My Camino Journey

Touring Pamplona

Well it is my first day in Pamplona.  First day fully awake that is.  My first order of business was finding an atm and getting some sun screen.  After a few blocks of walking I located a machine and grabbed some euros. On the way back to the hotel I got some sunscreen at the pharmacia and couldn’t understand if I was buying just the sunscreen plus the after sun lotion or just the sunblock.  The guy put both in my bag.  Really wishing my Spanish was a little better.
On the way back to the hotel I stopped at a cafe and had a nice cup of coffee. 
Once back to the hotel I grabbed a local map so I could find my way across town.  The most important thing today was to get my pilgrims passport.  The message boards said I could get them at the office of the cathedral.  So I ventured across town to the cathedral.  The first thing I noticed is the absence of street signs.  Other then a few general direction signs to specific locations  at traffic circles I couldn’t seem to locate them until I realized they are plaques on the sides of the buildings.
I finally made it to the Cathedral and decided to take the tour while I was there.   They said I would have to walk back down to the information booth to ask about the pilgrim’s passport.  On the way I noticed a pilgrims store.  I went in to check it out.  I immediately found the gloves I was looking for.  They are going to be handy (no pun intended) as I noticed my hand sweating a bit on the cane handle.  The man running the pilgrims store spoke English really well so I decided he might know better where to get the passport.  Good thing I did because the hostel right around the corner issues them.  Sure made me grateful I didn’t have to back track too far. 
Since the cathedral was just another block up I decided to go back and get my passport stamped that I had visited there.  On the way back I stopped at a tapas bar for some food. Yummy!

My pedometer said I walked a bit over five miles.
I already have a few hot spots starting on my left foot.  Going to really have to be careful!

cathedral

Tapas

Camino de Santiago markers in the sidewalk

inside the cathedral