frozen fractals all around

Cross-post from Tumblr:

We were cleaning out the freezer and discovered a half-eaten pint of ice cream left over — I think — from hosting a friend back in the summer. In the intervening months the freezer burn has grown into some truly impressive ice crystals. Definitely click to see the photos full size.

[“Let It Go” plays in the distance]

Capitol Hill, 11/3/2013

Seriously amazing shadows cast by the sunset tonight, and generally amazing light. (Pray pardon the power lines; I’m supposed to be writing, otherwise I’d edit them out.)

Camino memories, and a brief hiatus

Carvings on (I think) the cathedral in Burgos.

Going through my pictures — and through my mom’s very helpful daily accountings of the Camino — reminds me of how many stories I still need to tell. The pensión we stayed at in Cirueña, with the puppet show outside and the Italians sharing our dinner and the completely charming host and hostess who made us dinner, that deserves a post all of its own. (I had a brief but intense flirtation with the idea of giving it all up and moving to Spain to be a hospitalera while we were in Cirueña.) And the saint story of Santo Domingo, and observations on walking, and so forth . . .

I am particularly fond of the jellyfish with a pilgrim staff.

You’re a kitty! \o/

One of many examples of an impromptu cairn along the Camino.

Arrows forever pointing west.

Part of the countryside we were walking through is associated with legends of Roland; this explanatory display had been edited by some roving snarky historians. The graffiti reads: “Then he went & burned down Pamplona, despite his promise not to. And the Basques ambushed Roland at Roncesvalles & killed him. Moral You can kick giant ass but don’t mess with the Vascas.” For more on the tale of Roland and Ferragut, check out http://goo.gl/CzYWRI

Full moon. (This might be Ciruena?)

Santo Domingo.

Burgos, I’m pretty sure. “El Cid’s little shoes”!

The cathedral in Burgos.

For now, though, I have to finish packing for a very different trip to a very different pilgrimage site; I’m off to Rome with la famiglia this afternoon, staying there for about a week. (I remember where my passport was! Go me!) I commented to my dad and sister last night that it’s hard to get out of the Camino packing mindset, but I have made a valiant effort by packing multiple impractical sundresses. I’m also bringing my little slow netbook, so I may be posting some, but don’t count on it.

I’ll be back in the States on September 16, and will resume my reglarly scheduled whimsically irregular blogging then. Ciao!