This story begins with an image which can invoke many things. Trying to find a thread is the important thing. Images have this wonderful ability, a quality which allows this to happen. it’s some fantasy of our own making. the mind moves in a certain direction. we just have to listen.

A women sitting in a porch. what is she doing? behind her, the mountain lurks, shrouded in mist; changeable at any moment. how does she come to be here in the first place?

We had been travelling for some time. The joy of having a car is that you can basically go wherever you like. Not for everyone I know but it sits well with me. Some time spent in Pamplona then further west into Basque country which is truly wonderful. So eventually we decided to travel east more or less following the line of the Pyrenees on the Spanish side. Certainly an interesting journey varying from open and somewhat expansive until a transition into a more mountainous landscape with the road becoming evermore windy and narrow. No matter, it’s all part of the journey and I always love the sudden transitions as the landscape changes. The weather was good . This always helps. Further we head toward our destination. As luck would have it our satnav was on song and took us directly to where we were intending.

Our arrival in a tiny village was certainly interesting. Just a dog to greet us; no one else about. A short look around and we found our accommodation quite easily. Wonderful. The village was perched on a hill with great vistas in all directions. To the north though it was even better.

The scene fell away across a small valley which was semi open with pockets of woodland dotted through it. Beyond, on the northern side, an enormous bluff completely dominated the landscape around it. Passing clouds brushed against its face before continuing their journey. The whole scene was quite breathtaking. Oh to be an eagle and soar over that bluff!

Our host had told us of a small monastery which apparently was not all that far away. With enough daylight remaining in the day we set off hoping to find it. The road was really rural; narrow and washed out in places but manageable. Landscape can be very deceiving. What appears to be a short distance can turn into a far longer journey. This was certainly the case here as we twisted and turned through the landscape. Finally the end of the road and a short walk to the old building which proved to be in a state of considerable disrepair. Clearly restoration work had been done but not for some time. All in all a bit disappointing.

On the way up to the monastery we had passed a small stone church, barely noticed at the time. It was linked to the monastery of course, perhaps for the local faithful and others who had come to pray for the job being done on behalf of some saint or other up the road. A bleak and lonely life for the monks. If the work they did was ultimately for the benefit of all then perhaps it was all worthwhile. Who knows?

The ancient church which was very small had been lovingly restored perhaps by caring locals. It stood on a flank of the bluff and commanded an amazing view south which fell away in folds revealing the grandeur of the landscape. The light was just exceptional as the sun dropped to the west. Clear and sharp. In the distance clanging bells from roaming goats was clearly heard, a wonderful background sound. At such a time there is a feeling of well being, a timeless sense of what has gone before, what is now and what will be in the future. Really we are all so insignificant.

My partner, an artist felt inspired to do some work. It really was an inspirational place, there was no doubt about that. Being there at that time of day, not another soul around was a privilege. She set up in the porch of the ancient church and began. Time to go for me so I wander off and take a number of pictures as the light gets even better. My favourite time of day. The solitude is wonderful. There is something the australian aboriginals talk about; their relationship to the land. We all have access to this if only we watch and listen. It is that simple.

The afternoon wore on. It was time to go.