Walking the Camino de Santiago
Sometimes, you just need to stop a moment. We’ve been walking several hours at this point, and Francine is pretty clearly in some pain. Thank goodness for socialized medicine! In the distance, you can see the city of Logroño. This is to be our lunchtime destination. I wrote in my journal that today was “walking to Logroño, followed by walking […]
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We are approaching the end of Navarra, our first Spanish region in the Camino. Mind you, the next region we enter was part of Medieval Navarra and didn’t really exist in its current form until 1980. But more on that later. Most of the morning on this day was over hill and dale, through the Navarran vineyards, and ever closer […]
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Just a little past Viana, possibly at a place marked “Cementerio” on my map, is this church. It’s hard to tell how old it is, since whatever the age it has clearly undergone extensive restoration and remodeling within the past few decades. It’s possible, of course, that “cementerio” refers to the surround fields of the undead, seen here pushing their […]
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We wish you all a most happy Christmas! The Camino passes under the N-111 highway just after Viana, and this bit of graffiti greets you on the other side. It’s been there at least three years, since I saw it on my 2013 Camino as well. Date: 07 April 2016 Place: Leaving Viana – under the N-111 (Navarra, Spain) Map […]
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Every town, no matter how charming or beautiful, has its rough sides. I don’t know if this is Viana’s, but it certainly isn’t the best foot forward. It’s just your basic vacant lot with a looming hill town in the background. Date: 07 April 2016 Place: Viana (Navarra, Spain) Map of the day:
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The Camino wends its way through a number of towns, and in doing so typically wanders through the oldest neighbourhoods. Viana is no exception. Other than replacing some of the cobbles with concrete, these narrow, winding streets can scarcely have changed since medieval times. Date: 07 April 2016 Place: Viana (Navarra, Spain) Map of the day:
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Every day of our Camino, Francine and I took a morning selfie. Normally, they were on her camera, but here’s one on mine. This is the start of April 7 – my mother’s birthday. It’s day 9 of the Camino, and we’re in Viana. My beard is already looking pretty weird. We’re barely awake. Ultreïa! Date: 07 April 2016 Place: […]
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I mentioned yesterday that the evening Mass we attended was in a semi-detached chapel that I think was originally a sacristy. Here’s the ceiling of that chapel. It pays to look up sometimes! As you can see, this chapel is a very different style from the main church building. Date: 06 April 2016 Place: Viana (Navarra, Spain)
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Have I mentioned how overwhelming the Church of Santa María de Viana is? This is one of the many, many side chapels here. (For more, check out our Flickr gallery!) This is an absolutely beautiful church. Oddly, with all of these beautiful altars, the Mass that evening was in a semi-detached chapel that I think was originally a sacristy. Date: […]
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This side chapel, dedicated to Our Lady of Nieva, is one of a dozen or so scattered throughout the Church of Santa María de Viana. On our Flickr gallery, you can see many, many more photos of these chapels, side altars, and statues. Check them out – they are amazing. Date: 06 April 2016 Place: Viana (Navarra, Spain)
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