Walking the Camino de Santiago
Here we are, dawn on day 7 of the Camino. Our pilgrim family is rousing itself for the walk from Logroño to Ventosa. Despite last night’s revelry, we are more or less awake, and I at least am feeling pretty good. From left to right: Patrick, Petra, Ali, Viola, Eamon. Not pictured: everybody else. Date: 08 April 2013Place: Logroño (La […]
» Read more
After our adventure to the Drunken Duck, we gathered for dinner. Here’s what I said in my journal: “Massive evening dinner for Carlos’ 30th birthday. Festive, loud, singing. At least 18 people for the dinner, and six or seven more who came in later. Riotous good fun. Met many more pilgrims, too numerous to count.” Date: 07 April 2013Place: Logroño […]
» Read more
In our quest for beer, we passed by a promising looking place called “El Rey del Jamon” before stumbling into “The Drunken Duck”. They had beer! It was Spanish beer, but Petra and Viola decided that this was good enough. I had no complaints. I still have one of the napkins stuffed into my journal. When we passed by three […]
» Read more
On our quest for a decent beer, we passed through the Plaza del Mercado and feasted our eyes on the Co-Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda. It’s an amazing church, though as you can see it was closed, so this was as much of it as we were able to see. Also, we were pretty sure we wouldn’t find […]
» Read more
Spain is primarily a wine drinking country. It has some amazing wines. Most of my favourite wines are Spanish. It is not known as a place for great beer, and for good reason. However, there were two Germans in our little Camino family who were desperate for a proper beer. So Eamon and I followed Petra and Viola into the […]
» Read more
Like many churches in Spain, the Iglesia Santa María de Palacio in Logroño was built and rebuilt over the course of centuries. Construction began in the twelfth century and continued in fits and starts until the eighteenth. Nevertheless, it has achieved a lovely harmony of shapes and proportions, most evident in this view of the sanctuary from the nave. Shame […]
» Read more
We checked into the giant municipal albergue, showered, and headed back out to explore Logroño. The first stop was this church, which didn’t look too impressive on the outside – so much so, in fact, that I didn’t even take a photo of it, other than this sign. The inside, however… Date: 07 April 2013Place: Logroño (La Rioja, Spain)Today started: […]
» Read more
Just down the street from the Ermita de San Gregorio, we come to this slightly cattywampus building. Built in 1555 as the house of a local aristocrat, the Duquesa de la Victoria, it has served over the centuries as a home, a wine warehouse, and most recently a neighbourhood restaurant. These days, it’s a home once again. Date: 07 April […]
» Read more
As we walk along Calle Ruavieja, we come to this shrine, dedicated to San Gregorio Ostiense, who died in this spot on May 9, 1044. He was Abbot of the monastery of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Rome before he was made Bishop of Ostia and later a Cardinal and special envoy to Navarra by Pope John XVIII. Date: 07 […]
» Read more
Once across the bridge and into Logroño, the Camino takes a sudden right turn down this narrow street, Calle Ruavieja. The name itself, of course, comes from rúa vieja, “the old road”, which will probably give you some idea of the antiquity of the street. Most of the buildings are, if not quite modern, let us at least say “not […]
» Read more