About 2 months ago I picked up a copy of Ernest Hemingway's novel, The Sun Also Rises. Some of the story takes place in Paris and other parts take place in Pamplona. I walked into the bullfighting town around noon today and am staying at the Municipal Albergue Jesus y Maria. As I am writing this, at 4:24 in the afternoon, there is a sign on the worn wooden front door that says, "Completo"...full. Popular place. This albergue operates on a mission to give jobs to people who are disabled with cerebral palsy. Noble mission. For the past 3 nights, as I have checked into my albergue, I have been handed a very thin, papery, loosely woven fitted sheet and pillow case. Not here. I was handed a freshly folded cotton flat sheet and pillow case. Heaven.
About 2 months ago I picked up a copy of Ernest Hemingway's novel, The Sun Also Rises. Some of the story takes place in Paris and other parts take place in Pamplona. Pamplona is also the site for the San Fermin festival, which takes place in July and includes the "Running of the Bulls". Being chased down winding cobblestone streets by a dozen or more muscular bulls who might or might not be angry is not my idea of a good time. In Hemingway's book, a young man is gored and killed. A young father. Maybe pick up the book and relive your high school English class days...let me know what you think of the book.
Polly and Francine are here and we walked around Pamplona to see The Monumento al Encierio by Rafael Huerta. It is magnificent. Also saw the Cafe Iruna which Hemingway frequented and was in The Sun Also Rises. A lot of history in that little cafe. Supposedly, Hemingway's book caused a sensation that drove people to Pamplona and its small town charm was lost. Hemingway came back two years after the book was published, looked at what had happened to Pamplona and declared he had ruined the city. Is there a place you know of that has been ruined by the tourism factor?
The girls and I are heading out in a few minutes for tapas. It was a great day for me...feet feel pretty good. Last night when I went to bed I had that sensation that I love...my muscles have worked hard, they are almost tight and I am spent physically. But I know that I am stronger than I was.
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