Just add water

It was raining this morning when I awoke. The cobbled streets were slick with water running in from the edges to the central gutter as I walked to school. Lights reflected off the puddles and locals huddled under umbrellas. As my apartment came equipped with an umbrella, I did too.

After school, the rain forced me to, not for the first time, breach my ´do not give the Catholic Church more money´ commandment and pay to get into the Cathedral. I was sort of regretting that decision until I came across something wonderful. Back when the cathedrals and churches of antiquity were built, they were richly painted inside. The stark walls we see today are the product of time and a much later sense of austerity. And there is one bit of the Pamplona Cathedral where the decoration has survived – and I think that is remarkably cool.

There was still a lot of afternoon available after the Cathedral and dodging the rain was not making me happy, so I decided to go for a hike along the river Agra. Pamplona forms a natural fortress because it sits on a hill ringed on three sides by the river. So I sallied forth through the gate nearest home to walk along the riverbank.

Although it did rain, it was a great walk. The river is a bit brown and slow but the paths are roofed by trees. And – and this really excited me although I’m sure locals would shrug – there was a squirrel scampering about in trees just above me.