The cloudy skies offered a fitting backdrop for an introspective walk.
Arriving in N, I toured the amazing Monastery of Santa Maria la Real (abandoned in 2017, now being restored as a museum). Many of the Basque noble families from the 16th to 18th century are entombed here. The church is breathtaking inside, especially the main altar which is a Riojan Romanesque masterpiece (see photo). I’m especially fond of St Benedict and he makes an appearance in it!
Two ~20m hikes in a row isn’t to be sneezed at (at least for me). Tomorrow I have a tidy hike—good for the feet!
My hostel hosts tonight and tomorrow morn are so charming. It’s people like this, and the abundance of welcome they offer, that make the Camino feel personal. It’s humbling to be welcomed like family in a foreign land.
