Camino de Santiago - Explore
On September 7, 2016, my sister Cathy and I started the 500 mile journey from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, in the foothills of the French Pyrénées, to Santiago de Campostela near the west coast of Spain. We arrived 42 days later.
There's a lovely tradition at Refuge Orisson, our first stop on the Camino Francés. After the communal dinner, we were encouraged to stand up, introduce ourself, and say a bit about our upcoming journey. Here's a short video with the voices of four solo peregrinas we met that night. It's a work in progress, all of it.
Los Cuatro Peregrinas - Senderismo Solos Juntos
Explore Camino Francés using Google Maps tech tools.
Instructions:
- Click on each day's map to open a new tab with a Google Map in satellite view of that day's destination.
- Click on the day's photo to open the Google Street View of that photo's location, where available. While in street view, you might need to click on the 'compass' icon in upper right for 360 VR mode.
- You can explore further from either view. The Google explore tools are fun and educational, and often their selection of photos is quite good. Hit the explore arrows icon in the lower right hand corner, if the tools are hidden.
- Finally, there is a button gateway to each day's media - photos and videos where available. This will also open in a new tab.
(Click on map for top down Google Map View)
Looking south toward the Pyrenees and Spain beyond. (Click on picture for Google Street View)
(Click on map for top down Google Map View)
The view near the Refuge Orisson, only 5 miles out of Saint-Jean. But the steep climb and unusual heat deemed the decision to stay here a good one. (Click on picture for Google Street View)
Pyrenees Highlands in the mist. (Click on picture for Google Street View)
We walked through the village of Auritz and then though more lush forrest paths in the foothills on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees. We ended up in a green and golden valley, and spent the night in the village of Bizkarreta.
Cathy sits on this picturesque bridge watching a Golden Lab cavort in the Rio Arga, which we had been following for awhile.
We ate a wonderful Italian dinner in one of the many wonderful restaurants on the perimeter of the Plaza de Castillo, near the heart of Pamplona.
Iconic metal sculpture at the summit of Alta del Perdón (Mountain of Forgiveness). Steep climb out of Pamplona on a brilliant day.
What a surprise finding this landscape sculpture just outside the village of Cirauqui, on our way to Estella.
Before descending back down to Los Arcos, we pass by the village of Villamayor de Monjardín. On the peak above the city sits Castillo de San Esteban.
Cathedral of Saint Mary on one of main streets of Logroño. I had just purchased a new pair of heavenly Keen sandals and my feet rejoiced.
On a hill overlooking the village. The Church interior was quite ornate. What a lovely village.
The village of Nájera backs up to this astounding rock formation, riddled with caves, still used to store wine.
The Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada. We attended a mass here, part in celebration of Saint Domenic, who devoted much of his life to helping the pilgrims on their journey to Santiago.
Outside of Belorado, on our way to the tiny village (despite its name) of Villa Major del Rio. Clouds and haystacks in beautiful abundance.
Santiago el Mayor church. We stayed in a large - 15 beds per room - well run Albergue, and shared a delicious communal meal with already close friends.
Stone sculptures just outsie the village of Atapuerca, home Sierra de Atapuerca caves, one of the richest fossil excavations in all of Europe.
Tiny slice of the magnificent opulence inside the Cathedral of Burgos located adjacent the Plaza Rey San Fernando. Burgos is steeped in history.
A lone tree on the hill overlooking Hornillos. We were lucky to have a bed there, The town was full up and the next beds over 6 miles away.
Entering Castrojeriz, with its three churches, hilltop castle, and the cutest donkey in the world.
Puente de Itero, across Rio Pisuerga. Nearby is the old San Nicholas refuge, built in the 12th Century. If you want a true Pilgrim experience, stay there!
As we leave Villalcaázur, the rising sun lights the face of this sculpture tribute to Pablo Payo, an important innkeeper on the Camino de Santiago.
At the end of long, hot and nearly treeless stretch of over ten miles of an old Roman road, a meal and hot shower blessedly awaits.
On the outskirts of Sahagún, we cross the halfway point on the Camino de Frances. We celebrated over a great meal with friends late into the evening.
View out the our window at El Peregrino hostel. Earlier that evening we were treated to a mini-music festival hosted by Marcus Desolataque,
Into the walled village of Mansilla de las Mulas on the outskirts of Leon.
León Cathedral, built in the 13th Century The third cathedral at this location.
A taxi dropped us off in Valverde de la Virgen, 7 km out of León, so we could bypass the busy streets. Found another stork nest supporting chapel.
The 19 arch bridge into Hospital de Órbigo is one of longest and best preserved in Spain. Also the site of an historic joust.
On the way to small hamlet of Murias de Rechivaldo the large city of Astroga, with its famous Catherdral and its equally famous Bishop's Palace, built by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí.
Some old walls outside the hamlet of Santa Catalina de Somoza. The stone work in this area is beautiful, intricate, and built to last.
A hard hike and an unexpectedly emotional day. We climbed up to the highest point on the Camino to La Cruz de Ferro. A place where some leave mementos, tokens, and memories. Afterward a steep and rocky climb down to Molinaseca. It was a huge day, full of smiles and tears.
Knights of Templar castle in Ponferrada, a large town on our way to Cacabelos. Built in 12th century, before the knights were banished by the Church.
On bridge over the Rio Bûrbia look back at Villafranca del Bierzo.
A pride of kitties greeted us coming into Laguna de Castillo. I was packing an extra can of sardines, and much happiness ensued.
Reaching the peak at the village of O'Cebreiro, where Queen Isabella once slept, we could see far into the vast province of Galicia, home to Santiago de Compostela. The nearby village was originally a Monastery, settled in the 11th century. The queen stayed here in 1486 on her pilgrimage to Santiago.
Note: Google Street view was not available in this remote village, so clicking will get a view of the ancient village.
Cathy and a couple of our good Camino friends cross the bridge leading out of Sarria.
Taken out the window of the women's bathroom in our albergue in Mercadoiro, a small village with a population of about 5, not counting the 8 peregrinos bunking here for the night. The rain has stopped. But perhaps not for long.
As the sun came up we found ourselves just off the Camino, standing on one of the surrounding earthen walls of a Celtic Hill-fort. A bloody Celtic Hill-fort in Spain! Below us was pre-Roman Celtic village, built sometime between the 4th and 2nd Century BC, and unearthed in an major archeological excavation. The rest of the day we walked through beautiful Galician landscapes and villages.
1000 words of the beauty that is Galicia after an October rain.
Yet another stunning Roman Bridge, thus one over the Rio Furelos, entering the mid-sized town of Melide.
Historical medieval bridge coming into the hamlet Ribadiso. For centuries an important stop and respite for the pilgrims. To this day.
An old "Hórreo" in the village A Rúa, Used to store corn and grain, and keep up it away from animals. That night we celebrated our last dinner on this Camino, the next day we arrived in Santiago. Compostela.
My sister and I step on the 'last shell' in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, 42 days and 500 miles later.
A momument to Saint Francis of Assisi, and to the right, the Iglesia de San Franclsco.
It's a good walk