You never know who’ll you meet on the way to Pamplona!
Day 5–Pamplona to Puente la Reina
Plaza de Toros de Pamplona
On the way to Puente la Reina—big ominous clouds!
Bocadilla con jamon y queso tastes mighty good after 7.5 miles of walking in the rain
Puente la Reina
Day 6–Puente la Reina to Estella
On the way to Cirauqui
Fellow pilgrims in Cirauqui
A section of a Roman road
Estella—Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Day 7 - Estella to Los Arcos
Apparently, you can find sheep outside of Lincoln, Rocklin and Roseville! 🙂
Thank God for the food truck up ahead!
Los Arcos - Plaza de Santa Maria
Day 8 - Los Arcos to Viana
Plaza de Santa Maria
Our new Camino friend, Jody
A bit of an oasis in the middle of a hot day.
Almost there!
Viana - old city center
Day 9–Viana to Logroño (about 6.5 miles—an “easy” day 😉)
Logroño—Rio Ebro
Logroño
Logroño—Concatedral de Santa Maria de la Redonda
Day 10–Logroño to Najera
Starting before sunrise to try to beat the heat.
Camino Way—town of Navarette
Town of Navarette
12th century Roman structure
Day 10–“The vineyards are lovely, but where is the shade I was promised?”
Day 11-Najera to Santo Domingo
Approaching Azofra (Pastry and fresh squeezed orange juice await!!)
This is why they call it a pilgrimage.
Santo Domingo de la Calzada Cathedral
Day 12–Santo Domingo to Belorado
The 1000th anniversary of the town Viloria de Rioja. Kind of puts GS’ 30th anniversary in perspective. 😊
Highlight of Day 12’s last walking segment: truckers on the parallel highway honking their horn to wish us and fellow peregrinos (pilgrims) well!
Day 13 - Belorado to Villafranca de Montes de Oca
Village of Villambista
A "short" walk (7.6 miles) to Villafranca de Montes de Oca that felt like quite a long one (high of 97 today)!
Villafranca de Montes de Oca - Church of Santiago (18th century)
Day 14 - Villafranca de Montes de Oca to Atapuerca
"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." (Psalm 90:14)
The guidebooks didn't prepare us for this!
Grateful for the shade for a big part of the walk today. Not so enamored with the pesky gnats.
Only 2km to Atapuerca!
Atapuerca - Parish church of San Martin (15th century). So many people have entered this church that they have worn down the marble step!
Day 15 - Atapuerca to Burgos
Si, that is the moon, and no, the sun has not decided to come up yet!
Beautiful parque leading us into Burgos
Burgos Cathedral - makes you want to look up!
Day 16–Burgos to Hornillos del Camino
Early morning in Burgos
One last glimpse of Burgos cathedral
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
Psalm 84:3
Church in Tardajos
A very welcome oasis up ahead!!
A new Camino friend from Poland 😊
Day 17–Hornillos del Camino to Castrojeriz
Day 17–Hornillos del Camino to Castrojeriz
Town of Hontanas
Ruins of the convent of San Anton (14th century)
Ruins of the convent of San Anton
Day 18–Castrojeriz to Frómista
The guidebook was right—don’t forget to look back!
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1
Day 18–Castrojeriz to Frómista
Canal de Castilla (beautiful entry into Frómista)
Frómista—Iglesia de San Martin (consecrated in 1066!)
Frómista—Iglesia de San Martin
(Crucified Christ sculpture from the 13th century)
Day 19–Frómista to Carrión de los Condes
“How many are your works, Lord!
in wisdom you made them all;”
Psalm 104:24
There were two route options today. Apparently, we took “the road less traveled.” 😊
Villalcazar de Sirga—Santa Maria la Blanca (13th century)
A possible new pulpit option for Kevin and Matt?? 😉 (The steps lead to the pulpit on the other side of the pillar.)
Santa Maria la Blanca (built by Knights Templar—13th century!)
Day 20–Carrión de los Condes to Calzadilla de la Cueza
It’s a good day when the food truck still has Zumo naranja (fresh squeezed orange juice)! 😋
Part of the old Roman road
Walking part of the Via Aquitania. (The Via Aquitania was a Roman road created in 118 BC in the Roman province of Gaul.)
Day 21–Calzadilla de la Cueza to Sahagun
Beating the heat
Less than 400 km to go! 🤪
Melon con jamon—tasty combo!
Hostal Domus Viatoris—home sweet home for tonight
Day 22–Sahagun to El Burgo Ranero
Leaving Sahagun
Day 22–Sahagun to El Burgo Ranero
An alburgue (hostel) 10 km into our walk to rest our feet and fuel up!
We love our shade! 🥵
El Burgo Ranero
Comida (Lunch!!)
Day 23–El Burgo Ranero to Mansilla de las Mulas
Out early again today—high of 95 Fahrenheit predicted (that’s 35 Celsius for all you Europeans!)
