No running with the bulls - lets get out of Pamplona!

Monday 15th May

Rain - again.  We decided to catch the bus into the city of Pamplona. This was OK in theory but when we got off at the bus station there was no sign of any tourist information office or even signs pointing out where to find it, or even signs to the tourist attractions. In the end we just grabbed a taxi to the cathedral which was one place we wanted to visit. Pretty spectacular cathedral and at least some English signs (we have found this to be lacking at some attractions in spain). Attached to the cathedral was the museum, and the cloisters. Rob went with a tour group up into the bell tower. I passed on the 140 odd steps.

King Charles III and Queen Leonor of Navarre back in 14th century.

The biggest bell in the tower - and the biggest in Spain.

Pinchos for lunch.

After the cathedral we found a pinchos bar for lunch. They were very nice - they are small - usually served on a slice of baguette. I had a crab salad, topped with a slice of boiled egg and a prawn, and then a seafood, rice, and white sauce dish served in a scallop shell, with melted cheese on top. Rob had one of those too, and one with mushrooms. 

Rob enjoyed this red with his pinchos - photo of label in case we spot it in supermarket. 

Street in the old city of Pamplona.

Back to the hotel where we had planned to have dinner when the restaurant opened at 9, only to get there and be told they are closed!! Grr!! Not what they told us when we asked at breakfast. So, tired and grumpy, we hopped in the car and drove down the road to a Popeyes chicken place for takeaway. It was OK but not the dinner we had planned.

Tuesday 16th May

After yesterday's frustrations we were both feeling pretty disillusioned with Spain. Not understanding the language has been a huge impediment and it seems like very few people have any English. Thank goodness for technology and google translate. We were both looking forward to being back in France in a couple of days.  

Started out the day with rain again, and on the road out of Pamplona. They obviously had an abundant supply of roundabouts because it seemed like there was one every few hundred metres - like they loaded them on a helicopter and as they flew along they just dropped them - plonk, plonk, plonk. The first one to negotiate was a doozy - roundabout,  traffic lights to enter the roundabout and traffic lights half way through the roundabout. Did we get it right? Who knows, but we came out the other side unscathed.

We let Dora pick the route as usual, and she led us up and down and round and round on the road to Jaca. We have told her no motorways or tolls, so this is her interpretation.  She picked a couple of really grotty roads (though in better condition than some of our Victorian roads) that had us so far off the beaten track we didn't see another car. Passing through one tiny village leads to the conversation  - what do these people do for work, where do they shop, where do the kids go to school,  do they travel this road every day, etc. 

Rob just stopped the car in the middle of the road for this photo
- not another car for 20+ kilometres. 

As we got closer to the town of Jaca we could see snow on top of some of the Pyrenees mountains on our left. We are headed up into that tomorrow. We were too early for our accommodation 20 minutes further on so stopped in Jaca to see what there was to see. Found the tourist information office quite easily. The lady there advised that we could see the cathedral or the citadel which was due to close in 1 1/2 hours. Thankfully we chose the citadel. What an amazing place! The only complete citadel from 16th century in Europe. The highlight for me was the miniature military scenes through the ages. Over 32,000 figures.

Entry to the citadel - apparently in use by the military constantly
from 16th century till 2009, when it was handed over to tourism. 

Statue of Phillip II.

They keep deer in the dry moat to keep the grass down.
The deer have adjusted well to their home.

A few of the miniature military displays.

Troops entering the citadel.

Enjoyed a lovely lunch in a hotel in town. Slow cooked beef cheeks for me and meatballs for Rob. Tonight it will be pizza as that is the only place open in this small village. (Villanua) So we started the day feeling a bit down, ended up in a town we knew nothing about, and have ended the day on a higher note.

Beautiful white shepherd - 10 months old and full of love for everyone.

Heading this way tomorrow - and pleased to hear the pass is open.