What's Northern Spain/Pamplona like?

Question

I'm from Ontario, Canada and I'm planning on going to the University of Navarra next year, which is in Pamplona (well, close). I'm doing their Spanish immersion class - so for complete beginners, as I don't speak any Spanish!

Anyway, I'm just curious about what your experiences of living in/visiting Northern Spain - obviously I've googled it and so on, but I want to know what it's really like - the people, the weather, the cities, the transportation, the nightlife, the "normal" food etc. Thanks!

Answer 1

^^, Thank you Dart =) Yes... this is the questions I like to see =) and people asking words in Català and Basque.



I live outside Pamplona - I attend the University of Navarra. You'll be attending the Public or Private one ?? I attend both (if you want Languages they are better in the Public Campus)

If you are comming here you want to study Science of Business or to be a Docotor ?? This University is World Famous for these subject.

Pamplona is a great city, quite small (for an American)



On Google you've seen about ETA, in Oct/Nov. there was a Bomb in the Campus and most of the libury and main office have been destoryed - they are almost re-built now. Don't fear Navarra is not in the "Basque Country" we are a sperate region, bombs are rare (no one died but there was toxic gas from the bomb and many people got sick, they are all better now) Sometimes you'll see a teacher with a security guard, Don't fear there is not much crime - None for American I am saying these negatives because you WILL read and it is NOT as bad as the media tells.



If you go to the Southen Campus then there is a store called Día outside, the prices are almost HALF inside the Campus everyone goes there. Basque food is famous, and every sign will be in two languages Basque and Spanish.



The people are friendly inside the campus, if you fight or attend the lessons drunk - even once you'll be banned from the University.



I only attened (College) but it is inside the University. The weather is Cold in Winter usual around 5ºC in the day 0ºC in the night, some snow. Summer will be 25ºC+ there is lot's to do in the Area, get on the auto-bus to France =) Go surfing in Lourdes (2 hours away) or the beach in Biarritz (1 hour) Donostia is about 40 minutes another Great Beach =) Bilbao is (2 hours) Madrid 4 hours on the fast train around 50€



Night life is great in Spain =) Public transport is good, in 2010 the EuskoTren will come into Pamplona but the construction has not started yet, there has been some NO Votes ... so it might not come. but get a season travel ticket it allows you to 2€ auto-bus and 3€ limit for travel (This might only be allowed to Residents of Spain, but there are Student tickets also)



I've never heard of English Speaking classes other than English, but if you've found one I'm sure they will be good =) anymore questions ask =) but Spanish lessons, depending on where you live in the Northen Regions you'll NEED to speak good Spanish or Basque, I live in a Basque enclave in the South of Navarra and people can be "rude" if you don't speak to them in Basque or with bad Spanish, but if you smile and try then people WILL speak slower and help you - but you'll still maybe want to try Basque lessons also.



I live in a Town near the Aeroport there are some great clubs in the main center, Des bananas with Foam =) there is one called Sala4 next to the aeroport again very good. But you'll find your own bars and discotecas you like with friends you'll make =)





Edit: one thing you didn't say is Money =) my father gives me 200€ a month, to buy most things. I have a quad so it is about 20€ a month in fuel =) but auto-bus can be expensive if you don't have a student ticket. eating out, in the day you'll almost alway's eat out. I eat AT college around twice a week, but I eat out about 4 times (because I usualy get two breakfasts) each food item inside the Café in the campus is 1€ each, so I meal will cost no more than 3,50€ (Even for lunch) but if you buy snack food INSIDE the Campus you'll easily spend 1,50€ on a bottle of water !! Do you know where you'll stay, does the campus have some homes !? I live 20minutes drive, or 1h30 !! !! !! on Autobus because I must go INTO the city and back out. So transport can cost a lot quick if your not careful, but they are clean and on-time and common. 18 to drive a Car in Spain, so I don't know if you'll do that. Look out for Menu del Día ^^ in my town there is a good bar called Patxik (Patrick's) and he has a 5,50€ menu del día, of two course and a bottle of wine - the food is nice =) but not somthing you'd get for 15€ jajaja

Drink's in the bar are around 1,50-2€ 3,50€+ for all forgen drinks, for example if you like American Beer Budwiser I think is almost 4€ in most bars (if they serve)



I don't know of laws in Canadá but in American.... blä they are TO high for all but driving !! 16 to buy drinks in a bar, but any age to drink. but 18 to buy Vodka or somthing like this in a Hypermarket.



If you need any advice on which phone-networks (Vodafone MiPaís) you'll need you can call Canadá for cheap then. =) I live outside the city so any questions you have about the area...region...utilites =) ask me



and I hope you move =) it is a great place - my only college I've been to. but it is a LOT better than school, and I wouldn't want to change

Answer 2

The main campus of the University of Navarra is actually in Pamplona.



Northern Spain is a little cooler than the rest of Spain, with perhaps more rain. Pamplona itself is a small, compact, city and due to the student population the nightlife should be OK.



Pamplona is in the Basque country, so most people are bi-lingual speaking both Basque and Castillian. Many also speak English and other European languages as Pamplona is one of the main cities on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail, and so gets lots of international visitors. Street signs are in both Basque and Spanish.



Spain has a very good public transport system with both train and bus. It's also relatively cheap compared to other European countries. From Pamplona you can easily visit the cities of Burgos, Leon, Zaragoza, Bilbao, San Sebastian and go across the border into France. If you have time, take the bus to the smaller nearby towns such as Estella and Puente la Reina.



Excellent thick hot chocolate in the Cafe Iruna, where Ernest Hemingway did much of his writing.

Answer 3

Xabier lives there...he's on all the time...surely he'll be here eventually, and give you really good information.



I can tell you, if you are open, and adventurous, you will love it! Spanish people are, by and large, very nice, warm people! They'll take good care of you!



Normal foods, and you'll get more details, include hams, among the best in the world, some very good hand made cheeses, goat's milk cheeses, and sheep's milk cheeses. Lots of bean-based and hunter-based foods will be the sort of traditional fare, but you'll find plenty of more modern, fusion-type foods, as well. You'll surely be able to get paella, the traditional dish of Spain, and they should serve Tortillas, which in Spain are like big, fat omlettes...the most typical has potatoes, onions, and a bit of garlic in it...varieties are infinite. You eat at bars more often than restaurants...unlike the US and probably Canada, the typical place to eat would be a bar/restaurant, and you'll likely have a couple of tapas for dinner, rather than going out for a real, sit-down type meal.



Transportation is good all over Spain...you should be able to do some traveling, depending on your schedule...if you can, you should definitely get to Madrid, and to Andalucía...Sevilla, Granada, and Córdoba...Málaga and Ronda, too, if you have time. And, of course, Barcelona, which isn't too far, and Bilbao is close, as well.



I think it'll be cooler than you might think...bring some warm clothes, you'll be in the mountains.



I'm not a big nightlife person, but the Spanish love to party...you'll have a blast, I'm sure!



Learn the local folk dance, the Jota, if you can get into a class, or if the option is part of your program.



¡Disfruta de todo!

Answer 4

Pamplona Nightlife

Answer 5

I like it! Northern Rock are said to be recovering from the cliffhanger, and shaken but not stirred.