Husa Noain Pamplona

... at the beach at 11.30am where sun worshippers could bake and bathe and people like us could wander the town and grab lunch.
Dan and I wandered off to the beach and had a stroll along, it had a lovely surf beach, lots of brightly coloured tents and naked boobies if one cared to look. We circled up and around undecided on a sit down lunch or a picnic lunch. In the end we walked to the Supermarket and had a look around and bought a 0.85 pound Baguette, some ...

... many things...

Arriving at Los arcos, i was very happy to see Damon and Tim along with some new people I hadn´t met. This area of Navarra is fiercely independent, and the antispanish grafitti, signs and sentiments have become even more intense. I saw the title of this entry on the way into Los Arcos, along with banners demanding that the Spanish police and troups stay out of the town, or else.

A little emotional setback came in the form of learning about what >I ...

... familar faces at the hostel waiting for me. If they are not there, I sometimes experience a weird sadness, depression and anxiety for a few moments. How much do I owe my fellow pilgrim, for whom I have shared conversations and time with?

Anyways, this was part of my dilemma on this hike, although the views on this walk were especially beautiful. Also, as we had begun so late, the trails were virtually empty and I felt so much less pressure to arrive ...

Sorry for the longer than expected delay. Internet in Sevilla sketchier than expected. But alas, the wait for this installment is over. However, all the of the photos I had hoped to upload were not agreeing with the photo uploader, so I will try to put them all in with my Sevilla entry.

Okay, so this entry will include stories from the San Fermín Festival, home of the famous running of the bulls. But I’m going to make you work for it. Trudge ...

As many of you know, I HATE SMOKING with a capital H. So far I´ve been in 6 countries in the EU and I must say they love smoking. These people smoke where ever they choose. I´ve been inside bathrooms inside of a store and can just see the smoke rising up. Or inside a non-smoking restaurant that has big signs that say no smoking. And the best is on the train that smoking isn´t allowed on. I asked a Spanish girl I met one time why and she didn´t know ...

... however. Jesus is veiled, as at midnight they take the veil off to unmask him on the cross. Mary is moreso however, as she is cloaked and surrounded by 100 candles which illuminate her from below. I wouldn´t have been able to have been there on my own. The hooded men pick up Jesus´ float and do the stations of the cross ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stations_o f_the_cross ) around the cathedral´s interior. Each ...

... stretch of cobble stone streets. The event starts just before 8 am when the runners gather in an area at the beginning of the route called to invoke the protection of the St Fermín. Traditionalists wear a white shirt and pair of pants with a red handkerchief (pañuelo) tied around the neck, and a red sash (faja) tied around the waist. Anyone who survives a close encounter with a bull is said to have been protected by San Fermin's cloak. The ...

... people aren't walking the Camino as some religious passage, they're doing it to tell their friends that they hiked 'The Camino! Oh, it was soooo wonderful and spiritual.' It seems to me that sacrifice is an integral part of a pilgrimage. It isn't a comfortable stroll in top of the line gear with every amenity at your fingertips and warm, dry, comfortable accomodation every night. I overheard a guy in downtown Pamplona chatting with another fellow about how he 'thinks ...

So finally got to Pamps without any vans breaking down. The camping ground is full of tour groups and ****** antipodeans and stayed that way for a whole week some guys I never saw sober, it was basically carnage. So many kiwis and aussies it was unbelievable!! Got to catch up with heaps of guys hadn't seen in ages....Hillsey, Spider, Piezy, Simon Wallace, Jody Irving, Querps and Annalise. So awesome to catch up with everyone. The first day ...

... the run, took in a bull fight, which was quite hideous actually, but there is no point in complaining as it is part of their culture. Actually, the amazing part was seeing the nuns getting into it and being given some excellent home made tortilla by the Spanish people behind us. After the fight, we went and bought provisions. Beer for me and tetra packs of Don Simon Sangria for the girls. We went back to the campground in the ...