Walking along the Camino you can’t help but notice the presence of graffiti. Indeed it is widespread across Spain, most prevalent in big urban areas. Despite the very rural nature of 90% of the Camino, graffiti is everywhere. In essence, the beloved flecha amarillo is graffiti itself. Almost every Camino waymarker or signpost is daubed with messages of good luck or some pilgrim’s name and date of passing by.
Most popular for the Camino ‘street artist’ are the underpasses that take the footpath beneath main roads, although these are not that common they are the easel for creative talent. Some of the designs are Camino related others just the more normal bright coloured ‘tag’ style artwork common worldwide. Also popular are the encouraging and spiritual messages penned by pilgrims to those following in their footsteps. ‘You are love(d)’, ‘follow your heart’ and the obvious ‘buen camino’ appear to be the current favourites, as well as ad-hoc directional advice.
In the cities the blend of Camino street art and modern graffiti is on very grand scale. Some is genuinely breathtaking.
As for today’s walk … just another hot, crusty, sunny day out through Logroño’s green suburbs, passed a wonderful embalse with hoopoes, swans with cygnets, egrets, massive greedy fish and a comedy squirrel. Then it was on through swathes of Rioja vineyards to Najera.
Next stop Grañon tomorrow.
My Long Walk 2019 