My Last Post for a While--and a Call for Your Favorite Pic

[VNwalking]

At least until next year.
But things are very full in life right now and won't slow down much until May, so I'll be here sporadically. But I will be thinking of you all!
In the meantime Here is my favorite Camino photo from this year, taken above Santo Domingo de Silos headed towards Burgos. I wasn't exactly on the Ebro--I was wrong. But it was a stunning view, with the way ahead winding out into the distance. Those are the Montes de Oca in the distance, South of where the Frances crosses before San Juan de Ortega. It captures the feel of this solitary walk beautifully; the silence and beauty was very special.

What is your favorite Camino image from 2016 and why? (Edit~Please don't be shy! It'll be fun to see what part of the Camino you have seen as somehow 'special')

 

[timr]

Stunning pic. Thanks for that. Happy New Year. Tim

 

[Purky]

Two of my own favorite pics feature trees, for some reason. The why is easy. The first one, taken somewhere between Castrojeriz and Fromista, has for me the sense of peace I felt on that particular stretch of Camino. I choose it as my avatar as well.
The second one I took in Galicia, where I continually had a feeling of coming home. It must have been the rain and fog, coming from Holland. For me the photo radiates promise.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Two of my own favorite pics feature trees, for some reason. The why is easy. The first one, taken somewhere between Castrojeriz and Fromista, has for me the sense of peace I felt on that particular stretch of Camino. I choose it as my avatar as well.
The second one I took in Galicia, where I continually had a feeling of coming home. It must have been the rain and fog, coming from Holland. For me the photo radiates promise.

View attachment 30933 View attachment 30934

Love the laundry line.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

At least until next year.

You'll be missed. Enjoy your projects and activities the new year is bringing you.

 

[Deleted member 43985]

My favourite this year came in the form of a sunrise in Burgos. 8 months later as I look back on my all my photos this one in particular brings back a great sense of spirituality and feelings of optomisism and joy... it was nice to find this moment and be able to bring it home with me.

 

[trecile]

View attachment 30938
My favourite this year came in the form of a sunrise in Burgos. 8 months later as I look back on my all my photos this one in particular brings back a great sense of spirituality and feelings of optomisism and joy... it was nice to find this moment and be able to bring it home with me.

That's stunning

 

[Robo]

At least until next year.
But things are very full in life right now and won't slow down much until May, so I'll be here sporadically. But I will be thinking of you all!
In the meantime Here is my favorite Camino photo from this year, taken above Santo Domingo de Silos headed towards Burgos. I wasn't exactly on the Ebro--I was wrong. But it was a stunning view, with the way ahead winding out into the distance. Those are the Montes de Oca in the distance, South of where the Frances crosses before San Juan de Ortega. It captures the feel of this solitary walk beautifully; the silence and beauty was very special.

What is your favorite Camino image from 2016 and why? (Edit~Please don't be shy! It'll be fun to see what part of the Camino you have seen as somehow 'special')

Take care, and we'll see you again soon I hope

Almost at Los Arcos

• Robo
• Dec 30, 2016
• 1

May 2015. One of those long hot days, where the last couple of kms seems to take an age...

I always liked this one. En Route to Los Arcos. The broad open sky, the mountains far away. It kind of expresses the 'freedom' of walking the Camino for me.

 

[OTH86]

Shortly after sunrise on 28 Oct this year - not far from Camponaraya - a white-bow - never seen one before!

Buen Camino, VNwalking, wherever it takes you this time!
Terry

 

[Mark Lee]

Somewhere on the meseta I think, back in July.

 

[VNwalking]

Funny, Mark! Someone has a sense of humor...

we'll see you again soon I hope

Thanks for your good wishes, friends!
I'll be here from time to time over the next months, but never for very long and not so regularly.

Your photos are stunning everyone...aren't we lucky?
@Purky , I have a photo of that same tree in spring. It does something to me, too. And like Anemone, I especially like the laundry line, and the dramatic light.
@jozero that image is almost biblical. Trumpets and angels and beams of golden light. Gorgeous.
@Robo, isn't that stretch special? You had nice weather and well behaved puffy clouds! Iconic......

