On the Camino: One day at a time, one photo at a time...

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

San Juan de la Peña

Back again to the old monastery. I've have a number of favorite photos from here so I'll be slowly giving a tour. The monastery was in use from 920 to 1675 and, although the monastery is mostly of romanesqe architecture there are a number of other styles here.

In the mozarabic original church a romanesque painting from 12th century depicting the martyrdoms of Saints Damian and Cosme.



The coordinates for the old monastery are 42.508,-0.673

 

[AlanSykes]

Looking back at Atienza (its castle is on the hill to the left of the picture) on the way to Retortillo de Soria on the Ruta de la Lana.

The castle was still held by the Moors when el Cid passed by here one night in the 1080s, avoiding it as "una peña muy fuerte", according to the Cantar.

It is close to the border going to Soria province, Spain's most vaciada province, from Guadalajara province, its third least populated one, where the camino crosses from Castilla La Mancha to Castilla y León.

A lonely day's walk, but astonishingly beautiful on a clear autumn day.

 

[David Tallan]

The walls of Leon.

 

[Caligal]

Ah! Tapas! ...bar on the Rua Franco in Santiago.View attachment 75840

Oh yes!! My favorite tapas in Santiago!

 

[Anne&Pat]

Camino Frances- 23rd, August, 2014 Spain, our picnic lunch stop before the descent to Roncesvalles.

 

[JohnLloyd]

The cobblers of Belorado

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

San Juan de la Peña

Back again to the old monastery. I've have a number of favorite photos from here so I'll be slowly giving a tour. The monastery was in use from 920 to 1675 and, although the monastery is mostly of romanesqe architecture there are a number of other styles here.

The high church was dedicated in 1094. In front of the apses and above is the rock overhang, it may have once been painted. In the central apse is a replica of the chalice revered as the Holy Grail. It was kept here for protection from the Moors until 1399 and is now at the cathedral in Valencia.



The coordinates for the old monastery are 42.508,-0.673

 

[Theatregal]

The Teatro Principal in Santiago, built in 1841. As I walked past, a woman in front of the theatre was inviting people in to hear a free afternoon concert by A Banda Municipal de Música de Santiago de Compostela. A wonderful hour in this beautiful little jewel box theatre.

 

[TrvlDad1]

I've always been enamored and a bit wary of the dogs (and occasional el gato) one meets on the Camino. But the only time I've been bitten was running in my neighborhood where the pampered little yappers will jump you at any opportunity.

 

[David Tallan]

Puente de Órbigo, España. Site of the famous Passo Honroso of Suero de Quiñones from 10 July to 9 August 1434.

 

[Caligal]

After the CP i took a few rest days, train to A Coruna. If you haven’t you should!!

 

[Pelegrin]

Ah! Tapas! ...bar on the Rua Franco in Santiago.View attachment 75840

I think they are pintxos (you must pay for them)

 

[Anne&Pat]

Camino Portuguese- 25th, April, 2016. Before entering Azambuja, after walking 6+kms on the very busy N3.
In Azambuja, we met two Portuguese pilgrims from the local Pilgrim Association, who were way marking an alternative to walking on the N3, thank goodness.
We only saw empty storks nests on the Camino Frances in Aug/Sept 2014 but while walking the Portuguese in April/May 2016 we saw many storks nests with lots of storks, it was wonderful. They were in some very interesting spots. There were at least nine in this photo.

 

[SabsP]

Hatshop in Burgos.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

San Juan de la Peña

Back again to the old monastery. I've have a number of favorite photos from here so I'll be slowly giving a tour. The monastery was in use from 920 to 1675 and, although the monastery is mostly of romanesqe architecture there are a number of other styles here.

18th century neo-classical Royal Pantheon. (I'm not sure how or why this was done when the monastery was not in use but I'm passing on what the handout said.)



The coordinates for the old monastery are 42.508,-0.673

 

[JohnLloyd]

More impressive street art in Belorado

 

[VNwalking]

Via de Bayona, looking back towards the Ermita Nuestra Señora (in the trees) and the dramatic mountain behind it. Walking in the westward direction meant the layers of rock were not obvious, until you looked back. Qué sorpresa!

And then there were the wonderful plants up there as we went a little farther along, veritable carpets of blooming herbs. My patient walking companion had to put up with some geological and botanical excitement and frothing at the mouth. Blahblahblahblah...

 

[Theatregal]

Walking in the westward direction meant the layers of rock were not obvious, until you looked back.

The best camino advice I've ever received was from a veteran pilgrim who I walked with briefly on the first day of my first camino. Always take a look back!

 

[VNwalking]

Always take a look back

Great advice. Preferably frequently.

