Walking the Camino de Santiago
The papers and notes that littered the floor and altar of the Ermita de San Miguel proved to be a kaleidoscope of prayers and other messages left by pilgrims over the last several years. They were written in every language you could imagine. This is a representative sample of the English notes, but there were thousands. I can’t speak for […]
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The interior of the Ermita de San Miguel was plain and unadorned. I later learned that there had been some carved decoration, but that it had all been removed to a nearby museum. The thing that immediately struck us, though, was that virtually every elevated portion of the interior, and even parts of the floor, were covered with pieces of […]
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About halfway between Villatuerta and Estella in a highland between two river valleys called Cuesta del Moro (the hill of the Moor), we come to this medieval hermitage located just off the Camino. Eamon, Petra, and I decided to check it out, while Kristof pushed on towards Estella. When we arrived, I knew it was old. As it turns out, […]
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In the grassy yard surrounding the Iglesia de la Asunción de Villatuerta, we found this medieval baptismal font. I’m not entirely clear why it was here rather than in the church, but it is truly massive. If you had a step-stool, you could probably use it for full immersion baptisms. After this, the Camino continued through Villatuerta for a short […]
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This statue of San Veremundo stands in front of the Iglesia de la Asunción de Villatuerta. He is there identified as the patron saint of the Camino in Navarra. He was born in about the year 1020, and was abbot of the monastery of Santa María la Real de Irache from 1052 until his death in 1092. He was a […]
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Apologies for the lack of posting the past couple of days. We were working as volunteers for Save Tacoma’s Landmark Church. Our (first annual?) gala auction was Saturday. The Iglesia de la Asunción in Villatuerta was built around 1200, burned down by the invading Castilians in 1378, rebuilt in the following years, and expanded in the 18th century. I’ve heard […]
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The Camino winds its way through the suburban neighbourhoods and thoroughly modern buildings and plazas of Villatuerta before rather abruptly fetching up at this bridge, which seems to be an incongruous throwback to the Roman or Medieval era. Indeed, on the map it’s labelled Puente Románico de Villatuerta. A nearby sign indicates that it was built in the 13th century […]
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After lunch, four of us sped through the countryside, talking and laughing. Eamon, Petra, and I met up with our old friend Kristof in Lorca. As we caught up, the kilometers just flew by. Date: 05 April 2013Place: approaching Villatuerta (Navarra, Spain) Map! Image
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Ever since we returned from our first Camino in 2013, Francine and I have been taken with the idea of serving as hospitaleros. These are the folks who staff the albergues along the Way. Except in the private albergues, the hospitaleros normally work in two or three week shifts. They staff various municipal, parroquial (and monastic) and association albergues throughout […]
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This image of Santiago decorates the wall of the Albergue de Lorca / La Bodega del Camino. Although I’ve never spent the night here, I did eat here during both our 2013 and 2016 Caminos. It’s a dark, cave-like place, and it’s wonderful. The food is solid, and the atmosphere can’t be beat. The image also reminds me that earlier […]
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