Shortly after sunrise on 28 Oct this year - not far from Camponaraya - a white-bow

Can you please post the photo, @OTH86 ? I'd love to see it!

Please keep them coming everyone. This is fun.

 

[Kanga]

This is one of my favourites, from May 2016, walking the Valcarlos route. It helps show why I think this route is so beautiful. And I love those cows - they graze on such steep fields.

 

[Wokabaut_Meri]

Wonderful images everyone! Capture the ever changing moods of the Caminos... and echo the Sirens' call to walk again...

@Viranani we'll be looking forward to your Forum visits

Go well

 

[Mike Trebert]

This was my first Camino, so I took thousands of pics, don't know if I have a favourite although there's a Finisterre shot I like a lot. The light was bright and flat from the other side so I moved around here for a silhouette. The black and white conversion pulled a lot out detail out of the sky. I took a group shot for the standing woman and her friends. I was often asked (or offered) to take pics of people with their own cameras, then they'd reciprocate. Wonderful to have a bunch of non-self-portraits by anonymouses. I love trying to remember all the folks I photographed but don't have pics of. Memories are unreliable memories of memories. Photos are false but often beautiful.

 

[Deleted member 36903]

View attachment 30938
My favourite this year came in the form of a sunrise in Burgos. 8 months later as I look back on my all my photos this one in particular brings back a great sense of spirituality and feelings of optomisism and joy... it was nice to find this moment and be able to bring it home with me.

Thank you for posting this beautiful photograph. I agree with Viranani that it is almost biblical in quality and so like a fine painting. Superb! I was ill at ease in Burgos for whatever reason - perhaps exhaustion from the long walk in via the industrial area having missed the turning to enter the city along the river route - but this image makes me want to go back and see the beauty of the city.

 

[SabsP]

Wonderful pictures everyone.

For me this picture of the first glimpse of Finisterre (end of March ) and the almost empty beach is a special one for me. It was, to me, a much more spiritual arrival than arriving all the other times in Santiago. I still remember that feeling of happiness ...

 

[wayfarer]

One of my favourites from 2012. Heading towards Molinaseca, just after Acebo. Cloud cover was just below us in the distance with snow covered mountains peeking above. Pure magic.

 

[VNwalking]

Wonderful, wonderful. Thank you everyone!
The magic comes alive in so many ways.
And I cannot resist another, taking a few minutes before bed--this is my (current) favorite from 2015. Sunrise someplace right after Villar de Mazarife. It takes me right back to the feeling of spaciousness and timelessness that comes with walking.

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

Like Sabine, 2016 was my Finisterre Camino year - The end of the world, and the end of my caminos, as age-related problems now start to restrict my long distance walking. I loved that final camino. Difficult to choose one picture, but this is one - I was stunned by the colours and offered up a quick prayer of thanks for His wonderful creation.

 

[QuailHiker]

Leaving Puente de la Reina, the morning of 29 Abril, 2016.

 

[Dan the Man]

At least until next year.
But things are very full in life right now and won't slow down much until May, so I'll be here sporadically. But I will be thinking of you all!
In the meantime Here is my favorite Camino photo from this year, taken above Santo Domingo de Silos headed towards Burgos. I wasn't exactly on the Ebro--I was wrong. But it was a stunning view, with the way ahead winding out into the distance. Those are the Montes de Oca in the distance, South of where the Frances crosses before San Juan de Ortega. It captures the feel of this solitary walk beautifully; the silence and beauty was very special.

What is your favorite Camino image from 2016 and why? (Edit~Please don't be shy! It'll be fun to see what part of the Camino you have seen as somehow 'special')

Here is my favourite pic I took!

 

[LesBrass]

I dream of being on this hill again... just outside of Tamicelas on the VdlP... a glorious, most perfect, camino day

 

[MarcelWals]

My fav pic...sitting and drinking tea with the locals at home....

 

[alexwalker]

On top after the climb up from Castrojeriz: VERY early morning walk... The start of the real Meseta:

 

[Deleted member 36903]

Thank you for starting this thread Viranani - have a safe journey wherever your travels take you.
This was taken approaching Navarette on April 8 2015.