Here is sunrise on the way up to the alto above Rabe de las Calzadas. I'd have missed the amazing sun pillar and the sliver of the moon if I hadn't looked back. The problem was, once I saw this I felt like walking backwards.

 

[GPeachy]

Viana

 

[Theatregal]

The garden at the house of the writer Ramón Maria del Valle-Inclán in Vilanova de Arousa.

 

[Nat2020]

Our first day (excuse me, night) in Porto. We started in Ekateriburg, then Moscow, Barselona, Porto. We arrived at night and in the morning began our Camino.

 

[David Tallan]

Hatshop in Burgos.

View attachment 75921

I think my son bought a hat there.

 

[David Tallan]

Galicia, between Triacastelo and Barbadelo (42°46'05.1"N 7°18'05.4"W)

 

[Anne&Pat]

Camino Frances- 28th, August, 2014. Finding Nemo Birthday cake in Pastry shop window in Estelle.

 

[Pelegrin]

Galicia, between Triacastelo and Barbadelo (42°46'05.1"N 7°18'05.4"W)View attachment 76002

"Gallarda", "Garrida" (behind) and "Roxa" (lying down).
I am quite sure of the "Roxa" name because she is reddish.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

San Juan de la Peña

I'm still at the old monastery. I've have a few more favorite photos from here. The monastery was in use from 920 to 1675 and, although the monastery is mostly of romanesque architecture there are a number of other styles here.

Mozarabic door into the high church with a 12th century inscription, "The door to Heaven is opened through this one to all those faithful who devote themselves to joining faith and God's Commandments".



The coordinates for the old monastery are 42.508,-0.673

 

[SabsP]

Santiago de Compostela.
From the Parador downhill to Rua Do Hortas on the way to Finisterre/ Muxia.

 

[barnettstakeagiantstep]

The wonderful San Anton

 

[JohnLloyd]

Which way? Onto San Juan de Ortega.

 

[VNwalking]

@Rick of Rick and Peg , I'm very much enjoying the photos you're posting of San Juan de Peña. More please!

Here is the here is the view from the roof of the cathedral in Santiago on a beautiful sunny evening in April 2015.

 

[Theatregal]

The magical Ruta de la Piedra y del Agua on the Variante Espiritual

 

[barnettstakeagiantstep]

Vilar de Donas, National monument and ancient seat of the Knights of Santiago. Origins began as a nunnery 10th century. Our fantastic docent 95 year old Jesus loved to tell of it all. Well worth the side trip

 

[Anne&Pat]

Camino Portuguese- 29th, April, 2016. We walked from Golega to Tomar this day and felt we were back in Australia!! Kept looking for Koalas . Probably somewhere between Atalaia and Asselceira. It was a long hot day!

 

[JohnLloyd]

The pets of Burgos.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

@VNwalking made a request but I was going to inflict this on you today anyway.

San Juan de la Peña

The Chapel of San Victorián, 15th century flowery gothic. Note the overhanging rock.

 

[SabsP]

Portugues 2015.

 

[Theatregal]

Castro de Arxeriz at Vilariño on the Invierno

 

[Caligal]

On the CP heading to Barcelos!

 

[Nat2020]

Camino Portuguese- 29th, April, 2016. We walked from Golega to Tomar this day and felt we were back in Australia!! Kept looking for Koalas . Probably somewhere between Atalaia and Asselceira. It was a long hot day!


View attachment 76075View attachment 76076

Oh, that smell !

 

[Rich1]

2nd breakfast - the meal of champions
This could probably be anywhere on any camino in Spain...

 

[GPeachy]

Day 1 St. Jean to Burguete April 28 2016

 

[Anne&Pat]

Camino Portuguese- 24th, April, 2016 The beautiful Railway Staion at Vilafranca de Xira, which we walked past.
We loved the many tiled murals we saw throughout Portugal.

 

[AJGuillaume]

Puente Colgante, Viscaya Bridge, Portugalete, 14 September 2018

 

[Rich1]

Somewhere between Hospital de Orbigo and Astorga...I love "long-legged" photos in the early morning sun

 

[JohnLloyd]

Reflections in the Catedral de Santa Maria in Burgos

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

San Juan de la Peña

12th century romanesque cloister and 17th century Chapel of San Voto, a renaissance transition to baroque building. The informational handout says that the wall outboard of the cloister once extended to the overhanging rock making an indoor courtyard.



By the way, it looks as if reconstruction has taken place in the cloister, I think quite a lot. I'll have to research this. Also, the pillars are made up with from one to four columns.

 

[SabsP]

Main plaza in Rabé de las Calzadas 2013.

 

[David Tallan]

In the Albergue Parrochial de Santa Maria in Carrión de los Condes, Spain.

