On the Camino: One Day at a Time, one Photo at a Time 10.0

[Anne&Pat]

The Cloister of San Isidoro, Leon. 5th, June, 2022.

 

[Rowena]

October 20, 2016
Second to last day on the Via Podiensis, getting close to Ostabat.

 

[neilhendrick]

On this day in 2019...this is from the dormitory in Monasterio de Santa Maria de Valdedios.
I love this picture because it screams "haunted orphanage", but in fact, this was a great place to stay. It's in an amazing old monastery that once house hundreds of monks, but is now held together by a handful of nuns. Also, at 6 euro per night, it's the best deal in Europe.

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 21
The first sunrays illuminated the town hall clock tower as I started my walk out of Carrión de los Condes just before 7 a.m.
Picture taken on June 5, 2017

 

[DoughnutANZ]

This one is for VN.

I had the pimentos and they were delicious.

A place called Vinoteca Bouquet in Mataelpino. Three days ago.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
rue d'Espagne
view east

photo taken October 13, 2015



Looking east across the Nive Béhérobie from rue d'Espagne ie. the Camino Frances. Many pilgrims miss this view since they hurry west on the CF and never look back.

 

[Anne&Pat]

A very peaceful looking Parador in Leon just before 7am, after a 6.30 am start from Hospederia Monastica Pax, 6th, June, 2022.

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 22
Approaching the village of San Nicolás del Real Camino, just after Moratinos. I later stopped in Sahagún and had a look around town before walking on to the simple municipal albergue of Calzada del Coto. There was a lovely Italian hospitalero welcoming me. Later I was happy to see some dear camino friends arriving as well.
Picture taken on June 6, 2017

 

[DoughnutANZ]

In Segovia tonight

 

[Anne&Pat]

Between Vilar de Mazarife and Hospital de Orbigo, 7th, June, 2022.

 

[mspath]

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
route d'Arnéguy/D933
turn towards Valcarlos alternate route

photo taken October 14, 2015



The last time I crossed route D933 leaving Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port the signage seemed too minimal at this important turn towards the Valcarlos alternate route.

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 23
On the way to Bercianos del Real Camino there is this stainless steel structure. I have always wondered if there was any special meaning to it, maybe a marking of the half-way point of the Camino through Spain. Today I googled it, and it turns out to be a piece of art by Carlos A. Cuenllas that forms part of a project called Museo sin Muros (Museum without walls), according to this article from 2003.
Picture taken on June 7, 2017

 

[DoughnutANZ]

North of Segovia, today.

 

[Rowena]

April 29, 2022
A misty morning leaving Torre Vilariño on the Camino Invierno

 

[SabsP]

Ferrol. Start of the CI.

 

[mspath]

Valcarlos alternate route
Arnéguy

photo taken October 15, 2014



At the Arnéguy Venta shopping complex on the Spanish/French border this older stelle frames a newer sign pointing to the camino path towards Valcarlos, Ibaneta, and Roncesvalles.

 

[Anne&Pat]

After Santibanez de Valdeiglesia, CF, 8th, June, 2022.

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 24
Whenever I look at this photo of the highway overpass just before León, I vividly remember how exhausted I felt that day. Nothing about the stage from Reliegos to León was especially difficult, but still I felt I had no strength left. Somehow I managed to keep going for those last kilometers into the city where an albergue bed was waiting for me at centrally located León Hostel.
Picture taken on June 8, 2017

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I counted 13 cats at this house today but I am sure there a few more hiding out close by.

Today, Pinilla Ambroz

 

[Anne&Pat]

Early morning on the outskirts of Astorga, CF. 9th, June, 2022.

 

[mspath]

Valcarlos alternate route
Valcarlos/Luzaide
view to France

photo taken October 16, 2012



This mountain landscape was shot from Valcarlos/Luzaide, Spain, towards the facing slope in Ondarolle, France. Hidden within the foreground trees is the rio Luzaide/ la nive Arnéguy, which since the 17th c. Treaty of the Pyrenées serves here as the border between Spain and France.

 

[lalaone]

June 8, 2012
Curpillos festival, Burgos



After leaving the Camino Frances due to injuries, we ended our time as tourists in Burgos. What a fun surprise awaited! In addition to the magnificent procession, a festive atmosphere reigned in the park: grilling, music, and natural “fluff” from trees that looked like snow. (We returned in Fall 2012 to complete the walk from Pamplona to Burgos, this time successfully.)

