Crafty in the Med

I am here to enjoy meeting other bloggers and to share my love of craft ,mostly crochet, my thoughts and my daily happenings here in Alicante,Spain, my adopted country. I belong to a local choir because singing and music makes me happy. Flea markets and book shops are two of my favourite places to be. I read lots......sci´fi/fantasy,buried treasure, and off world adventures. I have a passion for history! I walk and walk and walk for about 10 months per year during the hot months I swim.

Wednesday 24 November 2021

Why Door of Chains?

 

I have finally come across the answer and it is a bit out of the ordinary!




Do you remember this 14th Century Door, the Door of Chains. 
I posted this photograph that I took of the main entrance into Orihuela Cathedral in a previous post here where I mentioned that I did not know why it was called the Door of Chains. I was going to leave it at that but as Spinning Streak left a comment about the door on my last post...


  
I felt compelled to clarify how that door got that name and so I did a little bit of research and found out the following:

In the past there were bollards outside in front of the church ( you can see one of the remaining ones in the front righthand corner of the photo above) with chains attached which marked a small area in front of the church door. Now then, before this church was granted cathedral status in the 16th century this church belonged to the diocese of Cartagena (Murcia).

 It is well known that in the past there was a religious custom where fugitives could claim sanctuary within-side a church and no authority could come in and harm, arrest or remove the fugitive for punishment. However, this church went a little further than that and any wrongdoer who jumped the chains into that small area in front of the church door could claim sanctuary there too even though they weren't actually inside the church itself and so escape the civil jurisdiction of the authorities in Orihuela (Alicante) at that time. 

There you go, hence the name "Door of Chains".๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿšช


A light at the end of the tunnel


Two weeks ago we went up to the Agost Mountains and enjoyed the sun, the scenery and the exercise. 

A nice strenuous walk along the Maigmรณ Greenway trail again. This time we went further along and we still didn't get to the end of the trail.




We started at the Tunnel which is not illuminated in fact it is pitch black in there and I forgot my little torch. This didn't bother Sr P of course as he has very good night vision. 
You know, I have always wondered about Sr P's ability to see so well in the dark and his tendency to always feel much more comfortable in dark rooms. At least I know for sure he hasn't any creepy genes in his DNA as he really likes garlic in his meals!



Luckily I remembered my iPhone has a torch so that helped ๐Ÿ”ฆ


The light at the end of the tunnel!






That beautiful blue sky hits you as you come out of that cool damp dark tunnel. 

"Yes...I'm ok thank you Sr P... no need to wait for me... sigh!"





Looking back 



It was lovely walking in the sun, chatting and blowing those cobwebs away for roughly about an hour. We had gone past the last place along the trail we got to during our last walk there and it was so pleasant that we continued.  



Low and behold what came up next but ...




another tunnel so with my iPhone in hand we went through this one too.

We continued along the trail a little bit further but as it was near lunch time and we still had the return trek (+ two tunnels to go through) to get back to the car we turned around but marking the second tunnel in our minds to remember where we got to this time.





Little babe


One of my orchids has offspring.


Now


A few weeks ago


I have just received the information from my sister over in Australia on how to remove the baby Orchid from the mother plant and transplant. She attends Orchid Growing classes so she asked her teacher for me.  
You probably know this but I didn't. Baby Orchids are called Keikis from the Hawaiian word which means child.๐Ÿ˜Š



Happy Blogging


Amanda :-)





22 comments:

  1. I so enjoy reading your blog love the pictures to so interesting xxxx

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    1. Thanks for popping by Honoria. Glad you enjoyed it A๐ŸŒท๐Ÿ˜Š๐ŸŒท

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  2. Interesting about the chains on the church-had never heard of that before. Looks like a very fun hike, I would need a light too for walking in the dark tunnel.
    didn't know that about the orchid-nice Happy mid week

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    1. Hi Kathy, I also thought it was unusual. I had heard about giving sanctuary inside a church before but never this custom. I find it fascinating how some of these traditions come about. A x

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  3. I very much liked learning about the "Door of Chains". You never know when a question about that might come up on Jeopardy. ;-)

    Your keiki is looking VERY healthy. My orchids are doing very well this year, but no babies so far. I'm crossing my fingers for next year.

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    1. Hello Dee, thank you for stopping by. I have had my orchids for quite sometime and they produce gorgeous flowers but it is the first time they have given me a baby ๐ŸŒธ A x

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  4. Facinating story about the door of chains once you know the story it's obvious I suppose. Lovely walk but I think I would have been a little claustrophobic in the tunnel even if one can see the light at the end. I'm looking forward to seeing how your baby orchid progresses, I haven't a clue about looking after orchids. Take care. xx

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    1. Hi Linda ๐Ÿ˜Š. I don’t know much about orchids at all so I want to be really careful about transplanting the babe. My sister has given me some clear easy to follow instructions but she has green fingers and I haven’t ! A x

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  5. Another fantastic door, and more thanks!

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  6. Wow never seen a baby orchid! (Keikis - what a lovely word)
    Interesting about your door of chains too - I'd wondered if it had been for security - can you imagine trying to attack the door with them in the way - would certainly blunt your sword and possibly also help prevent the door being burnt - but know - it was all to do with sanctuary!

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    1. It is a first baby orchid for me too and in fact I think there is another one on its way. I shall post about it in my next post ๐ŸŒธ. A x

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  7. That was quite an extensive hike - you two must be in good shape! Love that blue sky.

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    1. We take our time I must admit when really we should push ourselves a bit more to work up a bit of a sweat which would probably be more beneficial. LOL. A x

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  8. It was lovely to read the history of the door. Congratulations on the baby orchid. I am a bit hit and miss with houseplants and have managed to kill several orchids by over watering and over potting!
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Hello Ellie, I am a bit hit and miss with all plants actually. Green fingers runs in the family but that gift seems to have missed me ๐Ÿ˜€ A x

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  9. Well now, that was a really interesting story about the door of chains. I would have never guessed it and I usually don't think of looking things up on google either. I have no idea why.
    Your walk was beautiful and reminds me of summertime hikes up in the northwest US. Lots of abandoned railroad tunnels and the sky so bright that you're almost blinding when you come out of the tunnels.
    I have heard of the hawaiian word keiki but didn't know that baby orchids were called that. I always learn new things on your posts.
    Blessings and hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. I was imagining prisoners chained up in the front of the church by this door waiting to be judged or hanged ... glad I was wrong though LOL! It was interesting to read that was not the case in fact quite the opposite! A x

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  10. Look at that beautiful blue sky. It's grey and cold here. I'd love to know how to care for the baby orchid as mine has sent out a baby too.

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    1. Have posted in my new post details of how to separate baby orchid from the mother plant. I haven't tried it yet though...bit hesitant as I don't want to kill off Mum or Baby! A x

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  11. Gorgeous pics while I blog catchup. Love the light at the end of tunnel ❤

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    1. You can probably guess what I was thinking when I took the end of the tunnel photo! I so hope when its my turn to go I find the same blue sky at the end of my tunnel into the next like :-)

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Thank you for your comments. I do read them and try to reply to all as well.Please keep them coming. Amanda :-)