When I drove the stretch of the N-120 between Logroño and Burgos, it didn’t strike me as particularly attractive, but to be fair, the day was gloomy, overcast, light rain had just begun, and I was half-asleep, so perhaps I’m not being entirely fair. Still, it’s a pleasant road with very little traffic. The landscape, though not especially varied, is agreeable, and the pilgrims walking along the roadside with their enormous backpacks add another small point of interest.
Throughout those kilometers, I didn’t find much that made me want to pull over and use up more of my film. Maybe the fact that my physiology was prioritizing matters more related to a service station than to photography had something to do with it. But in general, there were no abandoned buildings, the kind I love so much, no charming landscapes, or a flock of sheep trying to escape the madman with the camera. It was a rather unproductive morning, photographically speaking.
However, there was one honorable exception. Passing through Tosantos, roughly halfway along the route, I was drawn to a small hill rising just behind the village. What stood out about this formation was its layered, mille-feuille-like structure that gave it a unique texture. Looking closer, I noticed a small hermitage nestled into the slope, accompanied by a few small caves. It was so striking that I decided to stop in the village and explore the area a bit more. After climbing a short limestone path, I reached the hermitage. Although it’s a simple construction, the setting gives it a unique character, and I must admit I’ve never seen anything quite like it. I tried various angles, as there wasn’t much space to work with the perspective, and after a few attempts, I managed to get the photograph I’m sharing today. I didn’t take many photos that morning, but the few I did were well worth it.