Corn!! (which we’ve been seeing a lot of lately)
“The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.” Psalm 67:6-7
Mansilla de las Mulas
Mansilla de las Mulas
Day 24–Mansilla de las Mulas to León
León in the distance!
León Cathedral—jaw dropping!
Day 25–León to Mazarife
Life is a lot like the Camino. Some days you’re walking through a lovely shaded wood and other days it’s a lot like this!
Day 25–León to Mazarife
The last 3 miles of today’s Camino looked just like this.
Day 26 & 27–Mazarife to Hospital de Orbigo to Astorga
Entering Hospital de Orbigo—one of the longest and best preserved medieval bridges in Spain dating from the 13th century.
Empanada with chorizo from the local panaderia—muy bueno!
Leaving Hospital de Orbigo
Day 27
Day 27
Astorga Cathedral in the distance!
Like we said before—you just never know who you’ll meet while walking the Camino! (Astorga)
Day 28–Astorga to Rabanal del Camino (4 full weeks of walking the Camino!!)
Astorga Cathedral—a reminder to look up!
Astorga—Palacio de Gaudí (a modernist building designed by Antonio Gaudi in the neo-Gothic style, built in the late 1800’s)
Morning enthusiasm!
Almost to Rabanal del Camino
Rabanal del Camino—Rejuvenated monastic chapel
Day 29–Rabanal del Camino to El Acebo
Day 29
Cruz de Ferro (Iron Cross)—an opportunity to lay down your burden symbolized by a rock you brought from home or found along the Camino.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7
Elevensies! (We have embraced the lifestyle of the hobbits. 😁)
Day 30–El Acebo to Ponferrada
Slate river bed—not big fans!
Passed through the lovely town of Molinaseca
Ponferrada—Castillo de los Templarios (medieval castle originally built by the Knight’s Templar)
Day 31–Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo
Cacabelos (Don’t miss the storks in the nest at the top of the photo!)
Under 200 km!! (194 km=120.5 miles to go!)
Day 31–so many vineyards (felt like we were in Napa Valley)
Villafranca del Bierzo in the distance (We thought we were done with climbing hills for the day. We were wrong. 🙁)
12th Century Romanesque Church of Santiago
Day 32–Villafranca del Bierzo to Herrerías
Day 32–This is the way!
Day 32–Vega de Valcarce
One of the pleasures of the Camino—stopping at the local panaderia!
Day 32–Vega de Valcarce
Day 33–Herrerías to O Cebreiro
Short walking distance (about 6 miles) but big climb (almost 2000 feet!) Enjoy the views!
Day 33–Up, up, up!!
Day 33–O’Cebreiro
Day 33–O’Cebreiro—Iglesia de Santa Maria Real (dating from the 9th century, oldest church in existence associated directly with the pilgrim way)
Day 34 & 35–O’Cebreiro to Triacastela to Samos
Pilgrim’s Blessing spoken in multiple languages—O’Cebreiro
Day 34–Creation beauty!
Day 34
Day 34
Day 34
Day 34–pilgrim numbers are increasing as we get closer to Santiago
Day 35
Day 35–an unexpected encounter! (She was friendly 😊)
Day 35–Samos Monastery (one of the largest and oldest monasteries in the western world founded in the 6th century!)
Day 35–Samos
Day 36 & 37–Samos to Sarria to Portomarin
Samos Monastery (Benedictine)
Day 36–Pilgrims place their wooden crosses in the chain link fence as a way to lay their burdens down.
Day 36–This day’s route made us feel like we were in The Shire (reference from The Hobbit).
Day 36–Last stop before Sarria. Run by an abuela (Spanish grandmother) type host. Loved her hospitality and her cakes!!
Day 36–right before the “entering Sarria” sign
Day 37–First steps of the day are actual steps into the historical part of the city.
Day 37–Sarria
Day 37–The number of pilgrims increases dramatically in Sarria, since you must walk at least 100 km to Santiago Cathedral to get your Certificate of Completion.
Day 37–crossing the Rio Miño to enter Portomarin
Day 37–Portomarin
The 52 steps don’t just look steep!
Day 37–Less than 100 km to go!
Day 38–Portomarin to Palas de Rei
The theme for today is “Pilgrims, pilgrims, and more pilgrims!”
Day 38
Day 38
Day 38–A rare opportunity to have a quiet moment
Day 38
Day 39–Palas de Rei to Arzúa
Day 39–Our host, Umberto, showed us amazing Camino hospitality.
Day 39–San Xulián (12th century church)
Day 39–Lovely wooded trails made up a large portion of today’s Camino.
Day 39–some opportunities to be away from the pilgrim masses
Day 39
Day 39–Hace calor! (Translation: It’s very hot!)
The Grand Finale—Arzúa to Santiago Cathedral!
Psalm 8:1
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. (Arzúa)
12 kilometers to go!! (San Paio)
The French Way of the Camino from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago Cathedral—complete!!