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 25
This was a rest day in León, so I could recover and enjoy this beautiful city.
Today's photo was taken at Plaza del Grano and shows the church of Santa María del Camino under an impeccable blue sky.
Picture taken on June 9, 2017

 

[DoughnutANZ]

A couple of days ago on the Camino Madrid:

 

[Rowena]

April 27, 2022 Camino Invierno
I had a rest day in Monforte de Lemos and went to the top of the Monte. Lovely views of the city from the winding way up the hill, atop which is a Parador. The view through this old door was a glimpse of the old ways up the hill for the peasants who came to pay homage to the Count of Lemos in his tower.

 

[Anne&Pat]

Cruz de Ferro, 1504m, taken by a fellow peregrino from Ireland, who we walked with that day and the next to Ponferrada, and coincidentally stayed at the same place in Molinaseca. 10th, June, 2022.

 

[mspath]

Valcarlos alternate route
Ibaneta pass

photo taken February 7, 2007



On my 3rd CF in sleet/light snow walking the route N135 verges I had slowly climbed the 1057m. Ibaneta pass; the Valcarlos alternate path through the wood had become too slick to follow. Whatever the weather It was always a great joy/relief to crest that pass.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Valsea in the distance, on the Camino Madrid, 7th June this year.

 

[markie6]

September '22

Wondering where the crowds are

Not often you get to Irache fountain and see noobody

 

[SabsP]

September '22

Wondering where the crowds are

Not often you get to Irache fountain and see noobody

Same in April 2011.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Only one in May, 2019

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago today: CF. DAY 26
Statue in front of the church in Villar de Mazarife.
Picture taken on June 10, 2017

 

[Anne&Pat]

7am, 16th, May, 2022. Very quiet!

 

[Anne&Pat]

We had a great visit to the Templar castle in Ponferrada last year. 11th, June, 2022. After a short, stormy walk from Molinaseca.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Roncesvalles

photo taken February 7, 2007



Shot from route N135 this snowy view partially shows the large structure which later in 2010 would be repurposed as the monastery pilgrim albergue.

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 27
From the Crucero de Santo Toribio you can see Astorga in the distance.
I sometimes wonder about the stories behind all those stones and other mementos people leave along the camino.
Pictures taken on June 11, 2017

 

[SabsP]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 27
From the Crucero de Santo Toribio you can see Astorga in the distance.
I sometimes wonder about the stories behind all those stones and other mementos people leave along the camino.
Pictures taken on June 11, 2017

View attachment 149038

March 2017.
I had the place all to myself.Met an older local priest there who at times helped to maintain the site.
He had studied for some years at my old uni in Belgium and we had a nice chat about that.
Ir was also my final walking day seeing I had to give up due to a knee injury.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Coca castle, 10th June 2023

 

[Rowena]

September 21, 2015 Positively crowded!

 

[Anne&Pat]

Villafranca del Bierzo, 12th, June, 2022.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Roncesvalles monastery
sello/stamp

January 24, 2009



This stamp is the tangible mémento of a snowy monastery visit during my 5th CF.

 

[Yoyo]

Coca castle, 10th June 2023

View attachment 149061

This looks so different from other castles I have seen. Very interesting and quite impressive!
I just read a bit more about it on Wikipedia. Thanks for sharing this!

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 28
One of those landmark businesses along the camino that don't go unnoticed:
The Cowboy Bar in El Ganso.
Picture taken on June 12, 2017

 

[Rowena]

April 20, 2018
Burgos Cathedral

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Monument to the pilgrims, on the Camino Madrid, close to the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Sieteiglesias today.

 

[markie6]

March 2017.
I had the place all to myself.Met an older local priest there who at times helped to maintain the site.
He had studied for some years at my old uni in Belgium and we had a nice chat about that.
Ir was also my final walking day seeing I had to give up due to a knee injury.

View attachment 149041

yes I get up early

 

[SabsP]

11th of April 2018. Betanzos.

 

[lalaone]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 28
One of those landmark businesses along the camino that don't go unnoticed:
The Cowboy Bar in El Ganso.
Picture taken on June 12, 2017

This looked mostly similar in July 2007, but it is always interesting to see small changes over time!

 

[Anne&Pat]

Looking back on Villafranca del Bierzo from the Pradela route. 13th, June, 2022.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Roncesvalles

photo taken January 8, 2010



This ethereal winter landscape was an aesthetic reward during my 6th CF after another solo trek through wind, ice, and snow..

 

[markie6]

This looked mostly similar in July 2007, but it is always interesting to see small changes over time!