 

[wonzi]

At least until next year.
But things are very full in life right now and won't slow down much until May, so I'll be here sporadically. But I will be thinking of you all!
In the meantime Here is my favorite Camino photo from this year, taken above Santo Domingo de Silos headed towards Burgos. I wasn't exactly on the Ebro--I was wrong. But it was a stunning view, with the way ahead winding out into the distance. Those are the Montes de Oca in the distance, South of where the Frances crosses before San Juan de Ortega. It captures the feel of this solitary walk beautifully; the silence and beauty was very special.

What is your favorite Camino image from 2016 and why? (Edit~Please don't be shy! It'll be fun to see what part of the Camino you have seen as somehow 'special')

What a beautiful photo!

 

[NualaOC]

Great thread @Viranani! I've enjoyed looking at everyone's photos, as well as revisiting mine to try and find a favourite. Having walked two very beautiful routes last year, it's hard to pick just one image.

Here's one that I took on the Camino Primitivo, on the way to Grandas de Salime, just as the river comes into view.

Happy New Year and Buen Camino to all!

 

[CaminoDebrita]

Walking the Meseta

• CaminoDebrita
• Feb 17, 2016
• 3

I like this one, but it isn't necessarily my favorite. Thanks all. Great year for us, the pilgrims.

 

[Fritz]

Thanks all for sharing! You've've brought back many wonderful memories. Here's mine, a local resident walking home in Hospital de Órbigo

 

[VNwalking]

I'm on a strict Forum ration of 15 minutes before the end of the day...and am so glad to have come here first, to savor all your photos.
With all thanks and good wishes everyone. I can pic my own favorites, but can't pick one out of yours! They are each remarkable in their own way, so very evocative! More, more!

 

[Mike Trebert]

OK, here's one more for you @Viranani. More than my fair share, your fault.

 

[mspath]

Leaving Sarria, 15/03/2009

 

[Purky]

About a good day's walk after Sarria, near Ferreiros.

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

end of spring 9

• jefferyonthecamino
• Jun 27, 2016

 

[VNwalking]

More beauty--and 'more than my fair share' is only relevant in taking. Giving? As much as you all like is fine with me. Who makes the rules anyway?
Thank you all! My 10 minutes here are well spent.
I can feel the fog on my face and the trickle of moisture down my neck, hear the whoosh of the Botafumerio and the clatter of footsteps on the cobbles...and much much more.

 

[dougfitz]

More beauty--and 'more than my fair share' is only relevant in taking. Giving? As much as you all like is fine with me. Who makes the rules anyway?
Thank you all! My 10 minutes here are well spent.
I can feel the fog on my face and the trickle of moisture down my neck, hear the whoosh of the Botafumerio and the clatter of footsteps on the cobbles...and much much more.

How interesting. This must be your fifth or sixth post since Sunday, when you said you were not going to be posting until next year! I was wondering how you were going to stay away for a whole year when you made your cute little joke early on New Years morning here in Australia!

 

[VNwalking]

How interesting. This must be your fifth or sixth post since Sunday, when you said you were not going to be posting until next year!

Where I am it was about 10 PM on the 31st when I posted that, Doug.
If you have an issue with our conventions of delineating when one year starts and the last one stops--and with international time zones--I'm certainly not the person to talk to!
I was merely saying that I will be here sporadically for the next while as I know longish absences can cause concern.

Meanwhile, enjoy the photos, everyone--and thank you so much for sharing them!

 

[dougfitz]

It certainly isn't an issue for me - I quite enjoyed the irony of your promise.

 

[Mike Trebert]

It certainly isn't an issue for me - I quite enjoyed the irony of your promise.

@dougfitz, why are you here without a photo?

 

[C clearly]

Good Friday in Ponferrada.

 

[dougfitz]

@dougfitz, why are you here without a photo?

Was there a secret handshake I forgot to give as well??

 

[Mike Trebert]

Was there a secret handshake I forgot to give as well??

It's a secret.

 

[Mike Trebert]

I circled Leon Cathedral. This section of wall was around the back in a narrow space. I wondered who built it. Not a bishop or a master mason, just a rubble guy who remembered all his life those weeks each year when he offered his labour.

