The Navarre

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The Navarre is the region through which we have been walking in the last few days. Located on the border with current France and containing the strategically important pass of Roncevalles over the Pyrenees - over which I came - it has experienced Roman, Basque and French influence with the changing tides of politics and history. The region's early history is that of the Basque and they successfully defended the area from Moorish and subsequent invaders. In the ninth century a Basque chieftain was chosen as King of Pamplona which expanded under his successors and led to the creation of the kingdom of Navarre. Pamplona remains the capital of the current Navarre region.

Throughout these days I have experienced the kindness and warmth of the local people, whether helping me find restaurants, going out of their way to wish me well or simply chatting to me like I am on old friend.  Oh, and the wine and food has been excellent, particularly the 'pinchos' in Pamplona.  Clearly however the author of the Codex has a different and more entertaining take on these people:

'The Navarrese and the Basques have similar food, clothes and language, although the Basques have a fairer complexion. Their clothing is visibly shabby.... These are an undeveloped people, with different customs an characteristics than other races. They're malicious, dark, hostile-looking types, crooked, perverse, treacherous, corrupt and untrustworthy, obsessed with sex and booze, steeped in violence, wild, savage, condemned and rejected, sour, horrible, and squabbling. They are badness and nastiness personified, utterly lacking in any good qualities.'