View attachment 149112

Sept '22 Cowboy Bar was shut ( it was early) but I did notice in 1st photo, some others had pitched tee pees at El Ganso

 

[dugavski]

Exactly one month ago, Portuguese, Valenca fortress.

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 29
These pictures were taken in Manjarín on June 13, 2017.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Panadería El Fiel, Valladolid, lunch time today

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Zubiri
calle Puente de la Rabia, 4

photo taken January 9, 2010



Via route N135 I descended alone through snow to Zubiri where only the Pension Usoa was open; this view was taken through a window from the warmth of their interior that cold January afternoon.

 

[Anne&Pat]

14th, June, 2022. On our way up to O Cebreiro.

 

[SabsP]

March 2017. Towards Villar de Mazarife.
No other pilgrim to be seen.
At the albergue Tio Pepe there was one other person staying that night.

León - Villar de Mazarife | Camino Francés | Gronze.com

A la salida de La Virgen del Camino hemos de elegir entre el camino histórico, por Villadangos del Páramo, o la variante por Villar de Mazarife, 4,2 km más larga. En Gronze creemos que es mejor optar por Villar de Mazarife, pues nos aleja de la carretera nacional y de áreas residenciales e...

www.gronze.com

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Valladolid, Camino Madrid, today.

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 30
The descent from El Acebo was steep but didn't pose any major problem on that dry and sunny day.
In Molinaseca I had a rest and a second breakfast before walking on. This is where people can take a swim in the Río Meruelo if so inclined, although I guess the water must be quite cold coming down from the surrounding mountains.
Picture taken on June 14, 2017

 

[Rowena]

May 1, 2018 Acebo
Not a pilgrim or a resident in sight.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
towards Larrasoana

photo taken February 8, 2007



Roiling water and deep, slippery mud along this southern section of the Arga river were frightening; never in wet weather would I dare walk here again.

 

[Anne&Pat]

Passing through Fonfria on the way to Triacastela, CF, 15th, June, 2022.

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 31
Somehow I missed the right turn towards Valtuille de Arriba and thus approached Villafranca del Bierzo more from the southeast. Shortly after leaving the LE-713 there was this piece of land full of sculptures, in the middle of nowhere.
Pictures taken on June 15, 2017

 

[Rowena]

April 28, 2022
After Monforte de Lemos, Camino Invierno

 

[SabsP]

March 2017. Reliegos.
Homenaje al peregrino.

 

[mspath]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 31
Somehow I missed the right turn towards Valtuille de Arriba and thus approached Villafranca del Bierzo more from the southeast. Shortly after leaving the LE-713 there was this piece of land full of sculptures, in the middle of nowhere.
Pictures taken on June 15, 2017

View attachment 149294 View attachment 149295

Yoyo,
Check out what fellow forum member wrote here re these sculptrures after I had asked about them earlier.

 

[dugavski]

A month ago... picnic in front of the albergue in Pontevedra.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Larrasoaña
municipal albergue

photo taken February 9, 2007



Since in winter no shop/resto nearby this albergue was open two German pilgrims and I shared our slim rations for early "dinner". Their black bread/sausage tasted great with my cheese/cookies plus several mugs of hot tea.

 

[Anne&Pat]

We were off to Samos for the first time, leaving Triacastela, 16th, June, 2022.

 

[dugavski]

16.5.2023.
Monastery in Armenteira, singing nuns and pilgrims blessing.. one of the highlights of Camino Portugues.

 

[markie6]

Muxia was a nice end to my last Camino September '22

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Ice cream and chocolate coffee, Valladolid, yesterday.

 

[Yoyo]

Yoyo,
Check out what fellow forum member wrote here re these sculptrures after I had asked about them earlier.

@mspath
I didn't see that post of yours at the time or I could have commented then.
You said you never came past that place ever again, so I guess you took the route via Valtuille de Arriba after Pieros on subsequent caminos, as did I on my second camino in 2019. And I found that to be the much nicer route, away from the road.
In Brierley's maps only guidebook, both alternatives are shown. The sculptures are on the grey dotted path, right after it veers off the red LE-713, but the yellow dotted path is the one most people seem to take.

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 32
Picture taken near Trabadelo on June 16, 2017

 

[SabsP]

Miranda de Ebro .Camino Vasco Interior 2019.

 

[Rowena]

April 26, 2022
A short distance off the Camino Invierno after Pobra de Brollón, the archaeological site of Castro de San Lourenzo, first century.

