Pamplona

Arrived before the heavy rains began today. For some reason, probably the Pyrenees crossing, we have been fatigued. Getting all the way to Pamplona today was very hard. It is easy to understand why so manny authors write about very sore knees the first week out of St. Jean. The hills going down are terribly steep. There is no such thing as a switchback here. The trails go directly to the bottom of the hill where they need to go. I've never had knee problems before but my right knee is so painful on the slope that I plan to wrap it tomorrow. Pamplona itself is another of those medieval villages that sit atop a hill and was formerly surrounded by a fortification wall. Part of that wall remains. Went by the cathedral, which was closed tonight. It is a gothic cathedral built over the remains of a Romanesque church, probably, I am guessing, of Cluniac (out of theCluny abbey from France)origin. We walked up the road where the running of the bulls takes place. It is another of those narrow roads between tall buildings typical of these medieval style towns. Nothing runs in a straight line. But perhaps being a larger city the buildings are a couple floors taller and hence on such a gloomy afternoon the streets too were dark and uninviting. Also because it is a Sunday there are few shops open. Graffiti is ever present. Tomorrow will be a short walk after trying to tour the cathedral and it takes a while to walk out of a city this size. The weather channel is forecasting a 90 percent chance of rain so it will be a good day to give the aches and pains a rest. I bought a cheap bottle of nail polish and painted my toenails tonight. One can't pamper your feet too much on a trip like this!