It was a warm, sunny day in May when we walked into Puente La Reina. As we approached the town, something caught my attention. “What is that on top of the chimney tower? It looks like a…nest? But that would be huge!” It was a nest, and it was huge. And if I looked really,Continue reading “Storks in Strange Places”
Category Archives: Camino Frances
The Chickens of Santo Domingo de la Calzada
The town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada was bound to be one of my favorite stops on the Camino Frances, because I’m a sucker for a town with a good story, and Santo Domingo’s is a Camino classic. Like most good seven hundred-year-old legends, the details vary, but here’s the basic idea: A devoutContinue reading “The Chickens of Santo Domingo de la Calzada”
Camino Frances Memoirs
This is a harder list to narrow down and do justice. Not surprisingly, because the Camino Frances attracts so many pilgrims, there are quite a few (like, dozens) more books available.
A Detour to Eunate
We were just ten kilometers from Puente La Reina, our stop for the night, but there was a side trip I was eager to take: The Church of Santa María of Eunate.
The Pyrenees Crossing in 3 Minutes (Video)
Before I walked my first Camino, when I looked at the whole trip spread out before me, there was one part that scared me more than any other: the day I would walk over the Pyrenees. I’ve written about my own walk from St Jean Pied-de-Port to Roncevalles before. Every pilgrim who’s done itContinue reading “The Pyrenees Crossing in 3 Minutes (Video)”
Hugging Saint James (The Traditions of the Camino)
There’s a lot to do when a Camino pilgrim reaches Santiago de Compostela. You have to find the Pilgrim’s Office, stand in line, and get your Compostela. You have to find a place to stay. You have to find all your friends and take group pictures. You have to go to a pilgrim’s mass atContinue reading “Hugging Saint James (The Traditions of the Camino)”
The Wine Fountain
The wine fountain is one of those things you hear about from other pilgrims, and that’s mentioned in all the books. I knew it was coming, but I was still surprised when we came across it just after eight o’clock in the morning.
The Unexpected Art of the Camino
The Camino isn’t just a walk across the countryside — it’s also a chance to see beautiful, spectacular, awe-inspiring art.But if you look carefully, not everything is majestic.
Tinto de Verano
Today is the unofficial last day of summer. It’s also my birthday, so there are several reasons to kick back and enjoy a tinto de verano, the wine of summer.
The Church of the Sensory Overload
It was like your grandmother’s overcrowded knic-knack cabinet, where everything from the antique china to the snow globe she bought in Vegas is crammed onto a shelf and threatening to topple out at any minute.
camino times two 