Author: Thom

Here we see Patrick and Petra walking through the village. We’re looking for lunch. Azofra is not large; the Calle Mayor is the Camino itself, and there are only a handful of other streets at all. It almost looks like a Hollywood set, but there’s something very homey and lived-in about the place. Date: 09 April 2013Place: Azofra (La Rioja, […]

Apologies for the dearth of posting lately. We’ve been working on the “Big Clean” of our property and buildings here at Pistachio House, and it involved a dumpster and more physical labour over a longer period than I’ve done in years. The dumpster is full, and the city is taking it away today, so let’s get back to it, eh? […]

Somewhere over that rise, we expected to catch sight of the town of Azofra. The locals were as anxious as we that we arrive safely, so much so that they wanted to make quite sure we didn’t wander down the side road and miss their town entirely. Not likely, with lunch looming. Date: 09 April 2013Place: between Nájera and Azofra […]

Here we see Patrick walking through the farms and vineyards of La Rioja. That red clay is emblematic of the Meseta, though he haven’t quite reached it yet. Although the sign says 580km to Santiago, I’m pretty sure this was the second sign we passed with the same number on it. Date: 09 April 2013Place: between Nájera and Azofra (La […]

After a few kilometers the strange, cliff-like rock formations to either side of the path (seen in the previous photo) gave way to broad valleys and endless skies. A good way to spend the morning. Our two Germans may be seen in this photo: Bavarian Petra on the left and Berliner Viola on the right. Date: 09 April 2013Place: between […]

If you’ve followed along with us for any amount of time, you know that distances posted on the Camino are almost never correct. On the road from Nájera to Azofra, you will see these particular signs very kilometer or so. In 2013 when this photo was taken, they were practically brand new. As we passed them one by one, we […]

A helpful sign nearby explains that the cloister garden is meant to represent the garden of Eden in its order and its beauty. Here we see my friend Eamon taking a contemplative stroll through the cloister of Santa María la Real in Nájera. Date: 09 April 2013Place: Nájera (La Rioja, Spain)Today started: in Ventosa (La Rioja, Spain)

The monastic church of Santa María la Real in Nájera contains one of my favourite depictions of Saint James. It is located at one of the side altars. While it is broadly similar to others of the region, there’s just something about the expression on the saint’s face that delights me. His expression seems to simultaneously be one of sorrow […]

The royal Navarran pantheon in the crypt of Santa María la Real in Nájera was originally a cave. Legend has it that in 1044, King García Sánchez III was chasing a hawk when he found this cave. Enshrined within was this statue of the Virgin with Child. The King founded a church here the next year. Date: 09 April 2013Place: […]