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May 4, 2023 Navarrenx, France on the Via Podiensis, the first fortified city of France.
Here is a photo of the gite where we would stay in Navarrenx. To register for the gîte, one had to go to a local bar. We had some time before the gîte would open, so we ordered a beer. Right near our table...
Friday, April 19. 2019 - Ponferrada
This day was Good Friday. In the cool early morning as we started out from our albergue through Ponferrada, we had to pass right by the Templar Castle again. We came upon this scene ... El Hermandad de Jesus Nazareno (The Brotherhood of Jesus the Nazarene)...
May 22, 2022 - Montredon on the Via Podiensis -
The church of Saint-Michel (i.e. St. Michael the Archangel) in Montredon, seems to be a plain gray building. I took this picture to demonstrate that one never knows what you might find if you look inside. Do you notice the three windows on the...
April 25, 2023 La Romieu, France, on the Via Podiensis
La Collegiale in the town of La Romieu is a World Heritage site. In the 12th century church, to the left of the altar, is a door to the sacristy, an unusual construction with frescoed ceiling and walls, but no windows. Here is a look at...
How can I repay the kindnesses that I receive along the Camino? I can't do it for everyone, but here is what I did for one person. The gentleman in the middle of the photo is Dimitri. He and his family have been producing Armagnac for over 100 years in the small city of Eauze along the Via...
There is another cake you may have encountered ... Basque Cake. When I was in SJPP a few weeks ago, I was in a restaurant and wanted some Tarta de Santiago. The waiter told me there was none, but he recommended the Basque Cake (Gâteau Basque). As I discovered, it is sometimes made with a pastry...
I have walked 3 Caminos, with a fourth starting tomorrow, April 19. If it's spring, then it's Camino time! For each of my Caminos I have blogged with a very simple Google doc solution. There are several reasons:
1. I blog only using my cellphone, and because of that, and using a Google drive...
First of all I too think it is a great idea for your future father-in-law. In keeping with the humor of the situation, I always referred to my wife's parent as outlaws. Why, you may wonder? Because the difference between in-laws and outlaws is that outlaws are wanted! 🤣 Sounds like you also...
April 21, 2022 - On the ramparts of the citadel in Povoa de Varzim on the Camino Portugués. My favorite photo of that Camino, my granddaughter and me enjoying each other's company and sharing a Camino. She was a joy to walk with and we now have a special bond.
I too read Camus as a youth, and I appreciated annotated help! Some of his philosophy reminds me of another philosopher by the name of Lao Tzu who taught of another "Way", i.e. the Tao Te Ching. Some quotes from Lao Tzu can easily be applied to El Camino ... such as the oft quoted excerpt from...
This past April my granddaughter and I completed the Camino Portugués. In the town of Caldas des Reis we received a sello from the Albergue Albor that raised the bar on sellos ...
May 1, 2022 - When I was last here in 2019 much of the Cathedral was shut down for renovation and repair in preparation for the Holy Year. It was so nice to experience the Cathedral without all the scaffolding.
While walking the Via Podiensis, a plaque that we often see, both in churches and on town monuments, is one that remembers those who have fought and died for France in different wars. What is especially poignant however, and makes one pause and reflect, is how they are not referred to as...
@JohnLloyd - we all know about the "Most photographed house on the Camino Frances" ... Here is my nomination for "Most photographed house on the Via Podiensis" between Chazeaux and Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole, taken May 13.
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