Pilgrims on the Way

The Camino turns into roadwalking, and the town of Viana finally appears! This had been our goal for lunch, and this photo was taken at about 12:30, so we’re more or less on schedule. The current city was founded in 1219 by King Sancho VII “el Fuerte” of Navarra. Viana is famous for its churches – and ruined churches – some of which […]

Throughout the morning and into the early afternoon, these stone ruins continued to dot the vineyards through which the Camino passed. Some, like this one, appear to be undergoing restoration and being put to use. Date: 07 April 2013Place: between Torres del Río and Viana (Navarra, Spain) Maps!

Presumably, this was once a building for storage or perhaps even a home. It sits beside the Camino amid acres of vineyard, evocative of centuries passed. Much further on in the Camino, in Galicia, we saw many buildings like this being restored for use. It certainly seems solid enough. Date: 07 April 2013Place: between Torres del Río and Viana (Navarra, […]

For the next couple of hours until Viana, the Camino wound over and around hill and dale. And through it all, the wind howled, making what otherwise might have been a very pleasant walk into something altogether more challenging. Date: 07 April 2013Place: between Torres del Río and Viana (Navarra, Spain) Maps!

Shortly after we passed a marker indicating that we were 7.4km out of Viana, Patrick and I ran into Kristof. Or, rather, we passed Kristof who was clearly doing the smart thing and taking a short nap. This was the first time on the Camino I regretted not taking an inflatable pillow. Date: 07 April 2013Place: between Torres del Río […]

Past fields and pastures, past cemeteries and hermitages, past farmsteads and ruins, I walked with Patrick that morning. We talked about why we were on the Camino, about our painful pasts, our hopes for the future, and the last wish of his dying wife. Patrick’s time on the Camino was short, but he would return in subsequent years to finally […]

After leaving Torres del Río, we were treated to a gorgeous view across the green fields and the snow-covered mountains beyond to the north. In my journal, I characterized this stretch as a beautiful and easy walk. Date: 07 April 2013Place: between Torres del Río and Viana (Navarra, Spain) Maps!

On our way out of Torres del Río, we ran into a flock of chickens. They seemed indifferent to us, as have most animals on the Camino. Except barking dogs. Always some of those. Not here, though. Them’s chickens. Northern Spain, where the Camino runs, is mostly rural, and there are a lot of animals here: sheep, cows, goats, horses, […]