Author: Thom

Here’s a closer photo of the shrine I mentioned yesterday. As you can see, it’s a stunningly clothed image of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Christ child. This is a reproduction of the statue of Nuestra Señora del Rocío, perhaps originally Our Lady of Remedies, the original of which is located in the Ermita del Rocío in Andalusia. I found her […]

Towards the end of the long urban parkland leaving Logroño, Eamon and I came upon this shrine. The ground in front was covered in offerings in the form of flowers, holy cards, stones, small statues, and prayers written on slips of paper. Tomorrow: a close-up! Date: 08 April 2013Place: leaving Logroño (La Rioja, Spain)Today started: in Logroño (La Rioja, Spain)

Following a long city slog, we come to a long stretch of beautiful parkland on our way out of Logroño. In addition to Petra, seen here, and the rest of the pilgrims, there were many locals here out for their morning walks. Date: 08 April 2013Place: Logroño (La Rioja, Spain)Today started: in Logroño (La Rioja, Spain)

This photo probably needs little in the way of explanation, except to say that this is pretty typical of my Camino breakfasts all across Spain: café con leche and whatever the local pastry might be. Or bread. Or Spanish tortilla. I’m not picky. Date: 08 April 2013Place: Logroño (La Rioja, Spain)Today started: in Logroño (La Rioja, Spain)

The Parlamento de La Rioja building – where the government of La Rioja is located – was once a tobacco factory owned by Tabacalera. This company was originally the Spanish tobacco monopoly. It was founded in 1636, making it the olded tobacco company in the world. This statue near the Parliament building commemorates that history. Date: 08 April 2013Place: Logroño […]

Another example of public art in the towns and cities of the Camino. No idea what it’s supposed to represent, though it might be a sly dig at the building behind us to the left, which is the Iglesia de Santiago el Real – the Royal Church of Santiago in Logroño. Date: 08 April 2013Place: Logroño (La Rioja, Spain)Today started: […]

On our trek out of the city of Logroño, we followed these tiles in the street. They are quite different from the marks we followed into the city. Older, probably, and certainly more worn. How many millions of pilgrims have walked this way before us? Date: 08 April 2013Place: Logroño (La Rioja, Spain)Today started: in Logroño (La Rioja, Spain)

Here we are, dawn on day 7 of the Camino. Our pilgrim family is rousing itself for the walk from Logroño to Ventosa. Despite last night’s revelry, we are more or less awake, and I at least am feeling pretty good. From left to right: Patrick, Petra, Ali, Viola, Eamon. Not pictured: everybody else. Date: 08 April 2013Place: Logroño (La […]

After our adventure to the Drunken Duck, we gathered for dinner. Here’s what I said in my journal: “Massive evening dinner for Carlos’ 30th birthday. Festive, loud, singing. At least 18 people for the dinner, and six or seven more who came in later. Riotous good fun. Met many more pilgrims, too numerous to count.” Date: 07 April 2013Place: Logroño […]