Pintxos and juevintxto

So my plan for the end of my time in Pamplona was to spend Friday evening exploring the pintxos I had missed. I got delightfully sidetracked.

Thursdays in Pamplona are juevintxto which is a clever combination of, well, Thursday in Spanish and pintxos. It pretty much involves every young person wandering the streets and bars meeting friends and having a drink.

My classmate Isabella and I went out into the masses with one of our teachers, Jorge. Jorge is not entirely local but has spent enough time here to be greeted by many people in the street. We had a great night tasting pintxos in several bars and talking lots of Spanish. The streets and plazas of the old town were packed with people having a good time so the atmosphere was great.

It was also great being in a group. One of the downsides of pintxos alone is that it’s just about impossible to get a table. But in a group one person can grab a table while someone else goes to the bar to order. So not only a great night in excellent company but pintxos at tables.

Then today after our last class I went out for a drink and pintxos with Isabella and her fabulous partner Mikael. I have just given the school I spent the last few weeks at the worst review I’ve ever given anything – it’s saving grace was meeting Isabella.

Finally this evening I’ve summoned the pintxos energy to have one last round before heading to France tomorrow. I must admit I’m feeling a bit wistful leaving Pamplona after a month. The school was not what I hoped, although my Spanish has absolutely improved, but Pamplona has come to feel a bit like home.