 

[SabsP]

@Mike Trebert : Every one of your pictures is stunning.

 

[Mark Lee]

I circled Leon Cathedral. This section of wall was around the back in a narrow space. I wondered who built it. Not a bishop or a master mason, just a rubble guy who remembered all his life those weeks each year when he offered his labour.

View attachment 31012

That's interesting. Wow, talk about working with what you got, huh?

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

What is your favorite Camino image from 2016 and why?

It isn't my favorite and it is from 2015 not 2016 but it brings a smile to everyone's face when they see it.
On the Camino Frances somewhere between Villamayor de Monjardin and Navarrete.

 

[eviemonkey]

Taken on the first morning's walk out of St Jean and just before the beginning of the uphill climb to Orisson. I've taken other photos that were prettier, better, but I'll always remember the feeling I had when I took this picture of the sun rising over St Jean. A mixture of nerves and excitement, vulnerability and joy as I turned around and left St Jean and my old life behind. Utterly alone and setting off into the unknown. There have been times since when I've asked myself, would I return to this moment if it meant erasing everything that happened thereafter. The answer is no but it is a fun question to ponder nevertheless.

 

[Deleted member 43985]

Taken on the first morning's walk out of St Jean and just before the beginning of the uphill climb to Orisson. I've taken other photos that were prettier, better, but I'll always remember the feeling I had when I took this picture of the sun rising over St Jean. A mixture of nerves and excitement, vulnerability and joy as I turned around and left St Jean and my old life behind. Utterly alone and setting off into the unknown. There have been times since when I've asked myself, would I return to this moment if it meant erasing everything that happened thereafter. The answer is no but it is a fun question to ponder nevertheless. View attachment 31026

So well said...!!! I too remember those exact feelings and emotions on my first morning. Thanks for reminding me of that day

 

[VNwalking]

I can so relate!
Here's my photo from the first day of my longest Camino. I remember looking at the clock and hoping that I wouldn't regret spending the the better part of the previous hour happily chatting with the owner of the hostel--the departure was much later than I had intended....
It was just nerves. All was well, and I arrived in Roncesvalles by 4:30, very surprised by how many people were there!

 

[camino07]

 

[Satírico]

Difficult to choose - goats at dawn on the coastal route, cows at the end of the Hospitales storm path, innumerable pastoral landscapes - but in the end I'll plump for this, accommodation outside Asson, the end of the first day out of Lourdes. The lady of the house advised me to take a left at the end of the drive, skip Asson, walk an older camino path, which rewarded me with the most marvellous Pyrenean vistas. It was a great start to a day that ended with injury and exhaustion, but also a happy reunion with another pilgrim who'd walked for 3 months already. The next day I thought I might be done for, a month later I was still walking.

 

[JP]

Rio Douro in Porto. Camino Portuguese 2016.

 

[hieudovan]

I love walking through this Monet masterpiece on the VdLP in 2014. Hope to walk the CF again this spring. These photos sure get me going...

 

[Mark Lee]

I'll add one more on this thread. My favorite photo I took from any of the CF's I walked. It was taken on the first day of my first CF in 2013. I took the ValCarlos route. Didn't even know then that there were two routes to Roncesvalles and the ValCarlos was the one I ran into first after I took a right on the roadway out of the Central Hotel. I didn't have one of those maps from the pilgrim's office or even a guidebook showing both. Anyway, I'm glad I went that route and it was quite beautiful.

 

[Deanpf]

For me it had to be a picture from the paths in Galacia where I remember thinking the trees would just start taking to me at any moment. The second pic just ended up being one of my favorites...

 

[C clearly]

Actually, my favourite photo of 2016 is this unflattering picture of two oldish women in a state of apparent bliss.

