Travel

AZ Aqueous Honorable Mention!

After cruising around the Southwest (taking lots of pictures of vintage motel signs for future paintings!), we've landed in Southern California.  When I collected my waiting mail, I had a surprise waiting--my watercolor and ink painting, Parque Mexico, won an honorable mention in the national juried AZ Aqueous Show! What an awesome welcome back to California.

Beautiful Parque Mexico in the Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City.

Beautiful Parque Mexico in the Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City.

Camino de Santiago: Day 37 -- Arrival!

Somehow, I didn't get a ton of photos of our walk into Santiago and the two days we spent there.  In a way, I'm glad.  The last day of the Camino was one totally spent in the moment--excited and partially astonished to have made it and sad that the end is approaching as we knock of one kilometer after the next.  We stopped at every cafe--took our time. We people watched. We enjoyed the last of the Camino sunrises and scenery.  I limped into Santiago so so grateful my feet carried me this last day without something popping loose like a wonky spring in a clock.

The cathedral was under construction inside and out, but it didn't matter.  The perfect photo backdrop didn't matter.  What felt good was to arrive with friends and to watch other pilgrims arrive throughout the weekend.  It was a lovely time sightseeing like a tourist, having meals with friends from the way and waving hi to somewhat recognizable faces.  Santiago is a beautiful city for arrivals.

We also visited the Pilgrimage Museum behind the cathedral with gave me a frame of reference for an accomplishment I still don't quite comprehend. 

Thank you for your visit.

Thank you for your visit.

Last Galician early morning.  We'll be sleeping in from here on out.

Last Galician early morning.  We'll be sleeping in from here on out.

To prolong the day we stopped at every cafe. This is the first I saw with a gift shop though!

To prolong the day we stopped at every cafe. This is the first I saw with a gift shop though!

Winding our way into Santiago.

Winding our way into Santiago.

One view of the massive cathedral

One view of the massive cathedral

The cathedral interior with Botofumeria.

The cathedral interior with Botofumeria.

Camino De Santiago: Days 31 -33 - Las Herrerias to Fonfria to Sarria to Portomarin

A beautiful but long, steep walk up to O'Cebreiro.

A beautiful but long, steep walk up to O'Cebreiro.

Beautiful Galicia

Beautiful Galicia

The absolute best thing to eat in the quaint town of O'Cebreiro-- a big bowl of caldo gallego and rustic bread (and caffeine of course)

The absolute best thing to eat in the quaint town of O'Cebreiro-- a big bowl of caldo gallego and rustic bread (and caffeine of course)

The Monumento do Peregrino looks out over the sweeping Galician view on the Alto San Roque.

The Monumento do Peregrino looks out over the sweeping Galician view on the Alto San Roque.

Descending from tiny Fonfria in the early morning reveals mountain tops emerging from clouds like islands.

Descending from tiny Fonfria in the early morning reveals mountain tops emerging from clouds like islands.

Breathtaking light filters in serene valleys outside of Triacastela.

Breathtaking light filters in serene valleys outside of Triacastela.

Galician guard dog. Or maybe he's just sunning himself.

Galician guard dog. Or maybe he's just sunning himself.

Leaving Sarria with lots of new faces who have arrived to walk the last 100 kilometers to Santiago.

Leaving Sarria with lots of new faces who have arrived to walk the last 100 kilometers to Santiago.

a mysterious misty morning

a mysterious misty morning

picturesque country roads on the walk to Portomarin.

picturesque country roads on the walk to Portomarin.

The little Galician Camino mascot. He looks like a Miro inspired peregrino

The little Galician Camino mascot. He looks like a Miro inspired peregrino

the reliable yellow arrow leads the way.

the reliable yellow arrow leads the way.

The fortress and Church Igrexa de San Juan. (in the Galician dialect Igrexa = Iglesia)

The fortress and Church Igrexa de San Juan. (in the Galician dialect Igrexa = Iglesia)

Camino de Santiago: Days 25 - 27 - Leon to Villadangos del Paramo to Astorga to Rabanal del Camino

Leaving Leon, I passed the beautiful Leon Parador, a 12th C pilgrim's hospital (hostal) spruced up to become the headquarters of the Knights Order of Santiago. 

Leaving Leon, I passed the beautiful Leon Parador, a 12th C pilgrim's hospital (hostal) spruced up to become the headquarters of the Knights Order of Santiago. 

