Day 0 Pamplona

At a glance:

Kilometres walked: 12.03 going in circles
# of steps: 15,291
Elevation gain: 0
Food highlights: Tapas or pinxos! And cafe con leché and croissants.
Highlight: My favorite cafe, Cafe Iruña which was Hemingways favorite cafe too. And seeing Plaza des Toros where the bulls start their run.
We are here to figure out a Plan B and C. The once-a-day bus from Psmplona to St Jean Pied du Port is full! Plan B is to take the once a day bus to Ronsevalles, then take a taxi down the Pyrenees. Plan C is to hang around the bus station and pick up two more stranded pilgrims and share a taxi to St JPdP. Plan B is cheaper so we will do that first.
They have modernized this city in a way that keeps the old roads for pedestrians. Vehicle deliveries seem to be allowed before 10 a.m. and all parking of cars is below ground hidden from view, including the bus station. Check out the modern glass entrance to the station.
Meanwhile we took a walk along the ramparts (wall? My castle terminology is s bit rusty) of the medieval town, walked around the bull ring, took a photo of the Hemmingway monument which basically said he was an honorable party goer, and stopped in at the cathedral and the city archives where we walked around a wooden model of what the city looked like in 1920.
Plan B seems to be working. We are sitting on a bench infront of the Roncesvalles bus and are third in line.
Update. Plan B working. Teamed up with two women from Croatia . We phoned 6 taxi companies and the last one could take us...in an hour so we are waiting.
It worked. Once in St. Jean Pied du Port we headed to our lodging and then out to get our Camino credentials stamped to mark our official start, then bought walking poles. We felt we were ready to begin to walk the Camino.
We ran into the two Croatian women again at our albergue. They hadn't found a vacancy and it was now after 7pm. It was raining and 7pm is late to be looking for accomodation.
We're not sure what happened to them.Read more