The French and I enjoyed a wonderful 24 hours in Pamplona. It was my fourth visit - all Camino related - to this colourful and vibrant city.
My last visit was after I'd walked the Camino Le Puy in April 2014, and met a Frenchman about three weeks in and we walked together until the end of that Way in St Jean Pied de Port. He was continuing on to Santiago and I had a few days spare so I kept walking with the Frenchman into Spain. We walked together for three days to Pamplona and had a last dinner at Cafe Iruna in the Plaza del Castillo, together with a Suisse couple we'd met a few days earlier. After dinner I wished them all a Buen Camino. And that was that.
The next day they all walked on and I took a bus to San Sebastián for a couple of days before heading home. It never occurred to me that I would ever see the Frenchman again - and I know he thought the same. Life can be surprising.
Tonight I'm here in San Sebastián two years on - with The French - writing this update. I knew my previous visit was around the same time, but wasn't sure of the exact dates So I've just looked back at my blog from that camino to discover that it was the 5th may 2014 that we'd had that dinner at Cafe Iruna in Pamplona. And two days ago - the 5th May - that The French and I were again at Cafe Iruna - this time for a reunion with Raymond, the Suisse - Domi's other good friend he met on the Camino Le Puy.
Raymond had just finished walking the Camino del Norte to Santiago - and took a detour on his way back to Switzerland to meet us in Pamplona. We had a great evening with him - and spent the next morning as well tootling around the city before The French and I took the1pm bus to Irun, the starting point of the Camino del Norte.
When we left home in late March we had no thought of walking on the northern route, yet here we are. More on that next time. I'm a few days behind in my updates - we've already walked the first stage from Irun to San Sebastián. Sensational!! We're having another day here tomorrow, so perhaps I'll catch up then.
Hasta luego.
J X
