Walking the Camino de Santiago
Walking the Camino is pretty easy. You follow the markers. Usually, these are painted yellow arrows. Some localities have special Camino logos on signs that mark the Way through their territory. Usually, they’re pretty hard to miss. But even when they are, you become an expert at finding them, no matter how small or obscure or out-of-the-way they are. This […]
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As we exit the bustling town of Ponferrada, and on the verge of the farmlands to the north, we turn back towards the town for one last farewell. From here, it’s easy to see how this place dominated the surrounding countryside. Date: 23 April 2016 Place: leaving Ponferrada (Castilla y León, Spain) Today’s maps! Since Ponferrada is not our stopping […]
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The Camino through Ponferrada takes us through some serious modern urbanization. Even for all of that, however, this fountain with its statues of king and bishop reminds us that we are, after all, still walking through Spain – even if the street behind them is the Avenida de América. History is ever-present and living. Date: 23 April 2016 Place: Ponferrada […]
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The interior of the basilica in Ponferrada is actually quite lovely, though it’s difficult to tell from this dark and slightly blurry photo. The attention to detail is evident, from the images hung throughout the church to the medallions in the vaulting to the low altar – which unlike many I’ve seen, actually matches and complements the high altar behind […]
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When we walked in 2016, it was a jubilee year. Many of the larger (and sometimes not so large) churches had holy doors. The Basílica Nuestra Señora de la Encina was one of these, and it was one of the more obvious and well-marked ones of the whole Camino. Nicely done! Here Francine leads Rebecca and I through. Date: 23 […]
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After a lunch that included a cup of goopy chocolate and some churros, we proceeded to the basilica. Enshrined within is an image of Virgin and Child that reportedly came from Jerusalem in the fifth century and is now honoured throughout El Bierzo. It was hidden during the Islamic conquest – so well, in fact, that it was lost for […]
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Happy Mothers Day! I wish I had a better photo of this. The Casa de los Escudos is between the castle and the basilica, and here in April, its famous wisteria was in its early bloom. I can only imagine what it must be like a little later in the season! I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a wisteria quite […]
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As we made our way through central Ponferrada towards the basilica, our attention was drawn by two things: the gorgeous wisteria on the side of a building, and the café on the corner directly ahead. While the bees may have been drawn to the flowers, we were drawn to the café. Who would we see inside but Stijn! He was […]
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The Camino runs through Ponferrada with the Castillo Templario on the left, and a series of cafés, bars, and shops on the right. Ahead we see the bell tower of the Basílica Nuestra Señora de la Encina, our next stop. Well, our next stop after lunch. Date: 23 April 2016 Place: Ponferrada (Castilla y León, Spain) Today’s maps! Since Ponferrada […]
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The first clear sight of the medieval city center of Ponferrada is the Templar castle. It is revealed in dramatic fashion. The Camino winds its way through narrow streets fronted with tall buildings, then turns a corner, and this is the sudden view. Back in 2013 we took a tour through the castle and spent several hours exploring its riches. […]
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