Blogs from La Rioja, Spain, Europe - page 4

As I mentioned in my previous blog I made it to Viana but barely .I decided I needed to treat my knee and myself for a couple days and found a nice little casa 12 mi south of Logroño off the Camino path. La Casa Verde is run by a wonderful woman named Pila .Pila lives here with her huband and daughters. The Casa is quaint and very quiet. Great for rest and reflection . Its designated a B&B but it also offers a nice lunch and dinner. My room has a separate bathroom , SHOWER! with lots of hot water. Yippeee! ! My plan is to leave here Monday and return to Viana and stay at albergue Izar the night then walk to the west side of Logroño an re-evaluate my knee . I have ... read more

Il faut bien retourner vers le Nord si un jour nous devons rentrer à la maison !!!! C'est ainsi qu'après Ségovie nous nous dirigeons vers Soria, Logroño et enfin Pamplune... Toutes les photos ne seront peut être pas pour ce blog car il y a matière à photos... N'oubliez pas... je filme aussi... j'ai du boulot pour des mois et des mois de tranquilité lors des prochaines saisons, alors que je vois que l'été sera déjà bien chargé, l'automne tout autant et qui sait aussi pour l'hiver ! faut rêver dans la vie et pour moi le rêve se réalise dès que je passe la frontière ou les frontières ! Avant Soria nous trouvons tout d'un coup devant nous un village perché qu'on appelle : El Burgo Osma. Il ne faut que le traverser avec la ... read more

4 September 2015, Friday, Stage 11 Santo Domingo to Belorado GPS: 14.78 miles. 7.5 hours from Parador to Casa Waslala. Lost moving time. Fitbit: 14.13 miles, 32,246 steps, 98 stairs. After a lovely breakfast in the Santo Domingo Parador we set off. We cross over Santo Domingo's sixteen arch bridge, barely recognizable due to many modifications. At Cruz de Los Valientes, a steel cross marks the spot where a deciding fight was held between two chosen fighters, one from Granon and one from Santo Domingo. Even though Santo Domingo had an experienced fighter and he was slathered wth olive oil, the common laborer from Granon was the winner--in Medieval times, it was sometimes the custom to submit such matters to the Divine Judge on the basis He would protect the innocent party! Granon is noted for ... read more

2 September 2015, Wednesday-rest day in Najera and trip to San Millan and monasteries We take the regional bus up to San Millan de la Cogolia, a name given to an ensemble of a village and two monasteries. Its roots lie in the community which grew around the work of a sainted hermit named Millan (473-574) who spent his life devoted to prayer in caves in the mountainous area. Suso, Latin meaning "upwards," is the name for the older monastery, near the caves. Yuso, Latin meaning "downwards," is the name of the newer one at the bottom of the valley. The ensemble is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We have only a few pictures from this day as there is no photography allowed in Yuso and they are adamant about enforcing this rule. Suso was built ... read more

31 August 2015, Monday, stage 8 GPS: 31 August, Monday. Viana to Navarette. Left at 0737, arrived 1445, GPS 14.58 miles 5 hour 21 minutes walking. Fitbit: Stairs 70 Steps 31,981 Miles 13.97. Stay at Palacio de Pulgadas one of the group Posadas del Camino. Leave at 7:37 we almost miss breakfast as there is no one at the desk and no breakfast activity in the bar. However, a lone woman behind the bar motions to a room down from the bar and it is as if you stepped through the closet and into Narnia. There are delicious fried eggs, bacon, the most lovely chocolate croissants, juice and fruits of many kinds, yoghurt, cheeses and hard sausages. Fueled, we head out for Navarette. We keep watch on the sky as the weather forecast has been for ... read more