April 23, 2026

I left Logroño today once again with Zazi, in the dark, shortly after 6 AM. I again did not need to use my snazzy headlamp because of all the street lights.

Walking out of the city, we went through a nature preserve. It has lots of pathways, native plants, birds and red squirrels, and a lagoon with big, dark fish with large mouths.

There also was a memorial to a virgin with what to me looked like sunglasses. But I think the “sunglasses” are part of her headdress.

The sun came out, but it never got really hot. There was an almost constant cool breeze all day long.

There’s been graffiti all along the way. Today I saw 3 pilgrims “act like tourists” playing with the graffiti.

Today’s Graffiti

At about 2/3rds of the way we walked through Navarrete. Like pretty much all towns here in Navarra and Rioja, it is built on a slight hillside with the church in the middle at the top. 

The church’s interior is quite rich. The altar has a lot of gold. The flowers in front were there because today at 6PM there was a funeral taking place.

Zazi and I had an early lunch at the cafe next to the church:

I saw this rather creative skylight that had been installed in an old house:

And I liked this sign:

The Camino continues past a number of alfarerías (pottery production places), through vineyards,

by poppies,

by the highway from Logroño to Burgos, by an almond tree,

until a turn off to Ventosa, the town we’re staying at tonight.

I wanted to stay here because there is a family who produces honey, and last year Jerry and I had a delicious meal at their restaurant featuring salad, roasted pork ribs, and ice cream, all with honey incorporated in various ways. But the restaurant was sold, and I ended up eating green noodles with a cheese sauce. It was filling – that’s good when you’re hungry. Oh well. Good night!