Camino Frances Day 3

 Up and out the door at 7 AM. But before we get into day three, Let’s talk about yesterday evening and last night. We had a wonderful pilgrim dinner with all the pilgrims that were staying in the Albergue. We started off with the appetizer, a sausage link with a piece of bread. The hostess also bought out a large pitcher of red wine. The first item menu was mixed vegetable soup, and the main course item, large piece of chicken, that the meat just fell off the bone, with scallop potatoes. The dessert was a chocolate gelato, tiramisu piece of cake, But it was dang good.

I was stuffed from dinner, I decided to go take a walk through the little town or village just to see what it was about. The hotspot in town was the little ice cream truck that was pulled into like a park. I bet half the town was there getting ice cream.

I was staying in a four bedroom dorm room, my roommates were two men from Italy, Aldo and Alfonso, and a guy from Germany whose name I could not understand. That was probably the worst night of sleep, I have had on this trip so far. The two Italian’s snored so loud it sounded like a couple of freight trains coming at each other I think I got maybe two hours of sleep if that my earplugs didn’t work my earbuds. I tried that that didn’t work. Nothing worked. I ended up getting up around five and just going downstairs and drank coffee. I’m quickly learning this Camino dorm roommate thing is not really working for me too well at this point in time. I actually texted the Albergue here in Pamplona that I’m currently at right now and I asked if I could upgrade to a single room and I got a email later in the night saying sure we have that available. I said book it Dano!!!.

I’m guessing, I’ll just going to have to put on my big boy pants and suck it up because I have three more Albergue dorm rooms booked until I get to Burgos then I have a couple of single rooms after that. Camino life right!!!

OK, back to my day today, like I said I was out the door at 7 AM, with my premade breakfast snacks that the Albergue made for us, that was very nice of them. Today is going to be a short day only have about 10+ miles to get to or get back to Pamplona. It was a very pretty walk this morning. The sun was coming over the hills, and the morning dew was just starting to rise and float over the grassy fields. Right now, everything is just so green. It’s just so pretty to look at. Also, seeing all the horses with their new little colts, roaming around in the fields was also pretty cool site to see. 

Today, I also think I walked on just about every type of material known to man that is used, that  I walked on today. Asphalt, cobblestone, crushed rock, bolder rocks, bricks, dirt, concrete, paving stones, sidewalks. I Crossed over a wooden bridge a metal bridge and two medieval stone bridges, they were old. I walked up a flight of stone steps and down a flight of wooden steps. But the only thing that I did not walk on today was water. Yeah, I’ll probably never achieve that one!!. You name, I pretty much walked on it today. 

Today was my first day that I did not actually walk with anybody specific or really interact with anybody. I guess it’s because I left early before everybody else did from the Albergue and there are really no other Albergues/Hostels between where I stayed and Pamplona. So there wouldn’t have been very many people in front of me. Which was fine. I just had my earbuds in and just listening to my music as I walked on taking in all the sites. 

I didn’t even stop to take any rest breaks. I hit the outskirts of Pamplona by 9:30 and the rest of the walk was just going through the city streets. Speaking of cities, I love to walk through big cities. I enjoy looking at all the different types of architecture the different styles of buildings the different neighborhoods that you walk through. The people moving about their daily living activities. I did make one stop just before entering the city of Pamplona, a little café. I went in and the place was full of locals. They all looked at me probably because I entered with my big old backpack. You ain’t from around here are you boy!. I ordered my morning cappuccino and a chocolate muffin and I just went and sat in the corner, so nobody would trip over my backpack just enjoying my coffee listing to everybody talk & laugh. To be honest, they were probably talking about me🤣🤣.

After my quick break, I kept on heading to the old city center of Pamplona. For one thing, it’s really hard to get lost even in the big city When doing the Camino Francis. There are markers everywhere telling you which direction to go. You either look for the traditional Camino markers, usually stone pillars or the yellow  posted arrows that are official and then other yellow arrows that are just spray painted on the side of a building side of a wall on a telephone pole a metal pole on the ground etc..so you always have to keep your eye out, but they’re there, you  just gotta look for them. Or you can just look at for other walkers and follow them, that works too.

Since I arrived earlier than I expected, And I couldn’t check into my Albergue till 1 PM so I just did the touristy thing just walked around, taking pictures, walking up and down the cool streets. It’s like what you see in the movies. People have their clothes strung out all over their balconies. Sometimes they have a line going from balcony to balcony. There are clothes, under garments, sheets, & towels hanging from them. Flower planters with beautiful flowers hanging, draping down over the balconies. Spanish flags proudly hanging swaying in the wind. Checking out all the different shops, bars, restaurants etc..I went to the main Cathedral. I got a discount because I was a pilgrim, see I told you we are special🤣. Walked around the Cathedral and the museum that was attached. This lady came up to me and asked for a picture of my shell on that hangs on the back of my backpack. The shell represents that you are on a Camino pilgrimage. It dates back to the early beginnings of the Camino. There were  multiply tours going on, in the Cathedral, and I heard a tour guide telling them something about why I am carrying a backpack and the shell what it represents, I am sure that’s why the lady wanted the picture. I bet I looked funny with my big backpack on walking around the sanctuary. I was actually preying on how the hell I was going to get out of there with all those people in there, and not knocking something over!!! Pilgrim humor

1pm, checked into my Albergue, 5th floor, queen bed, private bathroom, screw you dorm life, at least until tomorrow. Got all my laundry washed, wooohooo. Asked my hostess where I'm can get a good steak dinner, he hooked me up good. One of those places where the meat is hanging from the ceiling and they have drip cups to catch the blood!!!! I had a Huge steak, 2 helping size of fries, 4 pieces of bread, w/ two glasses of beer, for $30eu. Then I followed that up with cookies-in-cream gelato. Man am I living large today.

Back to my room, repacked my backpack, put all my clean close away, got out tomorrow's outfit, want to make sure I have the right matching close🤣🤣Checked my map and distance for tomorrow, filled my water bottle.. Camino life stuff.

Oh, i ran into a gal, in the lobby, I had seen a couple days ago. She said she was in the 6 bed dorm room. I said good luck to you, and made my way to my nice quiet room..I get one good night of sleep at least.

Stats—> Larrasoaña to Pamplona Stage 3

Miles- 9.5 walking, City- 3.5ish =13+ miles

Elevation- 873ft

Weather- 51degrees to 77 degrees

Tomorrow, off to Puente La Reina, 14 miles give or take