Day 5

Larrasoaña to Pamplona - 15.6 kms
15 April 2019

We were happy to be on the way again this morning.  Larrasoaña was a strange village with none of the appeal or charm that Viskarret had. When we set off at 6.45 am it was 9 deg and it was just getting light; the birds were very vocal this morning after saying yesterday that there weren't many birds about. The walk to Pamplona was fairly undulating with a  mix of surfaces - some rough stones, other parts concreted paving and other parts dirt track. For a great part we followed the River Arga.
Near Arleta we came across Dan and his stall which had some connection to Martin Sheen's 2010 movie The Way. Dan was pleased  to hear that we were New Zealanders as he holidayed there during last summer and he was wearing a New Zealand cap. He said Go All Blacks. We bought a couple of pieces of tortilla con patatas y cebollas - omelette with potato and onions  - which he had made himself.  Everything was donation only, all money going to charity.
We came into Pamplona along the riverside which was a more pleasant way than on the city roads.
We have thoroughly enjoyed meeting other pilgrims, people from all corners of the world which makes interaction with them very interesting. We saw very few today although just before entering Pamplona we were joined by Jane from Nelson, NZ.
First impressions of Pamplona is that it's a very old city, it feels more foreign to us than Paris, less European. The streets are very narrow and old looking.

Looking back to Larrasoaña. The early morning colour was magic.

The small settlement of Akerreta just out of Larrasoaña

Near Zuriáin

Pappy's house has shutters Girls, Pappy was just saying how much he liked them

Walking through Irotz

A bridge across the River Arga which we walked along side to Pamplona

You asked if we had seen a snake Harriet - we haven't but we've seen lots of huge slugs

It's a beautiful time of year to walk the Camino

Dan at his donativo stall - note his New Zealand cap

Opposite Dan's stall

Walking near a major road on the outskirts of Pamplona was very noisy

Puente de Arre at Villava

Walking into Pamplona

City housing

Puente de la Magdalena - the medieval pilgrimage bridge into the Pamplona

St James cross on the city side of the bridge

The street we're staying in

The view from our window

We had pintxos for lunch - all very tasty. This dish was patata asada con pulpo - roasted potatoes with octopus.