Blogs from La Rioja, Spain, Europe - page 2

Torres del Rio to Logrono: Today was going to be a short day at just over 20 kilometers. We were up before 6am and out the door just before 7. Last night the Danish lady, Kirsten, told us she was going her own way tomorrow. She is planning on completing her Camino in only 30 days and we are shooting for 34. We knew the first stop for breakfast was 10 kilometers away at Viana, but we decided to go for it. It was a bit long, but not too hard. We stopped at the first place with outside chairs (so we could take off our shoes) called La Taverns to eat breakfast. I had the usual tortilla and cafe con leche, this time with ham and cheese. The next town would Logrono, just over ... read more

Los Arcos to St. Dominic de la Calzara - approx 80 km Weather for the last few days has been good. Not much scorching sunshine and generally overcast. I've been trying to get up at an early hour to take advantage of the cooler mornings. Couple of things are starting to annoy me a little about this trek. #1 If I get up early to avoid the heat AND get suitable accommodation at the next stop, I can't enjoy half my hike as it's in the dark, and; #2 I'm too bagged when I get to the next stop to get all my chores (laundry, shower, shopping) to see the sights that each stop has to offer! Los Arcos area has to be the Napa Valley of Spain. So much wine and so little time. Definitely ... read more

Last two days in Haro . Yesterday we drove to a small town Miranda de Ebro, passing through the fields of vines and lower slopes of the mountains. Not many people around.....done know where they all go as it wasn't the weather for hiding in the shuttered homes from the sun, although it eas 26-28 degrees, in between a few real torrential downpours rolling in and out over the mountains. In the evening we walked out to the largest bodegas to take photos of their amazing buildings and to get a different perspective of the town on foot. Today , after very heavy showers late evening, and more promised today, we drove in to town and walked many of the old streets of the town, again realising what a very pretty place it is! The town ... read more

Forecast for Seville is 44 degrees tomorrow. Good thing we are heading north into southern France soon. Only 34 and 37 for the next two days here in Logrono. The drive from Madrid was a little more enjoyable than the typical trek down motorways. We crossed over some mountains heading toward Logrono hitting 1100 metres at about 4 separate locations. The last 30 or 40 kms was through an amazing, very ancient, glacial valley. Huge steep rock faces provided some spectacular scenery with a few small mediaeval villages nestling in among the rock. We were also very impressed by the tiny village we found for a lunch stop with some very old (medieval again?) house and inns. This is a great part of the world to explore far from the tourist crush of recent major city ... read more

Day 4-Haro. Today, 27 degrees, Pamplona, 82 miles. Walked the famous rout of the bull fiesta-Encierro- where 6 bulls are released each morning to run the cobbled streets of the old town. Graham was most upset that he'd got the date wrong, as he'd planned to push me out in front of the bulls.....one way of getting the weight off I suppose!! sampled a local dish for lunch, lamb Navarra, a lamb casserole.....let's just say, I think the lamb must have been chased all around Pamplona....no meat left on it! On journey back to base , stopped at a pretty village, Puenta la Reina, on route to Santiago de Compostela, which has a five arched bridge-several pilgrims were walking the route! Also saw storks nesting on the spires of a church. See photos on Facebook. Last ... read more