Day 3 to Zariquiegui—No Bulls in Pamplona—April 24, 2024

On day 3 of my Camino Santiago hike, there was no running of the bulls as I passed through Pamplona. Hiking was fairly easy since it was mostly downhill.  I walked 32 km to Zariquiegui only because the aubergues in the earlier town of Cizur Menor at 25 km were closed.

Along the way we passed by some 12th century Romanesque Abby Ruins near Illaratz

It was raining a bit so we stopped at this café, just across the bridge to have some tasty breakfast as well as warm up. 

We then came into Pamplona where we saw a historic milling building that has been restored.

It was a long walk through the streets of Pamplona by following the painted yellow arrows, the Camino Santiago icon tiles and metal icons as well.

I detoured through Pamplona to see the street where they do the annual running of the bulls, the Plaza de Toros and the street named after Ernest Hemingway.

Plaza del Toros

Empty running of the bulls street.

Same street during the running of the bulls.

While walking through Pamplona, I met up with Boris a French guy and CPA and we navigated our way through the city after seeing the street where they do the running of the bulls.

I stopped by a field full of peas and grabbed a handful to eat for my walk up to Cizur Menor and enjoyed the views of the many mustard fields. I was planning to stay at one of the albergues there as Boris continued on to the next village.

It was not to be. Both Aubergues were closed.  It was another 6.1 km to Zariquiegui that had an aubergue with only 18 beds.  I was hoping that they would have room, and they did.

I met up with Boris again and we had dinner along with Ila from Sweden. She had written Swedish guidebook about the Camino and was also a medium. 

She told us the story of when her father had died. A little bird appeared, and again when a friend of her’s died, the same bird appeared.    Today she saw the same type of bird and wasn’t sure if it was a message from her dad or from her earlier friend who had died.  As she told us this, she received a text message that another friend had just died. But now she thought it was about the friend that had just died that day.  Talk about a downer for a story during dinner time.

The washers and dryers were going full-time with the family that had taken over one of the dorm rooms.

Once again, the showers were hot and wonderful, and the bed was comfortable and even had real sheets instead of the disposable ones.