 

[RedRuby]

Sunrise on the Meseta. As the sun hit the fields, just for an instant everything turned to fields of gold. A very precious moment and one I will never forget 12 Sept 2017.

 

[Theatregal]

Just past Vilaserio early in the morning. Dark clouds, heavy rain, some lightening. Passing a field, suddenly the rain stopped, the clouds parted and the sun shone through making the field sparkle like it was covered with diamonds.

 

[TrvlDad1]

14th of April 2018 around noon.Hardly a waiting line in the Pilgrim's Office.

View attachment 75838

Just in from Muxia-Finisterre on April 13, 2018. Short wait. Much rain on the trek but very solitary, beautiful walk that year.

 

[Anne&Pat]

Puente Colgante, Viscaya Bridge, Portugalete, 14 September 2018View attachment 76129

Camino del Norte- 6th, May, 2018 Also the Viscaya Bridge, Portugalete, but we took the lower option, not in a car! We really enjoyed our walk from Bilbao on a quiet Sunday morning along the east bank of the river and crossing the river on this wonderful bridge.

 

[JillGat]

Wow, this is a tough one - so many photo's that all mean so much, but, instinctively today, this is the first one I thought of - taken on 18/05 last year. I had completed the Norte/Primitivo Camino and had made some incredible friendships along the way and now, suddenly, I was on my own again - leaving Santiago to walk on to Finisterre and Muxia. This was taken the morning I left Santiago, somewhere near Sarela de Abaixo I think. Funny, it's only occurring to me as I write this that maybe it feels so instinctive right now is I now have that same feeling of loss of companionship, slight apprehension, loneliness etc - but still being able to 'look back' and feel so lucky that up to this point, I've had a pretty lucky and life has been good - and I know it will be again.

Wow, I have this same picture; the catedral in Santiago from a distance, early in the morning as I left for Finisterre. I bet others do, too. And I had exactly the same feelings you did.

 

[JohnLloyd]

Seeing a Tintin reference on the Camino was quite a surprise.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

San Juan de la Peña

One of the capitals to the columns in the cloister at the old monastery. This one is of an angel notifying Joseph of what was to come (the annunciation to Mary was on the previous column.)

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I'm done with my San Juan de la Peña photos for now. I may take the ones I've shown on this thread and some more and add them to a new forum members album for my account in the future. In the meantime, if you are looking for more pictures, use the links below.

See photos at Flickr taken near San Juan de la Peña.

Use this link to visit Google maps' page for San Juan de la Peña; it has 360 degree views, videos and photos. Click on the photograph shown on that page to see what else is available.

You have a choice of maps of the area showing both the old and new monasteries at this link to gpsvisualizer.com. The view is best on a desktop or laptop but it should work okay on a phone. You will have to play with the zoom level though.

 

[SabsP]

Hostal Suso ( also a very good bar ) at Rua do Vilar in Santiago de Compostela. I love this place.

 

[Anne&Pat]

Camino Finisterre/Muxia- 17th, June, 2018 The Way, as we were nearing Santa Marina, and Casa Pepa our overnight stay. A very warm day, so the shade was very welcome.

 

[JohnLloyd]

I may not have thought much of the Municipal at Frómista, but I was very impressed by the Romanesque Iglesia de San Martín. Wonderful.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

From the Camino Catalan I connected to the Camino Aragonese, skipping the part from Somport to St. Cilia. This was taken between Arres and Ruesta in November 2019.

Field with piggery and sunflower

 

[Tulle]

Camino Primitivo, September 2018. From La Mesa to Embalse de Salime. We walked uphill in beautiful sunshine. On our way downhill we met the fog. There had been a forest fire, so many trees were quite black. A special atmosphere.

 

[TrvlDad1]

View of El Hacho from Castillo del Aguila in Gaucin, during off-Camino Andalusia wanderings.

 

[JohnLloyd]

Camino Primitivo, September 2018. From La Mesa to Embalse de Salime. We walked uphill in beautiful sunshine. On our way downhill we met the fog. There had been a forest fire, so many trees were quite black. A special atmosphere.View attachment 76289

Wow

 

[GPeachy]

In Ayegui, Navarre.

 

[Theatregal]

Resting in Porto

 

[Anne&Pat]

Camino Finisterre/Muxia- 23rd, June, 2018 Sunset at Muxia.

 

[JohnLloyd]

Of all the Camino sculptures, I think this was my favourite.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Sheep pen between Ruesta and Sangüesa on the Camino Aragonese. They didn't really want me there.

 

[Theatregal]

Harvest time in Padron. Just picked before dinner.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Harvest time in Padron. Just picked before dinner.

View attachment 76357 View attachment 76358

Wait for a big ♥ from @VNwalking.

 

[Theatregal]

Wait for a big ♥ from @VNwalking.

