Well not a real one anyway. Although I did manage to take a photo with a very famous (taxidermied) bull during our tour of the Bullfighting Stadium – Plaza del Toro. The stadium has just recently started doing guided tours and while I may not philosophically believe that bullfighting should be allowed, the tour was well worth the 5EUR to get behind the scenes of this regional sport. Bullfighting is definitely part of the identity of the Pamplonians – just to go and watch the bullfights, they dress in traditional white and red outfits and cheer on their favourite matador or bull. Bullfights happen in July, when they have another equally baffling event – the running of the bulls – where men and women of all ages pit themselves against the stampeding bulls, trying to outrun them or … well I’m not really sure what. They have fun though!

Pamplona comes alive on the weekend – when we arrived and walked into the old (walled) city there were people out in the streets drinking and eating and generally having a great time. Thinking we had stumbled on a local fiesta, I asked our Albergue host what it was about. He looked at me kind of puzzled and said – Sábado en Pamplona (Saturday in Pampona)! Well it went on until the very early hours of the next day.

At around 8am Sunday the street cleaners were out to clear the mess, and by 11am the Pamplonians were at it again! So we walked the walled city and ventured into the ‘regular’ city. Plenty of photo opportunities.

Had coffee at Cafe Iruna – made famous because Ernest Hemingway was a regular here. Pamplona is fun – probably wouldn’t spend more than a couple of days though. Stayed at Albergue Plaza Catedral – a hostel for pilgrims and others alike. Well run and would recommend. Got ourselves on a bus to St Jean Pied de Port, France, (22EUR) from where we begin the Camino – I’m really impressed by the transport system here. Runs like clockwork and seamless. The bus was full of Pellegrinos (pilgrims). Each of us in deep thought about the journey ahead. Next post on the delightful village of St Jean.