Pilgrims on the Way

We enter our final village for today, Vallambistia. I never found out the name of the village church, seen here. In my various guides and sources, it’s just called the Iglesia Parroquial – the “parish church”. I just love the blue door. There’s only one albergue here, the Municipal San Roque, so that’s where we head first. Date: 10 April […]

No words today. Date: 10 April 2016 Place: Between Tosantos and Villambistia (Castilla y León, Spain) Maps!

Just across the creek from the village of Tosantos, you can see a structure carved into the cliffs. In the thirteenth century, a holy hermit lived in these caves. From her hermitage, she ministered to the passing pilgrims and was revered by the townsfolk. After her death, a chapel was built into the hillside, and each year of the Feast […]

Between Belorado and Tosantos, we walked under a blue sky over green fields. And all was right with the world. Well, except for the fact that we were over-tired and probably should have just called it a day in Belorado. Date: 10 April 2016 Place: Between Belorado and Tosantos (Castilla y León, Spain) Maps!

The way out of Belorado leads over the Río Tirón on this wooden bridge built next to a much older stone bridge. How much older? It was reportedly built by Santo Domingo de la Calzada and his apprentice San Juan de Ortega in the 11th Century. In order to make it sturdy enough for the modern highway to cross, in […]

Although I haven’t been posting many, I took a fair number of photos of street signs, particularly if the name tickled me in some way. This street in Belorado is a good sample. One of the many things I love about Spain. Date: 10 April 2016 Place: Belorado (Castilla y León, Spain) Maps!

As I mentioned earlier, the town of Belorado is famous for its murals. This is a particularly striking example, featuring a bearded medieval pilgrim – or possibly Santiago Peregrino himself. Now it’s time to head out of Belorado, with its Disney-bright painted houses, murals, and stork nests, and head back to the open road. Date: 10 April 2016 Place: Belorado […]

We meet a fellow pilgrim in Belorado. He’s the strong, silent type, but he prefers colourful gear. Francine leans on him awhile in the shade. I secretly think he might be Tom Bombadil in disguise. Date: 10 April 2016 Place: Belorado (Castilla y León, Spain) Maps!

I don’t know what to call the previous repast – third breakfast? First lunch? Anyhow, this is the one after that: raciónes in Belorado. It’s a lot like tapas, only the plates are bigger. And don’t get me started on pintxos. There’s a pretty good guide to the different sizes and such of the various Spanish plates here. And it’s […]