Day: April 22, 2026

The Zia Symbol

We have the following patch on Charlie’s backpack — the pack we carry on the Camino with things we need for the day.

I had it on my back pack the past few caminos. Over the years we’ve had a few people stop us who recognized the Zia symbol. It happened again today. We were sitting in front of our albergue drinking coffee and a woman came up and said “I saw your Zia symbol”. She then held out her arm to show us her tattoo.

She said she grew up in Santa Fe and her father still lives there. She moved to France when she was 20 and has lived there ever since. (She looked to be 40 to 45.) She said she had met 3 people on the Camino this year who are from Albuquerque. We haven’t met any (other) New Mexicans yet.

April 22: Logroño to Navarrete.

Miles walked: 9.0

Flights of stairs equivalent climbed: 44

The first mile or two out of Logroño was through the city. The next 4 or 5 miles were along a long green path that ended in a gigantic park beside a reservoir. A huge very nice dog park, a huge very nice children’s playground, lots of forest and picnic tables and such. Impressive. Then we walked alongside some vineyards. And then we walked a mile or two on a path next to a huge noisy freeway (what they call an autopista). Then finally into the cute hill town of Navarrete.

We are staying in a private room in an albergue. It’s nice being back in pilgram-land after a couple of days of isolation from that in our apartment in Logroño.

The day in photos:

Starting our day on the camino, early morning, walking along Calle Portales, under the long portal.
Camino shell used in sidewalks in Logroño to mark the way.
One in 10 Pilgrims walk in the dirt (based on this small sample). Walking through the miles of parkway on the outskirts of Logroño. As soon as we saw the soft dirt path on the side of the pavement we moved over. The pavement gets tiring on the feet. Rare to find soft non-rocky dirt. Bliss.
Park rules. I’m pretty sure this is the exact same sign we saw 13 years ago.
Walking along the autopista. Pilgrims have woven stick crosses in the chain link fence.
An iconic Osborne bull seen from behind. They were originally billboards dating from the 1950s advertising sherry and brandy. When billboards were banned in Spain in 1994, public outcry saved them (without the advertising). About 90 of 500 remain in Spain now. We passed one of them today on our walk. (Silver lining to walking along a noisy autopista.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osborne_bull
Above seen from the front looking back.
Approaching Navarrete.
We haven’t seen a lot of this kind of graffiti this time. Not sure why. But more today.
Iglesia de Santa María de la Asunción in Navarrete. This little town has a population of 3000 so it’s stunning to see this church here. Built in the 1500s.
Check out this alter. It’s gold. We assume gold leaf. We put a euro in a slot and the altar was illuminated for 5 minutes. So many other wonderful sculptures and painting here. Henry and Moira, I think you can teach us more about this amazing church.
The large incense burner was hanging in the middle of the nave. Not as big as the one in the Santiago cathedral, but impressive.
Our albergue for the night. The best! Albergue de la Iglesia. Next door to the church.
Our cute private room with private bath. And, yes, that’s a third bed up on the shelf.