altitude. 🙏
Cost of the day: Accommodation: 11€ including breakfast Food on the way: 9€ Food in Pamplona: 24€