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Navarre Travel Blogs

Background: Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II, but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). In the second half of the 20th century, Spain has played a catch-up role in the western international community; it joined the EU in 1986. Continuing challenges include Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorism and further reductions in unemployment.

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By Jackie oh
September 20th 2009

Still going slowly but surely Europe » Spain » Navarre » Pamplona

Hey Everyone, Thanks for all the messages and comments on my blog and on the photos´on FB. I truly appreciate them all. It makes me feel closer to home. After I left you last time, I was in Puenta La Reina. A large town or small city. I was staying in an Albergue that didn´t really have any charm to it. It was in the basement of a hotel. I found out later that there were 2 more there. One was an ancient one in the middle of the city and one was a brand new "chain" albergue just on the [View Full Entry]

By Jackie oh
September 17th 2009

Hobblin´...I´m just hobblin´ along... Europe » Spain » Navarre » Pamplona

...and I´m singin´my hobblin´song....I´m just hobblin´along... Helllloooo! First I´d like to thank everyone for the healing energy! I felt it all! So, after I wrote the last time, I went for a little walk around the Albergue and found a couple of nice Irish girls, Betty and Linda. Both from Dublin. They were cousins. Betty has done the Camino many times and knows the author of the book that most people carry to do the Camino. She talks non-stop with that famous Irsh accent (eighteen and tirty four). They were a lot of fun. We were joined by a Canadian couple [View Full Entry]

By RPR
September 13th 2009

Pamplona Europe » Spain » Navarre » Pamplona

El Matador!

Pamplona was amazing, home of the running of the bulls. Toured the Bullring, and walked the path the bulls run, before having a quick walking tour. Had some great Tappas and San Gria as well as visiting Hemingways Hotel Room. Would love to return, as again felt like I would have liked to have longer there. [View Full Entry]

By absurdflaneur
September 1st 2009

My minicamino Europe » Spain » Navarre

Día 1, desde Pamplona
brekkie after only the first 5km

When I jumped on a 7am train to Pamplona, bleary-eyed after 1 hour sleep from my stay in Madrid´s sweltering heat, I was pumped. I´m going on the Camino, a centuries old pilgrimage through the north of Spain, and this is the first stage! After a day wandering around the quaint old town of Pamplona, including a turn down the Encierro(where the bulls run), this electricity in my veins turned into anxiety...uh, why am I doing this? After looking at a map of the entire length of the trail, 700km to Santiago de Compostela, it seemed a little overwhelming for little [View Full Entry]

By Bi n Deanos long trip home
August 6th 2009

Hola we in Spain Europe » Spain » Navarre » Pamplona

Lightening at the campsite

We were so excited to arrive in Spain...we touched down in Madrid airport and headed straight to the bus station to head to Pamplona for the San Fermin Festival and to join up with the Ground Crew. Our real excitment was seeing Nicole and Caitlan from our old flat in London. We arrived at about 10pm and Chrissy (our boss) picked us up from the bus station and took us to the campsite, El Melino which was about 40 minutes away. The bus carrying all the people from London inc Nic and Caitlan hadn't arrived due to some breakdowns etc, so [View Full Entry]

By Cramer
July 20th 2009

Bookin it wit DA BULLS Europe » Spain » Navarre » Pamplona

Bus #2
Let the adventure begin

Two weeks ago, I experienced the most chaotic, wild, crazy, odd, enormous, cultural festival I could have ever imagined possible. ( and that is STILL an understatement!) Nothing could have possibly prepared me sufficiently. The week before the "Running of the Bulls" in Pamplona I learned all about the San Fermin Festival in my classes. It is a week in July to honor the San Fermin (Each town has a patron saint and for Pamplona-it's Fermin!) Each teacher and my host parents all had the same expression before I left..."poco loco....ten cuidado" which means, its a little crazy, be careful. HA. [View Full Entry]

By kevdogg
July 17th 2009

Pamplona-San Sebastian Europe » Spain » Navarre » Pamplona

Well it has been a while since my last update and I will try not to make this too long. When I last wrote Richard and I were planning on heading to the bull arena in Pamplona to try and get tickets for the bullfight. We headed there and found scalpers everywhere...seemed as though everyone we talked to was selling tickets. The prices started high (70-50 euro) as it was a couple hours before the matches started. Wisely Richard forced us to wait it out until a few minutes before the fights started because we knew scalpers would get desperate. We [View Full Entry]

By Spartan
July 14th 2009

Surviving Running of the Bulls in Pamplona! Europe » Spain » Navarre » Pamplona

Sarah, Andy, Natalie and Kate
Anxiously waiting in the plaza de toros for el encierro (running of the bulls) to begin!

Two weekends ago we went to Pamplona with our University group from Madrid to partake in what is the most unbelievable cultural event in the world. The actual festival is called San Fermin, a week long celebration from July 7-14 every year to honor the patron saint of Pamplona, San Fermin. The main event of this festival is el encierro, the running of the bulls. The running of the bulls takes place at 8AM each morning during the week long festival. People begin lining the streets at 4AM for a place to observe, or for the brave ones, a place inside [View Full Entry]

A little musical entertainment to start things off

Watching the "pre-game" on the jumbo tron!

By The Palest Guy On The Beach
July 12th 2009

Bull running you say? Europe » Spain » Navarre » Pamplona

Brandenburg Gate

Now, I've heard of and gone through with some pretty bad ideas in my time. Running in a throng of Spaniards dressed like idiots being chased by bulls certainly ranked right up there near the top though. I guess I really had no idea what exactly to expect before I got there. I just planned on showing up to Pamplona, running like I was being chased by death (or death with horns), laughing at the end and getting the heck out of Dodge.So I arrived about mid morning expecting to run in the afternoon and make tracks to Madrid. Well, when [View Full Entry]

By Becca V
July 10th 2009

July 4th - 9th 2009 TopDeck Pamplona Europe » Spain » Navarre » Pamplona

Pamplona
The Ferry Ride - Dover to Calais

Saturday 4th July 2009 Up early and so excited for Pamplona. There are six of us going on the trip; Jo, Cynthia, Daehon, Ross, Kyle and me. We are leaving by 10.30am because of the tube closure between the stations where we need to meet. At the last minute, my roommate Denise, decided to come on the trip as there is a vacancy. So seven of us now, all travelling together on the tube towards Spain. We met TopDeck tours at 107 Power Road, Chiswick and there were people everywhere! So excited to go. We checked in with the Tour [View Full Entry]

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