The City of Pamplona

Written by Evan Daus, Foster School undergraduate student, studying at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain.

The city of Pamplona, Spain, where I lived during my semester abroad, was incredible.

I did little research about Pamplona before I left for my exchange, because I wanted it to be a surprise. Everyone I met who had been there had told me that it was nice, but that it was a small town. My home town has about 20,000 people, so when I heard that Pamplona was small, I imagined that it would have about 10 or 15 thousand people.

Upon arriving in Pamplona, I was shocked to find that it was much larger than I had ever pictured. The city has a population of 200,000 people, and I felt that it had much to offer in terms of recreation, history and culture.

I fell in love with some of the city’s traditions, for example Juevinxto. Juevinxto (pronounced hue-veen-cho) takes place every Thursday night in the old town. The streets fill with thousands of local people who move from bar to bar drinking small glasses of beer and eating tapas at each location. The most interesting part of this tradition is that it is for all ages. Spaniards well into their 60s, 70s and early 80s meet their friends and family members each week for Juevinxto.

Pamplona is also the city that holds the Running of the Bulls each summer. Although I did not attend this festival, it gives Pamplona international notoriety.

When I left my apartment in Pamplona for the last time and headed to the train station, I realized how much I would truly miss my life there. It is nice to be home, but Pamplona will always have a special place in my heart.