- Time of past OR future Camino
- VdlP(2012) Madrid(2014)Frances(2015) VdlP(2016)
VdlP(2017)Madrid/Sanabres/Frances reverse(2018)
After I returned from my first Camino, the VdlP, I was showing my photos to friends here in this little town in Western Australia. I mentioned the fact that the "Silver Route" may have connections to the old Roman, (indeed Phoenecian) mines around Rio Tinto, near Sevilla in Andalusia. One of my friends present, named significantly Paquita, told me that her great grandfather was a mine manager for a decade in that region, in the 1880's. She showed me the diary of her grandmother, also Paquita, who was born in San Telmo.
I was fascinated, and have since done quite a bit of research on this. I contacted the University of Huelva, and was put in touch with the Prof of Mining Engineering there, who is a big advocate of preserving and recording the mining heritage of the region. I have a double interest in all this, because the biggest employer in my town, is believe it or not Rio Tinto, (which now has no connection with the original mine).
After my Camino Frances, which begins in 10 days or so, I am heading down to Andalusia, where I am promised by my professor acquaintance, "a tour of the land of Paquita". Spanish hospitality as ever.
As a side note, to all those Aussies on this forum, little Paquita, born in Spain, migrated with her family to Australia, where her father was appointed general manager of BHP. She married Douglas Mawson. How about that!
I was fascinated, and have since done quite a bit of research on this. I contacted the University of Huelva, and was put in touch with the Prof of Mining Engineering there, who is a big advocate of preserving and recording the mining heritage of the region. I have a double interest in all this, because the biggest employer in my town, is believe it or not Rio Tinto, (which now has no connection with the original mine).
After my Camino Frances, which begins in 10 days or so, I am heading down to Andalusia, where I am promised by my professor acquaintance, "a tour of the land of Paquita". Spanish hospitality as ever.
As a side note, to all those Aussies on this forum, little Paquita, born in Spain, migrated with her family to Australia, where her father was appointed general manager of BHP. She married Douglas Mawson. How about that!