 

[Anne&Pat]

We walked from Samos to Casa Barbadelo, 17th, June, 2022. Leaving Sarria after a morning coffee/breakfast stop. Sarria was amazingly quiet at 10.30am!

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Larrasoaña

photo taken October 18, 2015



This pathside Virgin was photograhed on a crisp October morning the last time I walked through Larrasoana

 

[Rowena]

October 11, 2015 Galicia
The view from Alto San Roque, after the descent from O Cebreiro.

 

[dugavski]

17.5.2023. Camino Portugues, Variante espiritual, Ruta da Pedra e da Auga

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Statue acknowledging the author of Don Quixote, Valladolid, two days ago.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Irotz
Iglesia San Pedro

photo taken October 15, 2011



How many tired pilgrims have rested on these simple benches fronting the Iglesia San Pedro on the south bank of the rio Arga?

 

[Anne&Pat]

Camino Frances
Irotz
Iglesia San Pedro

photo taken October 15, 2011

View attachment 149506

How many tired pilgrims have rested on these simple benches fronting the Iglesia San Pedro on the south bank of the rio Arga?

We took this photo on 12th, May, 2022, especially for you Margaret, because you had mentioned it on this thread many months ago, probably when we were all still in COVID lockdown!

 

[Anne&Pat]

Portomarin across the Embalse de Belesar and the rio Mino, 18th, June, 2022.

 

[SabsP]

Towards Pancorbo. I loved that etapa!
Camino Vasco Interior 2019.

Miranda de Ebro - Pancorbo | Camino Vasco del Interior | Gronze.com

Etapa corta, plácida y agradable, casi sin desniveles; su principal atractivo es, en el tramo final, cruzar el desfiladero de Pancorbo. Hoy finalizamos en Pancorbo, precioso y peculiar pueblo encajado en el desfiladero homónimo: es una de las puertas de entrada al Parque Natural de los Montes...

www.gronze.com

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago yesterday (Sorry, didn't have time to post this yesterday): CF DAY 33
Reaching Galicia and enjoying its glorious landscapes.
Pictures taken on June 17, 2017

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 34
Here's one of my favourite camino animal photos, taken between Fonfría and Triacastela early in the morning, when the sun had not yet reached this side of the mountain.
Picture taken on June 18, 2017

 

[Bill's_Walking]

Leaving Los Arcos this year

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Valladolid University, last week.

 

[Anne&Pat]

Iglesia de Santiago de Lestedo before arriving at Palas de Rei, CF, 19th, June, 2022.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
near Puente de Irotz

photos taken January 28, 2009



As I took this rain-soaked view of the overflowing Arga river a slim local fellow appeared who had come to see the roiling water. Kindly sharing his large open umbrella he then led me via a safe path to the Trinidad de Arre monastery.



....I fondly remember his resourcefullness as akin to that of a helpful Narnia faun!

 

[dugavski]

A month ago, arrival

 

[SabsP]

View of Pancorbo, taken from our hostalroom. 2019.
The hostal gets mixed reviews being a noisy roadside place but we had a room at the backside and we were very comfortable.
They serve a very decent menu del dia. Packed with locals on a Sunday.

Hospedaje en Burgos | Hostal Pancorbo

Hostal acogedor, de trato familiar, con categoría dos estrellas. Ligado al entorno de los Montes Obarenes. De interés paisajístico.

hostalpancorbo.com

 

[Yoyo]

Six years ago today: CF DAY 35
Access to Portomarín over the bridge and then up the stairs, what can be a challenge after a long day of walking!
It seems we walked here almost exactly on the same date, although in different years, @Anne&Pat, as your post yesterday featured this bridge, too.
Picture taken on June 19, 2017.|

 

[markie6]

Inside the Bishops Palace in Astorga. The first time I have stopped there but won't be the last Sept '22

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Burgos Cathedral, today.

 

[Rowena]

April 29, 2022 Camino Invierno
Ascending steeply towards Chantada after crossing the Rio Miñho.

 

[Theatregal]

Above the clouds on the Route Napoleón. Just visible at the top to the right of the rocky outcrop is the little white van that provided a welcome rest stop with coffee, cold drinks and snacks. Camino Frances, September 6, 2012

 

[Anne&Pat]

Between Palas de Rei and Melide, CF, 20th, June 2022.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Trinidad de Arre

photo taken October 15, 2011



During easier, happier times boots aired in the autumn sunshine outside the Marist monastery albergue....Now I wonder what has changed over the years.