Blogs from Logroño, La Rioja, Spain, Europe - page 2

We decided to sleep in a little bit today. Left the hostel at 9:00 am to get a pilgrim stamp at the cathedral. The weather was a little overcast but pleasant. Enjoyed a beautiful paved trail leaving Logrono. Biked to Navarette for breakfast and received another stamp at the cathedral. Mostly up hill today and we rode the trail which takes a long time. Had to hike n bike a few times because the terrain is so rocky and steep. The camino route took us through miles and miles of vineyards. It was very tranquil, but hilly. About 5 miles from our destination the skies turned into a large faucet and it started to down pour. I was again thankful I had my poncho. Made it to Hostel la Catedral in Santo Domingo. Biked a total ... read more

We left Los Arcos and are now relaxing in rainy Logroño Spain at the Hotel Condes de Haro. My right hip and knee are causing no lack of anxiety .The desire to continue is intense but the practicality of continuing in pain isn't , "practical " or wise.Our decision to stop is painful too ..very . With 3 years preparation I expected I could do better. The good is we did get as far as Logrono and now have much better awareness of what to expect when we continue in 2016 . For now we are going to spend several days in Barcelona and rest . Then head home and rest some more . This ends my blog until we begin again .. We appreciate all the encouragement and help you have giving us during this ... read more

We left Estella after having a caffe con leche at a modern bar which was once part of a grand railway station and headed west ( where else) along good paths leading to the Monasterio Irache . This was about 3 kms of walking from Estella and is famous for having a double drinking fountain, one with water and one with red wine, promising health and happiness to all pilgrims who drink from it. It was still early but health and happiness are too good to pass up on so we filled a water bottle with wine, had a sip and moved on. We continued on gravel tracks bordered by ancient stone walls on one side and beautiful country side on the other. In the distance the light coloured cliffs separating the Basque Country from Spain ... read more

After taking my shower, puttimg on some clean clothes and sitting down to relax, I walked around the city a bit. Decided to check out the local stores and restaurants. Logroño is one of those typical big old cities where right around the cathedral buildings are as old as the holy building itself. Go further away from it and it s your normal stores and buildings.... plenty people though. It has been a week on the camino since we have been around a big big crowd of people and it s not my favorite thing to do. Found a nice terras for a glass of wine and some lunch before Thomas went to take a nap. I stayed up and chatted with a friend through skype which was a blast. Showing her around the city was ... read more

Empowered to Receive Love - Abba means much the same as daddy. Thus the word Abba expresses trust, safely, confidence, belonging, and most of all intimacy. Abba implies an embracing and nurturing love which transcends all love that may come from elsewhere. Complements of Henri Nowen as translated by ME! I have been walking with Abba father - my daddy - quite a bit. Today I walked 18 miles almost non-stop, except to watch a herd of sheep grazing with its shepard (yes a real shephard - complete with staff and dog!) watching over them. And yes I recited the 23rd Pslam to myself. Anyway I walked that 18 miles for the most part alone. Many of my friends left ahead of me and then stopped in Viana. I chose to keep going as I was ... read more

Hard to get time on the internet,plus I¨m lazy. Off to Logrono,only 10 kms,easy day.Pop 130,000,stayed in a hotel again,showered,cafe.We found a market,so that was it for me!Every kind of fresh meat,and all and I mean ALL their parts.Nose to tail,eh Patrick.Fish is very expensive in this part of Spain.Smoked salmon, the small package 30.00 euros. met some kids 30 somethings,Simon and Mercedes from England.We spent the evening with beer and pinchos(tapas),Simon had become a bit of an expert.Pigs cheeks! Mercedes said they could of been a little bit more crusty,I thought they were fine and Aiden didn¨t know what he ate. It was the beginning of a festival.crazy nite,but we slept in,had a long breakfast.I left Aiden with cafe con leche and a basket of pastries. On to Najera,when we checked in the guy gave ... read more