Some top ten - results of a camino poll.
Top ten refuges:
Roncesvalles
Granon
Gaucelmo
Rabanal
Ave Fenix
Casanova
The drafty lodgings in Belorado
San Bol
German refuge in Pamplona
Boadilla
Top ten things:
Leon- stained glass windows when they switch the lights on in the cathedral at midnight
Stork’s nests on church towers,
Wildflowers
Fuentes when it is hot
Medieval buildings and monuments
The wonderful hospitaleros, especially those at Villamajor de
Monjadin, Ventosa, and Hornillos
My footprint in the hot tarmac of Castrojeriz
The 'wonder' of Calzadilla
The mountains
Meeting so many other peregrinos
Top ten places: (times two!)
Hospital de Orbigo, sitting under the wonderful bridge beside the river
Ibaneta Pass - after climbing from St Jean
The Eunate Church
Estella - the church cloisters of San Pedro de la Rua
Irache - water or wine fountain
Cruz de Ferro
Ponferrada - the Templar Castle
Burgos cathedral
O'Cebreiro
Alto del Perdon - metal sculptures & wind turbines
The beautiful town of Molinaseca and the converted church refugio
The monastery in Samos
Monastery of Santa Maria the cloisters in particular in Najera
Church of San Juan (its tiny) in Furelos
Santo Domingo del Calzada where the rooster crowed
Azofra where Maria presented chilled wine
The Meseta
The 500m marker outside Hontanos, and no sign of human habitation
Molinaseca - The Bridge
Manjarin
Top ten moments ( X three)
Sitting in the river near Estella
St Jean at sunset
The village somewhere on the Meseta whose church bells sounded just like Big Ben
Walking through fields of poppies, and other wild flowers we don't see in Australia
The setting sun and storm in Fisterra
After climbing back up onto the meseta and looking back at Castrojeriz
Roncesvalles pilgrim's mass
Walking up to "Hemingway's Hostal" in Burgette
Jesus Jato
Arriving in Mansilla after spending the night in the rain on the Roman road.
Marie-Noel in Burgos (just in time for Easter Processions).
90 year old Felisa who offered "Figs, water and love' (Higos-Agua y Amor) on the way to Logrono.
The climb up to O'Cebreiro and the church
Eunate in a field of sunflowers
The setting sun and storm in Fisterra
After climbing back up onto the meseta and looking back at Castrojeriz
Church of Santa Maria during vespers in Rabanal
Coming out of the trees and seeing San Juan de Ortega in the distance
Meseta when the poppies are in full bloom and the fields of them dance before you in the breeze
Track down to Molinaseca from Riego when the white cistus is in bloom
Amazing sky at dusk after a thunderstorm in O Cebreiro
Meeting other Pilgrims and sharing the camino experience with them
Cooking a meal and sharing a sing song with other pilgrims in Hornillos Coming out of the fog and hearing Tomas ringing his bell of welcome
Eating wonderful trout in Hospital de Orbigo
Pilgrim Blessing in Los Arcos
Priest Jose Maria in San Juan de Ortega showing us the altar in the almost derelict monastery
Staying with the nuns in Carrion de Los Condes.
Jesus, a Spanish man who was walking with his daughter with Down Syndrome
Discover again that the world is a beautiful place full of love and joy
"I can do it" and I really did
Sitting in an albergue after a day of walking, washing clothes & eat and see the sun going down
Crossing the Pyrenees under a bright blue skies
Arrive to Santiago under a big storm after a very hot and sunny day with Kim
The Pilgrim Blessing at Carrion de los Condes, a most emotional and inclusive blessing
