Beautiful Pics

Contemplating Death as a Spiritual Practice

Just beyond the plaza with the Baroque cathedral and the neo-classical palace and the medieval hospital for pilgrims built by Isabel and Ferdinand lies the little parish church of San Fructoso. Anywhere else it could the center of attention, but here it is not even on the map. On one side is a little plaza with this little plague mounted to the wall. In case you come at night, there is a street light hanging directly overhead.

Setting Out on our Last Morning, the Sun at Our Backs.

Someone Has a Sense of Humor

Since our first day on the Way, we have seem marker after marker telling us how many more kilometers remain till we arrive in Campostela. 314, 298...this morning the first market said 18.5. Then as we were in the last stretch--maybe five kilometers out, we came across the beauty: The Way is infinite. It never ends.

Ancient Church

Sent from my iPhone

San Lazaro in Sarria

On the edge of the town of Sarria, there is still a little chapel for San Lazaro and the columns from the hostel for lepers and invalids that thrived here from 9th through the 18th century.

Spain's Gardens

There are many municipal gardens in Spain, this being one of them. They are often tucked behind churches, or built on terraces with scenic views of the surrounding area. Interestingly enough, they are not at all like the parks in America, with rolling grass and relatively untamed wilderness: take Rock Creek, for example. In Spain, the parks and gardens are more carefully managed, usually paved in aesthetic stones, and trees planted with precision. I thought it was an interesting difference…