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Camino Frances
towards Alto de Perdon
near Zariquiegui
photo taken October 22, 2012
Unfortunately this verdant path was deceptive; it led to churning mud!
back road
near Campanas
haystack
photo taken January 22, 2008
These 2 pilgrims and I were on a back road "walk around" to avoid climbing up/down the Alto de Perdon yet eventually arrive at Eunate.
After following route NA 6000 southeast from Cizur Menor near the haystack we continued on...
Camino Frances
Cizur Menor
albergue Roncal
photo taken 0ctober 1, 2004
Seeing this scallop shell hung at the open doorway during my first CF I immediately sensed that pilgrims were welcome to just walk in.
...Camino life in 2004 was very relaxed!
Camino Frances
Cizur Menor
Roncal albergue
photo taken October 1, 2004
After trying to cross bustling Pamplona on crowded sidewalks with a full backpack the informal Roncal albergue atmosphere was especially relaxing.
Camino Frances
Pamplona
Cathedral cloister
photo taken October 21, 2013
Above the open loggia space on the 2nd storey of this Gothic cloister can be seen an uppermost smaller loggia which may have been part of a dormitory. Open on one side these loggias would have been/still are airy covered...
Camino Frances
Pamplona
January 29, 2009
After revisiting the cathedral this rainy/cold day in the wet cloister courtyard the sole fell off my hiking boot! Luckily an elderly priest holding an open umbrella beckoned saying "Senora please come with me". We walked to an old-fashioned sports...
Camino Frances
Trinidad de Arre
photo taken October 15, 2011
Boots airing in the autumn sunshine outside the Marist monastery albergue....Now I wonder what has changed over the years.
Camino Frances
Trinidad de Arre
Marist monastery garden
photo taken October 19, 2014
As the shadows lengthened I was thankful to be once again in this pleasant, almost timeless, place.
Camino Frances
Trinidad de Arre
photo taken January 11, 2010
Crossing this bridge would be slick and slippery. Arriving here had been difficult since the CF path from Zubiri was covered with ice and snow; I had mainly walked on the verges of route N-135.
Camino Frances
Zubiri
Calle Puente de la Rabia
photo taken October 19, 2013
When walking towards the famous bridge I always admired the handsome side facade of this building.
Camino Frances
nearing Mezkiritz
photo taken October 17, 2014
"Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it."
Marcus Aurelius,
The Emperor's Handbook, II,IV
Camino Frances
leaving Burguete
photo taken October 13, 2011
On the way to Espinal one cool October morning the CF passed through gentle, mist covered farmland .
Camino Frances
Burguete
photo taken October l6, 2015
At the curve in this mid morning view of the CF/route N 135 a hidden turn to the right continued onto a more pastoral CF path.
the source of this map is the
Napoleon series
The present Napoleon route OVER the Pyrenees mountains to Roncesvalles dates from the French battles of 1813; when it was actually named the Napoleon route I do not know.
Although Napoleon Bonaparte never was on this route French troops fought at...
Camino Frances
Roncesvalles
photo taken January 8, 2010
An ethereal winter landscape was
my aesthetic reward after another solo trek through wind, ice, and snow up the Valcarlos alternate and route N135.
Camino Frances
Roncesvalles monastery
photo taken October 17, 2012
Seen from the albergue courtyard at twilight the lights glowing within the monastery complex were both mysterious and welcoming.
Santiago de Compostela
Cathedral Archivo-Biblioteca
This illustration depicting Charlemagne and Roland fighting Moors is from Historia Caroli Magni et Rotholandi/History of Charlemagne and Roland, Book IV of the Codex Calixtinus
Twelve examples of the Codex, a 12th c. medieval manuscript...
Camino Frances
Ibaneta chapel
photos taken October 17, 2012
Colorful glass panes provided an aesthetic pick-me-up when exhausted after climbing from Valcarlos I peered into this tiny window on the locked wayside chapel door.
Valcarlos alternate
Ibaneta pass
photo taken February 7, 2007
On the Valcarlos alternate during late autumn/winter in rain/sleet/snow I always walked the route N135 verges facing traffic since the camino path through the wood became too slick to follow.
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