In front of the parador, another statue of a weary pilgrim.

In front of the parador, another statue of a weary pilgrim.

Some interesting farm contraptions--my only photo of the day into Villadangos. It was a highway adjacent walk through pit stops for truckers.  Nothing going on in Villadangos but good company and a delicious dinner at the albergue with new frie…

Some interesting farm contraptions--my only photo of the day into Villadangos. It was a highway adjacent walk through pit stops for truckers.  Nothing going on in Villadangos but good company and a delicious dinner at the albergue with new friends.

Sunrise through corn stalks. It's actually quite creepy to walk through corn during the pre-dawn. believe it or not.

Sunrise through corn stalks. It's actually quite creepy to walk through corn during the pre-dawn. believe it or not.

I only passed through, but really liked the town of Hospital de Orbigo. This long bridge dates from the 13th C. Legend has it that a knight was thwarted in love. To restore his honor he vowed to defend that bridge against anyone who would challenge …

I only passed through, but really liked the town of Hospital de Orbigo. This long bridge dates from the 13th C. Legend has it that a knight was thwarted in love. To restore his honor he vowed to defend that bridge against anyone who would challenge him.  In 1434, Knights arrived from all over Europe to joust against the heartsick Don Suero.  300 knights were defeated, and I guess that was the magic number because a victorious Don Suero then journeyed to Santiago in thanks for being cured of his heartbreak.

Yellow arrows mark the dusty path toward Astorga.

Yellow arrows mark the dusty path toward Astorga.

Casa de los Dioses, which I anticipated because it is so beloved by my guidebook and favorite Camino forum.  Entirely donativo, sustenance, good vibes and a shady place to rest is offered. 

Casa de los Dioses, which I anticipated because it is so beloved by my guidebook and favorite Camino forum.  Entirely donativo, sustenance, good vibes and a shady place to rest is offered. 

After a long day, weary pilgrims (including me!) on the outskirts of Astorga.  Look at that sky!

After a long day, weary pilgrims (including me!) on the outskirts of Astorga.  Look at that sky!

Cannot resist the handpainted signs.  Or patatas fritas for that matter.

Cannot resist the handpainted signs.  Or patatas fritas for that matter.

At this point in the trip, I can handled the blisters, but my foot is killing me and I feel like I've aged 30 years. I really enjoyed my meal Plaza Major, though, and watching people gather to see the clock at the top of the Ayuntamiento chime -- it…

At this point in the trip, I can handled the blisters, but my foot is killing me and I feel like I've aged 30 years. I really enjoyed my meal Plaza Major, though, and watching people gather to see the clock at the top of the Ayuntamiento chime -- it has little characters like the Glockenspiel in Munich!

Astorga was lovely. With a beautiful cathedral too.

Astorga was lovely. With a beautiful cathedral too.

I like comparing the grandiose cathedrals with the tiny hermitages I'd pass along the way. Even though it was sunrise, this medieval chapel, Ecce Homo, was manned by a friendly elderly woman who tried to tell me the story of the chapel's well. From …

I like comparing the grandiose cathedrals with the tiny hermitages I'd pass along the way. Even though it was sunrise, this medieval chapel, Ecce Homo, was manned by a friendly elderly woman who tried to tell me the story of the chapel's well. From what I gathered a miracle happened, but my Spanish wasn't up to the task of sorting out what type of miracle. So I blessed myself and looked as the display of antique photos of parishoners past.  As I was leaving the tiny woman mimed my putting on my backpack and trudging away.  She must see a lot of us droopy pilgrims.

I thought the walk toward Rabanal was stunning. Sunny with walled paths, then later, a forest trail. I came to love the entrance to small towns. 

I thought the walk toward Rabanal was stunning. Sunny with walled paths, then later, a forest trail. I came to love the entrance to small towns. 

The Camino "color scheme" of yellow arrows against a blue background is truly accurate.  To me the Camino is yellow against blue.

The Camino "color scheme" of yellow arrows against a blue background is truly accurate.  To me the Camino is yellow against blue.

Besides Elvis Bar in Religos, Cowboy Bar in the sleepy Maragato town El Ganso was a favorite.  The inside is like the prop department of a spaghetti western

Besides Elvis Bar in Religos, Cowboy Bar in the sleepy Maragato town El Ganso was a favorite.  The inside is like the prop department of a spaghetti western

Rabanal in silohuette.

Rabanal in silohuette.