I've had the pleasure of eating some that @VNwalking cooked in @kirkie 's lovely warm kitchen!

 

[SabsP]

Casa das Crechas in Santiago de Compostela. Still early and very quiet but late at night some superb live gigs.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I actually just opened this thread today, and wondered why I hadn't done it earlier. I have thousands of photos, but this gives me a chance to go through some of them and choose favorites. So here is the first. This is a photo in Antequera on the route from Malaga and is April 22, 2016. I think it is one of the most beautiful cities I've been in.

 

[Anniesantiago]

And here is a photo that is a favorite because it makes me laugh out loud every time I see it.

So I'm walking along and I come to this gate.
I'm a farm girl. I should know gates ...
but I guess I was exhausted, because I couldn't figure out how in the HELL I would get over or around it.

I finally took my pack off, tossed it over the fence, and climbed over,
(Macabi skirts are NOT made for climbing fences!)
ONLY to find THIS on the other side!
DOH! ::slapping her forehead:::

 

[Caligal]

Shortly before Melide, May 2018. The husband drives the tractor his wife follows with a basket of seed. My idea of the good life!

 

[Anne&Pat]

Camino del Norte- 17th, May, 2018 Gaudi's El Capricho in Comillas. We had a wonderful visit to yet another beautiful Gaudi building.

 

[SabsP]

The moment you take off your walking shoes, shower and then : utter bliss! Crocs...

 

[JohnLloyd]

The middle of the Camino?

 

[David Tallan]

The one piece of graffiti I left on the Camino, in Bar Elvis in Reliegos.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

This is what happens when you don't have blueprints.



San Salvador church in Sangüesa (gothic, 13th to 14th centuries). There is a large portico at the entrance. My photo was taken at night. This is a highly edited copy.

See photos on Flickr taken nearby.

 

[Theatregal]

I loved the contrast of the red against the landscape. On the Primitivo.

 

[Anne&Pat]

Camino del Norte- 23rd, May, 2018 We walked from Ribadesella to Colunga this day, this photo is taken near the beach somewhere between La Vega and Berbes.

 

[JohnLloyd]

The one and only Sinín his fabulous bar at Reliegos.

Does anyone know how he is?

 

[SabsP]

Open window at the albergue Liberanos Domine in Rabé de las Calzadas.
Some pilgrims still seem to think that you get a cold from opening a window...

 

[VNwalking]

Wait for a big ♥ from @VNwalking.

She got it! ❤
I'm way behind. Lovely pics, everyone! I'll manage tomorrow to post something.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Loose cattle. Please close the gate.



Another of my stupid but favorite photos. Why? Anyone notice the iPhone at the lower right corner? It had to have been there a few days because it was down to 2% battery. It must have belonged to a pilgrim as it was far from town and its boot messages were in Catalan. I cleaned it up and charged it and passed it to another pilgrim, a fast walking Spaniard, to try to connect to albergues ahead of us. I texted him, circumstanctually as he arrived in Santiago, but he hadn't found the owner.

 

[Theatregal]

A carving high up on a wall in the Monasterio de Santa María la Real de Oseira on the Sanabrés.

 

[Caligal]

April 2018, El Ganzo. This little Camino memorial is where I felt a deep connection to my long passed Dad

 

[Anne&Pat]

Camino Portuguese- 30th, May, 2016 Santa Maria do Olival, Tomar. This is the Templar Mother church, St Mary in the Olive Grove, which was allegedly connected by secret tunnels to the Templar Castle, on the other side of town. The church contains many hidden symbols of the Order. We were very fortunate to visit it when Dulce a local guide was there, who gave us a fantastic personalised tour of the church, showing us many of the hidden Templar signs and their meanings.

 

[VNwalking]

The grounds of El Beso albergue just past Tracastella. It was a special place, perfect for quietly resting - and the second 'special albergue' in a row after La Faba the night before.

 

[SabsP]

Albergue del convento de las Carbajalas in Leon. 2011.

All that body heat! Guess these kind of albergues post Covid will have to do to a serious remodelling.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Salinas de Ibargoiti:



A different view of the bridge:


See photos on Flickr taken near Salinas de Ibargoiti.

 

[Theatregal]

São Bento Train Station in Porto

 

[Rich1]

Somewhere in Galicia...

 

[KinkyOne]

Camino de Levante.

 

[JohnLloyd]

One of the many impressive peregrino statues, in Mansilla de las Mulas

 

[Anne&Pat]

Camino Frances- 11th, September, 2014 In the town square of Villalcazar de Sirga in front of the magnificent 13thC Templar church of Santa Maria la Virgen Blanca.

 

[AJGuillaume]

Castro Urdiales, 16 September 2018

 

[JohnLloyd]

The parent is fascinated, the child less so