Orkoien
Summer of 2024 say me losing out on a lot of places because buses had been dropped to many small towns. Some I could get there from San Sebastian which meant train to the city, stay the night for 200-400 Euros per night so it was just not worth it. There are some towns I can go to from the intercity bus station and also Pamplona's local bus service. Here is one of them.
The number 12 bus took me out to Orkoien and at first was just going to head back, but there was this church building on a nearby hill, so headed for it. The town itself had rows of streets with modern homes and buildings. The Spanish name is Orcoyen, so when I saw the Orkoien sign, I knew I was in the Basque part of the place. It is all different here and a lot older. The flat streets changed from flat to nothing level anywhere and I began my wander around.
The homes here tend to be large, some are even mansions such as the one above. In a way the street system here is a bit like a Kasbah, with narrow roads and some are just leading to one or two houses then end. A number were quite steep lengthwise and often leaning left or right just as steeply. I kind of had fun feeling like I was on a roller-coaster not sure what the next street would do.
The church was not all that large and surrounded by grass and dirt with a sort of ramp for people with wheelchairs and the like. A service has just finished and I had a short chat with one of the people leaving. Walking around to the back of it gave me the opportunity to grab the above photo. The area used be farmland but as Pamplona grew Orcoyen has become home to a number of automobile industries.
Says it all. "Euskal Herria" means the Basque Country in that language. I know only a couple of words. It is one of three languages on Earth which has no root. Some relaxing sit downs and I walked back to the bus stop to return to my room. Nice little place.
The number 12 bus took me out to Orkoien and at first was just going to head back, but there was this church building on a nearby hill, so headed for it. The town itself had rows of streets with modern homes and buildings. The Spanish name is Orcoyen, so when I saw the Orkoien sign, I knew I was in the Basque part of the place. It is all different here and a lot older. The flat streets changed from flat to nothing level anywhere and I began my wander around.
The first thing I saw was a small graveyard. Normally I don't bother with the dead, but this one was quite different and very tidy.
The homes here tend to be large, some are even mansions such as the one above. In a way the street system here is a bit like a Kasbah, with narrow roads and some are just leading to one or two houses then end. A number were quite steep lengthwise and often leaning left or right just as steeply. I kind of had fun feeling like I was on a roller-coaster not sure what the next street would do.
The church was not all that large and surrounded by grass and dirt with a sort of ramp for people with wheelchairs and the like. A service has just finished and I had a short chat with one of the people leaving. Walking around to the back of it gave me the opportunity to grab the above photo. The area used be farmland but as Pamplona grew Orcoyen has become home to a number of automobile industries.
People walking home from church, notice how the street is not at all level and this was one of the lesser steep ones.
All the street and plaza signs were like this. Quite different from the rest of Pamplona.
Says it all. "Euskal Herria" means the Basque Country in that language. I know only a couple of words. It is one of three languages on Earth which has no root. Some relaxing sit downs and I walked back to the bus stop to return to my room. Nice little place.
Bringing it to a close
Eleven years ago I discovered Pamplona, enroute to Madrid and have been coming to the Basque Country since. It has changed and I've reached saturation point. From now on any visits will be very short, just to visit the few friends I have here. The end of August is next week and I shall be flying from Madrid to North Macedonia.Wonder what awaits me?
Aug 25, 2024
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
