The landscape was an easy, rolling downhill. At one point, opens up to walking along highway to Pamplona, with cars. Long line of pilgrims stretching out into distance. Car goes by, honking in friendly manner. I imagine that the driver is a bit excited, as I am, to be part of this juxtaposition of the 11th century, and the 21st. Although people have been walking this route for over 1000 years, we may not always walk directly on the original path, because it may have long since become a highway for cars.
The way becomes gradually citified as we make a long entrance into Pamplona. Unlike other trekking routes in the world, the Camino Santiago goes straight into and out of the center of some large cities. This is because the route has to go past each cathedral. There is therefore a lot of asphalt and concrete walking. D. and I are walking mostly with a few Americans and people from the UK. Hot and bright in the city streets, with a gradual, slight dehydation and overheating that goes on when walking into the afternoon like this. We follow shell signs on the buildings and sidewalk. Pleasant and a bit unexpected to be greeted by, and even entering into short conversations with, locals in the city who see that we are on this long walk.
Finally climb up through the Pamplona old city walls. We have decided to stay in a nice hotel. Went to a restaurant known for pinchos, and the well-known Cafe Iruña bar with a group we have met on the way.
Along the Way 