Samarkand Bound: Cordoba, Portugal and along "El Camino Frances"

In the countryside west of Granada. Sun drenched and rolling hills, lots of little towns with their "Castillos".

Olive groves and orange trees.

At a roadside rest stop just outside of Cordoba.

Outside the walls of the "Mezquita" (Mosque). Construction was begun in 785 and enlarged by subsequent generations.

In the courtyard of the Mosque.

The walkway around the courtyard.

The inside is a mesmerizing sequence of two tier arches amid a thicket of columns.

From 1236 the mosque was used as a church and in the 16th century a cathedral was built right in its centre, somewhat wrecking the effect of the original building.

The "Mezquita" has been described as the greatest visual representation of homesickness ever constructed.

A small alcove still showing the original Arabic writing.

Guenther, a fellow motorcyclist from northern Germany, at the campsite.

Crossing the border bridge into Portugal and the Algarve, the southern coast.

Dorin, a Romanian traveller with whom I shared several coffees and a couple hours conversation at a rest stop along the Algarve highway.

In Sagres on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It is situated on the southwestern tip of Portugal.

Finally on the Atlantic Ocean outside of Sagres, Cabo Sao Vincente, after a round about trip of 33,000 kms. or so from the Pacific.

Central Portugal is a rugged swathe of rolling hillsides, whitewashed villages and olive groves and cork trees.

The Cathedral at Fatima, a Catholic pilgrimage site.

Pilgrim praying.

Main altar inside the church.

Costa Verde, (Green Coast), northwest Portugal and rainy weather, more like the climate of England.

I crossed into the province of Galicia in northwestern Spain just south of Vigo, on my way to Santiago de Compostela and the "Camino". Above, the harbour at Vigo on a cloudy, rainy day.

Santiago de Compostela is a bewitching city of 88,000. Its medieval centre with the "Catedral de Apostal" above is the goal of the Pilgrims who walk the "Camino".

The view from the steps of the Cathedral of the plaza in front.

Pilgrims come in various shapes and sizes, some walking, some on bicycles.

This fellow was right out of a Herman Hesse novel, I think a "true seeker". I didn't get a chance to speak with him. The people you meet here have some very interesting stories!

Lederhosen.

Inside the Cathedral. The remains of St. James are said to be buried behind the main altar.

A view over the city. Accommodation in Pilgrims' Hostels was dirt cheap.

There are various routes that one can take on the "Camino". I decided to follow back the "Camino Frances" on one of its stages by motorcycle, to the beginning in St. Jean Pied de Port, France, some 800 km. to the east and north. For much of the way the "Camino" follows near the roadways.

Above, pilgrims on the "Camino" 15 km. or so east of Santiago.

The route goes directly east from Santiago to Lugo, Leon, Burgos, Logrono and then northeast to Pamplona and north across the border to St. Jean Pied de Port in France. Most of it is relatively flat.