Camino Day 15 - Barcelona to Pamplona (by train)

Got up bright and early to catch the train from Barcelona to Pamplona this morning.

Fun to observe the group herding of people at the train station.

Everyone was sitting nicely, waiting for the attendant to show up, when a small group of people arrived, and instead of sitting down (probably because there were insufficient chairs remaining to sit together), they walked up to the ticket counter to form a line. Immediately, and I mean without a pause, the whole room got up and moved into a makeshift queue at the ticket counter.

One lady, who had been sitting for a while, actually walked to the front of the line with her luggage ahead of everybody else.

Queuing is a very culturally specific thing. Found it most organized during my travels in Great Britain. Been places where there is absolutely no queuing concept, and the only way to hold your place or move forward is to use your elbows. Short older ladies definitely have an advantage in these situations ;-)

There is actually a mathematical study of queuing theory http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queueing_theory . And applications in Computer Science
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queue_(data_structure) . I bet the psychologists studying queuing have much more interesting research stories (and research subjects) -- http://articles.cnn.com/2008-11-20/tech/queuing.psychology_1_queue-rage-line-psychology?_s=PM:TECH

I had a seat reservation, so my motivation to be at the head of the line this morning was low.

Got to ride past Montserrat, and through Aragón and Navarra (equivalent of states in Spain). Saw lots of windmills, very, very windy in some areas. Saw quite a few white storks and their huge nests alongside the train tracks in the metal towers. Didn't take any photos myself, but here is what it looked like http://www.google.es/search?tbm=isch&source=mog&hl=en&gl=es&client=safari&tab=wi&q=storks%20in%20spain&sa=N&biw=320&bih=416#i=3

The hills and mountains on the outskirts of Pamplona were covered in snow. And when I got off the train I was greeted with a very chilly wet breeze. The train station in Pamplona is outside of town, so I hiked it into the center of town. Along the way I stopped at a hiking store and met my first two Peregrinos (pilgrims hiking the Camino to Santiago). They were buying rain gear, and said the mountain pass from St. Jean Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles had been covered with snow (will attempt that mountain pass next week). Was nice to be able to wish them a Bon Camino.

First impression of Pamplona was very good. Seems like a place that would be great to use as a base for day trips (hiking, mountain biking) into the countryside.

Signage is both in Spanish and Euskara (Basque). Will have to exchange my Catalan "Bon Dia" for Euskara "Kaixo!" (Hello) or "Egun on" (Good Morning).

Here are a few pics taken between the rain storms.

Tomorrow is a hike from Pamplona to Irurtzun.

Cheers!