Peacocks,Taxis, Wine and Sausages

Today was another travel day from Pamplona to St Jean pied de Port (SJPDP). Mandy and Maria's ( the Australians) train arrived at 1:30, so we spent the morning exploring Pamplona. The highlight of the morning was visiting the animal garden. They have quite the assortment of birds including peacocks, as well as deer and a whole bunch of teenagers racing around doing some sort of scavenger hunt. As a matter of fact the deer were very interested in the scavenger hunt.

We met Mandy and Maria on time and our taxi came on time as well, but it was a tiny Toyota Prius for the four of us with our big backpacks and Mandy and Maria also had suitcases because they were meeting their husbands after they walked the Camino and they were planning on 45 to 60 days to do it. Somehow we all managed to fit into it.

I thought Italians were crazy drivers, but they don't even hold the candle to the Basques. The whole 45 mile journey was switchbacks up and down mountain sides. And as far as our driver was concerned the speed limit was a suggestion, especially when he was passing somebody on a blind corner.

We got to SJPDP in one piece though. We had to wait for for our room to be finished cleaning before we could check in, which was basically the housekeeping staff giving us the key while using Google Translate to make the transaction. The next step was getting our credentials and getting them stamped and dinner, that's where the sausages come in and then exploring the town in the evening.Read more