 

[Arn]

 

[pilgrim b]

Two of my favourites

 

[Deleted member 43985]

I'll add one more on this thread. My favorite photo I took from any of the CF's I walked. It was taken on the first day of my first CF in 2013. I took the ValCarlos route. Didn't even know then that there were two routes to Roncesvalles and the ValCarlos was the one I ran into first after I took a right on the roadway out of the Central Hotel. I didn't have one of those maps from the pilgrim's office or even a guidebook showing both. Anyway, I'm glad I went that route and it was quite beautiful.
View attachment 31053

Great memory...! I walked down to that farmyard... and was turned around by the farmer when he pointed out I had missed the trail heading up the side slope

 

[Mark Lee]

Great memory...! I walked down to that farmyard... and was turned around by the farmer when he pointed out I had missed the trail heading up the side slope

It was somewhere around there that I got off the path, too. I only saw about 5-6 other pilgrims the whole day, until I reached Roncesvalles, and one guy, a Spaniard, saw me going the wrong way and whistled to get my attention. I finally turned around and saw him waving and motioning me to the right path. I owe that dude. He's also the one that told me there was another route, the Napoleon. I just thought nobody was walking that day, ha ha.

 

[VNwalking]

@pilgrim b , there has to be a story behind the second photo--did you connect with these folks?
And @C clearly ...thank you for sharing a perfect camino moment. Bliss is never unflattering.
I can't choose my favorite amongst all of yours--they and your stories have brought many 'Aahhhhh' moments!
So wonderful.

Making the rules up as we go along...how about your favorite from each Camino. Here's my favorite from 2014. La Faba from afar. It was early morning and we had missed the turn-off to the trail, so were walking up to LF on the road...the morning had started with the setting full moon and a glorious sunrise and by the time we got here, the sun was beginning climb high enough to light the ridge but not us. Little did we know that a day or so later we would be seeing the last sunshine of that camino!

 

[Mike Trebert]

Great photos. I like scrolling through the large-sized ones. Let's give Ivar's server a workout and stay with the larger size!

 

[OLDBIKERIDER]

While I enjoyed the physical experience of walking through the wonderous landscape my real lessons learned involved love, God's promise fulfilled by the many people I met on the way. I saw this French couple in the distance, walking holding hands, right as I approached San Bol and actually ran a minute or two to get close enough to take this picture with my simple camera. They did not speak much English and I have very limited Fench ability, but they were kind enough to let me take this picture which I feel says something about love, going slow and allowing for contact.

San Bol, where I spent that night, September 16th, full moon, was a very special place as well. If you haven't stopped there and you pass that way again, consider it. There is no town, just the small albergue, and they will make you dinner or you can cook your own.

As others said, thank you for starting this thread to allow us to consider which picture is our favorite.


Peace and love,
Ron

 

[trecile]

This one on the Meseta is one of my favorites, with the road going on, and on...

 

[Deleted member 43985]

I like this one for it's iconic nature. Most people are pretty familiar with this road sign in Roncesvalles but not too many have had a chance to just see the top few inches of it. Needless to say we walked along the road on this day!

 

[trecile]

View attachment 31076 I like this one for it's iconic nature. Most people are pretty familiar with this road sign in Roncesvalles but not too many have had a chance to just see the top few inches of it. Needless to say we walked along the road on this day!

Don't forget to attach it!

 

[Ray J]

A lucky shot of my girlfriend on a beautiful day.

 

[Mike Trebert]

Here's a Meseta shot, I've posted it before on another thread. I converted it to black and white because there wasn't much colour in it and the sky looked too pretty (lots of blue). The superwide lens makes the sky look dramatic. I stopped when I saw that little pile of stones. There wouldn't have been a shot otherwise. So lucky there was a bright patch in the sky right behind the rock stack! The shapes of the clouds mimics the shapes of the rocks in the wall, a lucky coincidence making a strong composition.

 

[Purky]

Looking back at Epernay in France, self-proclaimed 'capitale du champagne', very early in the morning. On the Via Campaniensis.

 

[VNwalking]

These are so great, everyone. I can come when I have 5 minutes for a Camino hit and drink in your images. They are eye poetry.
Thank you!

 

[pilgrim b]

@pilgrim b , there has to be a story behind the second photo--did you connect with these folks?

