Local trips from Pamplona
Once settled in at the room I rented, the possibility of spending the usual time visiting little villages in the Basque Country arose. This was something I did a lot in the past 10 years during my times in Pamplona. Though the main reason for this trip was to see the friends I have there, a few jaunts out into the mountains would also be nice. Some planning is needed, especially due to some serious problems I had during my 2022 time there.
On the old blog and here I say: if somewhere is good, I'll say so. If not, I'll trash it. Well last year it was the info booth in Pamplona's bus station that received the trashing. They got bus schedules wrong 100% of the time. I got severe sunburn waiting 3 hours in blazing heat for a bus that never arrived plus other places and had to hitchhike out of them all. This problem had never occured before. They blamed it on other companies computers. Something was very wrong and the results could put lives in danger. So this year (2023), I decided to get a lot firmer with them.
There are trails going into the higher mountains from Olave's 511 meter altitude (about 1677 feet high).
I walked along the road and up a small trail for a bit, my legs let me know just how out of shape I am for doing that. The return bus was due to arrive about an hour or so later and I didn't want to be there for another three and half hours, so got to the stopping place early. It was 5 minutes late, but then there were a lot of big semi-trucks on the road which would slow things down on the mountainous highway.
Due to the traffic on the main road, a restaurant there was packed with at least a dozen people waiting for tables. I reckon it must be very good food, otherwise it just wouldn't exist. There is a small hotel across the highway as well
Fifty years ago I would have free climbed these mountains, too old for that now. There appear to be a lot of climbing routes up them which would have provided a good two days worth of ascents.
There was plenty of time to wander around the place and the weather was on my side, though a bit cooler than Pamplona.
The return bus was due in about 45 minutes, so I found a place to have a nice cold beer and watched this father and son play Racquetball on one side of the main town square.
On the old blog and here I say: if somewhere is good, I'll say so. If not, I'll trash it. Well last year it was the info booth in Pamplona's bus station that received the trashing. They got bus schedules wrong 100% of the time. I got severe sunburn waiting 3 hours in blazing heat for a bus that never arrived plus other places and had to hitchhike out of them all. This problem had never occured before. They blamed it on other companies computers. Something was very wrong and the results could put lives in danger. So this year (2023), I decided to get a lot firmer with them.
Olave
Situated about 20 minutes out of Pamplona with a cheap bus ride to get there, I spent about an hour and a half in the tiny pueblo without one level street. There are hardly any houses and the 2014 census had 75 people living there. On largish house is deserted and it wouldn't suprise me if the population is more around 50 to 60 now.The busy main highway heading toward Irun and the French border.
More a chapel than a full sized church, door was locked.
There are trails going into the higher mountains from Olave's 511 meter altitude (about 1677 feet high).
A good old country road leading to more with side trails to go higher.
I walked along the road and up a small trail for a bit, my legs let me know just how out of shape I am for doing that. The return bus was due to arrive about an hour or so later and I didn't want to be there for another three and half hours, so got to the stopping place early. It was 5 minutes late, but then there were a lot of big semi-trucks on the road which would slow things down on the mountainous highway.
Due to the traffic on the main road, a restaurant there was packed with at least a dozen people waiting for tables. I reckon it must be very good food, otherwise it just wouldn't exist. There is a small hotel across the highway as well
Irurtzun
One Saturday afternoon I boarded an intercity bus to Irurtzun. A return fare was cheap and it took about 30-40 minutes to arrive at the small town. This is a Basque town with 2500 people living there. 60% of them are Basque and the rest Spanish. Every Basque person I talked with spoke English, none of the Spanish ones did.Dear Spain
I know Franco told you people to not speak English, but he has been dead for nearly 50 years, so you can learn the language now. Besides, he was a dictator and now you are free to speak any language you want to......so get on with it.
Walk about
The first thing I noticed were the surrounding mountains. The trouble is they cannot be reached easily from the pueblo. A major super highway blocks access.Fifty years ago I would have free climbed these mountains, too old for that now. There appear to be a lot of climbing routes up them which would have provided a good two days worth of ascents.
Here I just sat down and enjoyed the view. After about 10 minutes a very strong wind hit and I thought it might rain, but nothing happened.
There was plenty of time to wander around the place and the weather was on my side, though a bit cooler than Pamplona.
This is a seat carved from a thick tree trunk, stained and sealed. Never seen anything like it before.
The return bus was due in about 45 minutes, so I found a place to have a nice cold beer and watched this father and son play Racquetball on one side of the main town square.
Enjoyed both towns.
Oct 29, 2023
More posts from: On the road
Minar Back in Tangier again Winter on the edge of the Sahara Thirteen Years The ruins Macedonian mess Orkoien Barasoain Beriain old town Etxauri Pamplona's parks San Fermin 2024 Charf Castletown Asilah Ksar es Seghir On the hill Tanja Kasbah A time in Tanja Beer Sheva disaster Local trips from Pamplona Pamplona in the Fall Visit to the Negev First time in Jerusalem
