Pilgrims on the Way

The Camino follows a variety of trackways, roads, and highways. This part of the Way may not look like much, but it is the remains of a two thousand year old Roman road. In the valley after Cirauqui, the Camino follows it for several kilometers. In the background you can see a more modern highway bridge. It was along this […]

So. Cirauqui is a town of sunny whitewashed homes and new construction. What’s the first photo I take when we arrive? Something old, dark, and shadowy. I’m incorrigible. What this monument is meant to designate, I don’t know. When I took the photo, I thought it might be something Benedictine, but now I don’t think so. Date: 05 April 2013Place: […]

We walked on through garden and vineyard and wide open fields and even past a walled cemetery before catching a sudden flash – a shining city on a hill. This proved to be the village of Cirauqui, a place confined to a single hill and crowned with its fortress-like Iglesia de San Román. It’s about 10:30 in the morning, and […]

Just a quick look back at the small town/large village of Mañeru. There’s nothing particularly unique about this place – it’s like a dozen other Navarran villages we’ve passed through. I am curious, though, why it was built right on the farmland rather than on the defensive hill behind it. Perhaps this indicates a later settlement? Date: 05 April 2013Place: […]

I just love old, rusting agricultural equipment like this. I once photographed a series of truly bizarre rusting 19th century tractors in Eastern Washington, and I certainly got the same vibe from this. Since it was set out next to a bodega cooperative, I presume it’s for crushing grapes for wine. Date: 05 April 2013 Place: Mañeru (Navarra, Spain) Map! […]

Beyond the river, the Camino follows the N-111 highway towards Estella. This is our destination today, only 19km from Puente la Reina. Although we’re following the modern road, it follows the medieval one, so everything comes full circle. And for our New Year photo, we have perhaps a symbolic “new road” reaching into the distance towards our destination. Date: 05 […]

This bridge over the Río Arga lends its name to the town: Puente la Reina, the Queen’s Bridge. But which queen? The most common story is that it is named for Queen Muniadona, wife of King Sancho III of Navarra. She reportedly ordered the construction of the bridge for the use of pilgrims. However, other stories credit Queen Estefania, wife of King García Sánchez III. […]

These damaged statues fascinated me, and I took some closeup photos. Here’s the Pope from above the false door. I’ve no idea who he might be, and I’m curious as to how the damage was done. It’s pretty clearly deliberate, and I think there are some marks that are obviously bullet holes on the surrounding putti, and possibly the Pope’s […]