A few days ago a man on the street asked me where he could find Calle de Leonor de Aquitania. Today, a woman stopped me for directions to Maria Dominguez. I live on Maria Moliner street.

The 17 bus to Pamplona city center, or Iruña as it’s called in the Basque language, stops at Plaza de Mayo on Calle de Madres de la Plaza de Mayo. On the return trip, I push the button to be let out on Maria Viscarret where I walk across the street to Margarita de Navarra and take a left on Calle de Marie Curie or perhaps a little further up the street on Clara Campoamor.

Artika is a new neighborhood built less than 10 years ago of concrete, brick, and stone, a 10-minute bus ride beyond the old city walls. Every street on this functional if unimaginative grid is named after a woman. Every single street.

Public naming has the power to change perception and character. These streets named for women are mine, I think, as I turn the corner onto Calle de Rigoberta Menchú.