Walking the Camino de Santiago
Here we are at the start of another day! Francine is putting on her mitts on a cold morning in front of Casa Austria in Los Arcos. The sun is up and we are in fine form after a delightful breakfast at the albergue consisting mostly of good, thick, German bread and coffee so thick you could stand your spoon […]
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Our albergue in Los Arcos was the fantastic Albergue La fuente Casa Austria. Run by German-speakers, it is the best possible combination of funky and homey and comfortable. It features some smaller bunk rooms, a kitchen, washer and dryer, two dining rooms including a great common room, and lots of nooks and crannies for settling in and getting comfy. This […]
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Here’s the interior of the church looking towards the nave past the pulpit. You can see the organ pipes on the far wall. Yes, the whole interior of the church really is like that. We ran into Emilio here, but he and Katy were staying at a different albergue than we were. We had to leave the church before Mass, […]
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Santa María de Los Arcos is one of the largest churches in all Navarra. And it is simply stunning. The photo, as usual, doesn’t even begin to convey the artistic and spiritual depths of this place. Stylistically, I suppose we must say that it is Romanesque, overlaid with Renaissance, and then slathered with a rich Baroque frosting. I remember it […]
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Just off the plaza, the Portal del Castilla faces into the setting sun and towards Santiago. In fact, the Camino itself goes through this gate on its way out of town. We were hanging around the plaza waiting for the church to open when I wandered out the gate and snapped this photo. Date: 05 April 2016 Place: Los Arcos […]
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And here is what was through the arcade in yesterday’s photo! Several cafés and restaurants front on the plaza, and many folks took their food and drinks outside. Dominating this space is the Iglesia de Santa María de Los Arcos. This church is a mish-mash of styles, from Romanesque to Renaissance to Baroque, which somehow all sort of work together. […]
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After a dodgy beginning, the streets of Los Arcos settle down into a narrow maze of medieval streets which sometimes go through buildings or end in arcades facing out onto small courtyards, such as here. Our albergue tonight will be the fantastic Albergue La fuente Casa Austria. Date: 05 April 2016 Place: Los Arcos (Navarra, Spain)
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The entrance to Los Arcos is not particularly encouraging. But looks can be deceiving! The further you get in, the prettier (and more medieval) it gets. From this photo, you’d be forgiven for thinking it a frontier town in the American west! Shortly after this photo was taken, we ran into Billy. He was waiting for a Farmacia to open, […]
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Have I mentioned how beautiful Navarra is? As you can see, the storm has passed for the moment. The sun shines above, and the clouds are retreating to the horizon. To the left, we see a vineyard, with its ancient vines, gnarled like zombie hands reaching up through the soil. Wait, what? Date: 05 April 2016 Place: between Villamayor de […]
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Today’s photo requires some backstory. One year ago today, I sent my application to the Archdiocese of Seattle to discern for the diaconate. I felt that God was calling me to be a deacon. Ultimately, the Archdiocese rejected my application. This was a heart-breaking moment for me. I still felt God calling me to serve Him, but now I was […]
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