@Viranani, No we only met them in SDC near the Pilgrim Office I was fascinated with the middleones footwear (obviously not done many muddy paths). The spoke a little English but we understood he /they had walked then in boots and dressed up a little more tradditional on arrival!
Behind the cart pic in the distance there are five of our camino family Dutch pilgrims gradually catching us up.
Here is one I took the year before a rather ubiquitous shot I think but it helps me in my camino dreams!!

 

[Mike Trebert]

These guys don't go so very far on their pilgrimage. If I were a cat in Finisterre I'd walk over to a sunny patch, then maybe at some point walk over to a shady patch. But I'd give it a lot of thought before rushing into anything.

 

[gertw]

Monasterio De San Anton

• gertw
• Jan 9, 2017
• 2

God's window to the sky.

God's window in the collapsed church of San Anton before Castrojeriz.

 

[VNwalking]

@Gert, I like it very much as a thought picture, but even so, please attach the photo.

 

[Mike Trebert]

I hope I'm not wearing out my welcome here, trying to keep this wonderful thread going. This was a blind, lucky shot. I was on my way up the narrow stairs at SDC Cathedral to that little room behind/above the altar, couldn't stop, we were filing steadily through. I looked up because I'm always looking around in case I miss a shot (while walking, stop often and look behind you, there's a whole other landscape back there and you've never seen it before from that angle). All I had time to do was lift the camera and sit it on my shoulder hoping it was pointing straight up and fire one shot before I ducked into the little enclosed space behind a woman who was getting her baby blessed.

 

[Blaster]

 

[Blaster]

The joy of completing the first climb for the day - 1 Oct 2016

 

[SabsP]

Camino del Ebro.2013 in Zaragoza

 

[Wokabaut_Meri]

Camino sign echoing the colours of Nature... just after leaving the eerily ghost town sadness of Cirueña

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

On my way to Samos in 2015.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Early in the morning at O Cebreiro .

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

A lucky shot of my girlfriend on a beautiful day.
View attachment 31077

Hi Ray,love the feelds with the yellow flowers.
Wish you well, Peter.

 

[Giselleontour]

All the best for you Viranani where ever you are and what ever you do.
I will try to upload one of my favorite pictures. Maybe my husband and I will walk again a part of the CF Mid May till Mid June. But we are still planing. Hope it works.
This was a glorious day on our pilgrimage.

 

[SabsP]

Betanzos / Camino Ingles 2014. Gorgeous town

 

[Mike Trebert]

Well, this is post #85 on this thread! Let's go for 100.

I've posted this photo before on a thread about favourite Finisterre photos. Most of those pics were sunsets. I wasn't there at sunset, only went for a day trip, so I can't claim that I deliberately avoided shooting a sunset. 'Nuff said.

I was kind of disappointed when I got all the way to the lighthouse. Let's face it - not a pretty building. Cyclone fencing too when I was there, early May, 2016. I did get a shot of the zero kilometre marker, though. (How come the markers count down to SDC all along the Camino, then Finisterre is 0.00?)

I stumbled on this shot which is the edge of the walkway not far back from the lighthouse. I was hunting for a shot which said "The edge of the world". The contrast here between the rather ugly but austerely symbolic concrete and the ethereal seascape beyond, is kind of startling. The "broken" lines of the concrete walls caught my eye, made the shot, IMO. The famous earth view photo from space had our home looking like a blue jewel. The world we've made has a somewhat broken feeling these days, but our home is vast and it heals.

 

[Doogman]

My Camino Family on the Le Puy route.

 

[Purky]

I think I met their cousins in Galicia... This might even be a nice subject for a new thread: extraordinary animal encounters on the Camino .

 

[SabsP]

Santander on the Camino del Norte . Day off while travelling to Ferrol in 2014 for the Camino Ingles.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

My Camino Family on the Le Puy route.View attachment 31167

You will need a large alberque for the night.

 

[jrm]

Great shots everyone! Here's one of my favorite from the late night streets of Villafranca:

Villafranca Del Bierzo by Jonathan Melot, on Flickr

 

[VNwalking]

This might even be a nice subject for a new thread: extraordinary animal encounters on the Camino .

Like this?

 

[Leigh Macklin]

My favorite view and my favorite alburgue (San Anton)

 

[Levi]

We all need a friend sometimes. (From the VDLP)