Quiet walk

Took a lovely walk through the countryside today from Escamplero to Grado.  Today some of the quiet of the Camino started to soak in.  It is good to walk.  

These guys were waiting for someone else to come up the Way.

This gal took time out from snacking on grass to say hi.

I only saw 7 pilgrims over the course of the day.  There was a Spanish couple breaking camp outside the chapel of Our Lady of Fatima in Escamplero.  A French couple arrived at St. Eulalia when I did.  An Italian couple rode by on bicycles. And I met Bryan from Idaho.  This route is much quieter than the Camino Frances.  It is good to walk here.  I even met a snail to remind me to go slowly....

... as I make my way to Santiago....

Monte Naranco

After visiting San Julian de los Prados church, I climbed up Monte Naranco on the outskirts of Oviedo.  There are two 9th century pre- Romanesque churches there.  Santa Maria del Naranco

San Miguel de Lillo

Since these ones were closed today, I then walked on to Escamplero and called it a day.

For a while

Before leaving Oviedo this morning, I went by some of the ancient churches in town.  San Julian has been a parish church since the 9th century.  Imagine praying every Sunday in a church built 1200 years ago.  They have been active and faithful for a while.....

Relics

The Cathedral in Oviedo is the beginning of the Camino Primitivo.  It is also home to a number of relics, which helped make it a popular destination for pilgrimage.  Two relics in particular stood out to me.

One was the Holy Shroud.  It allegedly was the cloth that wrapped the face of Jesus when he was buried.  The gospel of John indicates it was folded up separate from the other burial cloth when the disciples went into the tomb on Easter Sunday.

The other relic is in the main church by a side altar.  This large stone jar is allegedly from Cana in Galilee.  It was one of the jars filled with water at the wedding, so Jesus could make wine.  Unfortunately it stands empty today.  :))

Oviedo

Made it safely to Oviedo this evening.  I went by the Cathedral, which marks the beginning of the Camino Primitivo, to pray and get my first sello.

Heading out

It is finally time to head out on pilgrimage.  This time I am walking the Camino Primitivo from Oviedo to Santiago.  The backpack (mochila) is packed.... the boots are on.... time to go for a walk....  :)))

Onward and upward

A lovely day dawns in Madrid.  I will be boarding the plane soon for Atlanta.  It's been a wonderful pilgrimage, ending on this feast of St. Junipero Serra, the missionary to California.  Eighteen years ago today I was ordained a deacon to proclaim the gospel and serve the people.   Through the intercession of St. Junipero, may I serve God and his people for many more years.