Galleries

Local chapel – I like this arch.

dowtycamino:

Just soooo pretty today I couldn’t stop.

It should rind you of Ireland. They are both Gaelic. Very similar climate and culture and pre-Christian Celtic religions.

dowtycamino:

Allison in heaven using the automatic foot massager at our albergue.

They are sanitary foot protecters, yes.

Various.

Just for our arrival?

Fancy meeting you here gorgeous.

Evidence – proof.

One of the BEST things about Spain: Cafe con Leche.

Camino today.

Allison in heaven using the automatic foot massager at our albergue.

Just soooo pretty today I couldn’t stop.

Misc things seen.

Atop the highest peak in Galicia. “Hi Britos” from Alto de San Roque.

Dramatic shots! Click to enlarge.

Greetings from Galicia

A foggy start

Yellow arrow – what yellow arrow.

Last nights pilgrim dinner in La Faba. It was soooooo good and donativo AND vegetarian!!! Tough to explain how good veggies are until you’ve been deprived of them for a while.

Less nice things.

Nice things seen.

Mountaintop views.

Yesterday in Villafranca.

Villafranca

Some misc shots for the day.

Ok. It’s not ALL hard work.

Answering the question: “What would Allison and I look like if we turned to stone after walking the Camino?”

The Way, today.

Leaving Ponferrada at dawn.

Ponferrada.

Amazing Roman Bridge at Molinaseca.

Fun things seen today. Lots of Roman and Medieval stuff.

The “dirty” albergue.

Laying down our burdens … And a can of peas. You just have to ask.

Fun.

Camino today.

Camino ghost towns – coming back to life.

3 weeks on Camino

Our Albergue for the night about an hour west of Astorga in Murias de Rechivaldo.

Astorga has roman roots. There are several roman ruins as well as the more modern (relatively) gothic and Romanesque architecture.

Astorga, home of the Maragatos famous for their food, deserts, and chocolate. Allison and I may move here!

Donativo snack stand. Take what you want … Leave a donation if you feel led to. (Fresh fruit, fruit juices, nuts, snack bars, etc). Seeing these on Camino takes you back at first, but the generosity keeps flooding you and begins to make you question things.

Why so many pictures of “The Way”?
I’m often amazed at how much it changes in one day.

Bridge of Honor
Once upon a time… A knight defended this bridge for 6 months against all comers do restore his honor after being jilted by his betrothed. He later made a Pilgrimage to Santiago to offer thanks for fulfilling his quest.
It is of Roman origin as is massively long as you can see.

But first a picture of Villavante where we stayed last night. Buildings made of mud etc are typical here.

Hola!

One day variation on the Camino.

Leaving Leon. A statue to pilgrims. If possible zoom in on this pilgrims face. Very accurate.

Us and Sister Patricia from Nairobi taken at the residence albergue in Leon.

Leon Cathedral and browsing an AD900’s bible.

At the market.

For the Martini’s and for Isabel.

Leon=Lion. Bet cha wouldn’t have guessed.

Approaching Leon

Previously in Palencia.

There is something interesting about each of these two faces.

Let’s have a parade.

Fromista – Iglesia San Martin

Fromista – some unusual statuary in the Iglesias San Pedro

Nearing Fromista.
This place has a special meaning for us because our initial plan was to bus Allison here from Burgos to allow her leg to rest. But instead we rested and walked together. A good decision guided by many.

Lunch at Boadilla. Man, it was hot today and no shade all day. Look at that sky.

Crossing the Pisuerga – leaving the province of Burgos and entering Palencia.

Random Camino in the incomparable Maseta

Looking up and then back on Castrojeriz

What’s for dinner. Starter of garlic soup (glad we both had some), and for desert a mystery (sort of a liquidy custard with cinnamon) really yummy and special because of the great day we’ve had together.

Breakfast break after the first 1-½ hr hike. Lunch

Castrojeritz and a Tau cross.

A hermitage.

The Maseta

Today, Camino looked like this.

Storks and “we are here”.

Night views of the Burgos cathedral.

Won’t find these at a market in the States.

Unusual statue of the flogging of Christ and a rare painting of Pentecost

In the mean time… Burgos Cathedral in all it’s immense splendor.

Burgos

Wow. This place is huge.

No, it wasn’t all for Allison.

Urban snow??

Today the Camino looked like this…
The variation is what is impressive.

Allison with her bandaged feet up, children playing and a communist march.

St Juan of Ortega was one of many who dedicated their life to making the Camino to Santiago better for pilgrims.

Nature shots. Find the lizard.

Footbridge and Hermitage built into the cliffs.

Today the Camino looked like this, this, this and this.

Awesome seafood paella with an Italian, Brazilian and Spaniard.

And then we went into Castille y Leon.

Inside Santo Domingo cathedral. Amazing

Have you seen these pilgrims?

Beautiful countryside as we traversed into Castille y Leon

I thought for sure if posted these already. Apologies if they are duplicates but I don’t see them on my tumblr mirror.
This area is famous for the Neanderthal digs that showed Neanderthal and Homo Sapien mixed genes.

See. We are learning stuff as we walk.

One of the absolute best things about Camino are group dinners like these.

At the table are English, Canadian, Spanish, Italian, French, Brazilian, and US citizens.

See, I AM on this Camino.

Najera.

Along the way, especially near freeways, these spontaneous displays of crosses appear. You are to add your own as you pass.
The shadow was from a signpost but I passed it at a critical time.

Rioja is famous for its wines.

…and entered the Rioja

Last pictures from the Navarre

Viana

Los Arcos.

Beautiful wheat fields and meet Hashimoto our new friend from a Tokyo.

Most photographed dog on the Camino and a big stone wall.

The fortress Monjardin. After a 2hr detour and hard climb it was closed. Oh well.

In and around Estella.

Original Roman road and Roman bridge.

This is how we find our way. No maps,… You just follow the yellow arrows or shells.

Cirauqui and Allison buying a postre (desert/pastry).

In and around Maneru

Storks, Puenta de la Reina, and foot care on our day of rest.

Uterga. And the Y shaped cross (brought from Germany) in the chapel at the monastery at Puerto de la Reina.

Octagonal church from the Knights Templar.

Bird, odd stack of wood that reminded me of a pyre ready for a witch trial for some reason, and almonds lining the road. BTW. They weren’t ripe yet, trust me. Phlecht…ptuy.

Approaching Uterga.

Leaving the city of Pamplona behind.

The “Unexpected” part two.

The after dinner entertainment on the TV in the restaurant was a bull fight in Madrid. Interesting.

The “Unexpected” part 1

“Pilgrims Dinners” typically for about 9E each include three courses and wine. Tonight fresh bread, potato soup with sausage, grilled pork ribs, and a cake with Creme and a very acceptable bottle of red wine. The bottom picture was the cake. Sorry I ate it before I got a picture…I promise you, it was delish.

Dinner outside of Pamplona. Ahhh

Pamplona

Nearing Pamplona

Flora

Drying wet clothes, beautiful morning, anon Camino, desayuno

The medieval bridge in Larasona

Clearly roses are in bloom here.

Larrasona. Glad to be inside and dry.

The village of Zubiri. Walk thrice around the center column and you’ll be cured of rabies…just in case you needed to know.

Countryside.

Allison dressed for rain.

In case you needed protection from witches.

Leaving Rovcevalles on a wet morning.

Our day one destination. Roncevalles success!

How do you tell if you are in Spain? The French slugs are brown and the Spanish ones black of course. Also one of the few remaining old beech forests in Western Europe.

Allison in France, me in Spain. A cattle grate marks the border.

Gifts to lift our heart and send us on the way!