Walking the Camino de Santiago
Portrait of a pilgrim: moving slow but steady and carrying most everything he needs on his back. We met this little friend during the long walk from Azofra. He didn’t seem in any particular hurry, though he was in the middle of the road and pretty far from his next meal. Exactly like us. Date: 09 April 2016 Place: Somewhere […]
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Just past Azofra, we come to this stone column in the middle of nowhere. It is called the Crucero de Azofra. There apparently used to be a sign next to it explaining what it was, but when we were there, it was just a metal pole. Time to break out the trusty guidebooks! It turns out that this was a […]
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One of my rare panorama shots, with Azofra behind us and the open Camino stretching out before us. You’ll want to click in for a closer look. And yes, that’s Francine far, far ahead of me. Date: 09 April 2016 Place: leaving Azofra behind (La Rioja, Spain) Map! Here’s our route out of Azofra, destination: unknown!
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Like many of the smaller towns and villages along the Camino, in Azofra you come finally to a place where the sidewalk ends. Before you get there, though, you walk through this little neighborhood, which seems a throwback to a much earlier age, set amid modern roads. Date: 09 April 2016 Place: Azofra (La Rioja, Spain) Map! Here’s our route […]
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Yes, it’s another coat of arms on a building in Azofra – but this time with comically grinning lions and some seriously intense-looking cherubs as supporters. This is one of two examples on this building – there’s a blurry photo of the building below as a bonus! A nearby sign identifies this as Real Casona de Las Amas. Built in […]
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Cola Cao is a ubiquitous high-octane chocolate drink mix in Spain. It seems to be mostly for breakfast, but Spaniards will drink it at almost any time. On our first Camino, our friend Eamon (from New Zealand) positively fell in love with the stuff and drank it almost every day. It is definitely an acquired taste – and here Francine […]
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Numerous old houses in the villages of Navarra and La Rioja display the arms of their owners – or at least their one-time owners. This fine example in Azofra particularly struck me as we passed by looking for dinner. Afterward, it was back to the Municipal Albergue for a well-deserved sleep. Tomorrow awaits! Date: 08 April 2016 Place: Azofra (La […]
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I‘ve mentioned before my love of doors – their mystery and their promise of endless possibilities. Here are two doors of ordinary homes in the town of Azofra, one much older than the other. Both, though, give evidence to a pride of place and a deep respect for history and culture. Who knows what lies behind them? Date: 08 April […]
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Given that it’s a pilgrimage route, I’m kind of astonished by the number of churches on the Camino that are only open during very restricted hours. I understand that for many of these village churches, there is a cost associated with keeping them open, but I’ve seen a number of clever ways of mitigating this. Some have albergues attached to […]
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This sign is posted in the common room of the Municipal Albergue in Azofra. You will see or hear variations of this phrase all along the Camino. It’s not only a good explanation of the difference between a pilgrim and a tourist when you travel, it’s a pretty good rule of thumb for life. Particularly when you recall the words […]
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