Hey - Just a 1 mile round trip to the Plaza Oriental, and I am now able to charge my computer! I explained in very broken Spanish that my computer would die in 4hrs without energy. She did not have a cord, but we were able to figure out a Spain/US converter that would allow my existing plug to work! Back in business! Computer is now charging!
Let's get to some pictures/videos with some more complete descriptors, now that the rest of the entries are not limited to a 4hr remaining battery life.
23rd (Day 9), Navarrete to Azofra:
Left on the trail at 7AM. First thing we saw leaving town was a Grey Heron flying overhead:
Vineyards in the early morning sun:
Morning Wildflowers:
Many of the vineyards are being attended to (weeding, pruning, tying vines...):
Approaching Ventosa (where we had breakfast) is a 1km Art Walk was a pleasant part of this leg, with sculptures and prints and stained-glass:
Wildflowers:
A lot of ascent today:
Non-bird nature: A European Rabbit (real name):
After the climb, one look back towards Ventosa:
Non-bird nature - a millipede in the path:
More wildflowers:
A European Serin on the wire:
More wildflowers:
Between Ventosa and Nájera is a long ways. This shelter was put in place for pilgrims caught between:
A European Griffon (vulture):
Entering Nájara by an industrial district was this poem written on the wall:
Walking towards the downtown was a bit stressful with very narrow sidewalk:
The west end of town had some nicer areas, with interesting geology in the hillside:
The river through the west end of town:
Again, the power of magnification - to determine that the bird below was a Gray Wagtail (both an audio and visual recognition).
From that spot, I looked down the street and saw a White Crane nest on the church in the distance. Another opportunity to look at the magnification capabilities of my phone (1st photo is at 1x):
And at least two chicks:
And a long climb up a dirt rode (where we met "Max"/"David"
Non-bird nature: More tadpoles!
Our first look at Azofra
Two Red-Legged Partridges running between vineyard rows (first one trying to escape out the top of the image - but still caught the red-legs!)
The church at Azofra:
A European Greenfinch on one of the trees in the church square:
Big party in the town square. The whole town shut down to celebrate one of the resident's 80th birthday:
And with Video!
PART II - Azofra to Santo Domingo
Our last look back at Azofra:
A roman pillar - Rollo de Azofra, with Jana in front, and a 2nd view:
Light/shade patterns on our path:
More wildflowers:
Shadows are still pretty long:
Our path forward cutting through the fields:
Non-bird wildlife - I believe this is some sort of stink-beetle:
Another long climb:
Art as we entered the town of Rioja Alta:
A White Wagtail leaping from a lamppost:
A reminder of home:
A new bird for the day - A Red-Backed Shrike. Very high mag, so some graininess. Shrikes are (in)famously known for impaling their prey (lizards/bugs/et) on thorns or spikes before eating them:
The view from the top of one crest:
The fields are primarily pea-pods, rapeseed (for canola oil), and wheat:
Our first look at our destination city, Santo Domingo, in the distance:
Non-bird nature photo: a painted-lady butterfly on a thistle:
A European Stonechat:
A silhouette image of Santo Domingo in the pillar of a bridge, about 1km before the city:
A roman pillar - Rollo de Azofra, with Jana in front, and a 2nd view:
More wildflowers:
Shadows are still pretty long:
VIDEO: This is a Melodious Warbler. It sounds a lot like a hyper-caffeinated R2D2 - until it is interrupted near the end of the recording by a Cetti's Warbler, the loudest songbird around.
Another long climb:
Art as we entered the town of Rioja Alta:
A White Wagtail leaping from a lamppost:
A reminder of home:
A new bird for the day - A Red-Backed Shrike. Very high mag, so some graininess. Shrikes are (in)famously known for impaling their prey (lizards/bugs/et) on thorns or spikes before eating them:
The view from the top of one crest:
The fields are primarily pea-pods, rapeseed (for canola oil), and wheat:
Non-bird nature photo: a painted-lady butterfly on a thistle:
A European Stonechat:
A silhouette image of Santo Domingo in the pillar of a bridge, about 1km before the city:
More wildflowers:
Football stadium as we entered the city:
Jana with one of the pilgrim art pieces in front of a church, and a 2nd pilgrim artpiece:
Very cool old section of the city, taken at the main cathedral. This cathedral has a live hen and rooster kept inside. Story below
Story time: Long, long ago, a young German and his parents were on pilgrimage to Santiago. They stop at an inn at Santo Domingo. One of the inn's maids takes a liking to the German lad. When he did not reciprocate, she became irate, hid a silver goblet in his luggage, and notified the authorities that he was a thief. When the authorities found the goblet, the German lad was hanged. His parents continued the journey to Santiago, and on their return, stopped to visit the grave of their son - but found that he was still hanging in the gallows, and was still alive. They went to the Mayor's house to speak of the miracle and to have their sun cut down and pardoned, at which point the mayor declared this to be impossible, and that the son was as dead as the two chicken on his plate. At once, the chicken on his plate got up, sprouted feathers, and began to dance.
The chickens are now kept in the cathedral to commemorate the miracle.
Football stadium as we entered the city:
Jana with one of the pilgrim art pieces in front of a church, and a 2nd pilgrim artpiece:
Story time: Long, long ago, a young German and his parents were on pilgrimage to Santiago. They stop at an inn at Santo Domingo. One of the inn's maids takes a liking to the German lad. When he did not reciprocate, she became irate, hid a silver goblet in his luggage, and notified the authorities that he was a thief. When the authorities found the goblet, the German lad was hanged. His parents continued the journey to Santiago, and on their return, stopped to visit the grave of their son - but found that he was still hanging in the gallows, and was still alive. They went to the Mayor's house to speak of the miracle and to have their sun cut down and pardoned, at which point the mayor declared this to be impossible, and that the son was as dead as the two chicken on his plate. At once, the chicken on his plate got up, sprouted feathers, and began to dance.
The chickens are now kept in the cathedral to commemorate the miracle.
More views of the church and adjacent tower:
One more view of the city streets in the historic district:
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