Burgos day two

As we did last year we took a "free" day in Burgos. Great for resting ones feet but also for seeing more of this ancient city, not to mention tasting some more of the great eating to be had.

We started by getting some more sock liners. We then went out an had a breakfast with fresh squeezed orange juice, pastry and coffee. We then proceeded to the city castle.

View of cathedral and old town

Castle well and stairway went 59 meters down into the rock formations to ground water. Handy to have in the event of a siege.

Later we had a wonderful lunch and rehydration.

Sorry but no pictures of the great good we had.

We then went back out to the cathedral plaza and met several people we knew who had just came to town. A mini reunion.

At 7:30 we went to a mass at the church of St. Nicolus. An amazing church with an amazing carved stone wall behind the alter. This picture does not begin to do it justice .

Too bad I couldn't understand all that was said but it was still very special.

Walking in the old town you are confronted with many special sights. It's fun just to pick a street and explore.

Tomorrow at 6:30 ends our time on the old town of Burgos as we head out for our next adventure. Weather looks good and Brian is ready for his first day of walking.

Paul

Some more pictures of today.

Paul, Guy, Brian and Kate

Burgos

We left Atapierta at 6 AM and started up a long hill.  That got the blood going early.

We continue to see people from earlier.  The young lady below is from Haifa and is named Mierva.  She calls herself the crazy Israeli always wears red and is very friendly .

After a 20 kilometer day we arrived in Burgos where we are staying in a Hostal with private rooms with bathrooms.  Something went haywire and Paul and Brian got the room with the larger bed and bathtub.  The other room has a smaller tub.

We did run across a building where the King and Queen commissioned the second voyage of Christopher Columbus.  The outside was interesting and Paul loved the door.

We then proceeded to the plaza by the Cathedral to relax, rehydrate and await Brian.

 

 We were a little worried as the time went on, but he arrived in great shape.

Sooa also showed up and had some lovely Korean gifts for us as we may not see her again.  We are staying an extra day and many others will move on.

Brian and Sooa

We then toured the Cathedral.  It is so incredible that it is hard to put into words.  The new world treasures clearly helped.

Below are some pictures and is worth noting that most of the work on the church took place before USA existed.

A few more plaza shots - we had to move indoors when the rain started.

W

 

Atapuerca

Left Villafranca at around 7:30 after a very nice breakfast at the hotel. The camino went steeply up about 600 feet. A somewhat rude way to start the day. Got to see the sunrise through the trees.

It then leveled off for several miles to a nice walk on a sunny morning . We allways try to take shadow pictures every morning.

Three people one shadow. Exciting at the time.

Last year we came across a pine cone sculpture saying " we miss you very much"  well we  took a picture of it and sent it to Del and Kathy who were later saddened when they found we did not make it. Well here it goes Del and Kathy, this we made for you:

Post script: sitting in a restaurant/bar in Atapuerca we are telling someone about making the pine cone "miss you" he takes out his phone and shows us a picture of it. Could it go viral?

Later we descended into the thousand year old monastic village of St. Juan de Ortega. Among other things it houses the remains of Saint Juan de Ortega.

We rested and then proceeded to our next stop Ages.

After our break we walked a flat 2.5 km to Atapuerca. We found a alberque with 8 person rooms and communal showers with separate screened stalls. Odd but it worked. We met a fellow pilgrem, Adrian from France who among other things earns his way on the camino putting on gourmet meals for people from whatever he can find at the local store which in this town isn't much. About $13 pet person .

Adrian and Kate

We did our laundry and proceeded with everyone else to the local watering 

station. Adrian our chef tonight showed up an joined us. He said that he stayed last night in a tiny town of Tosantos. The only place to stay was in a parish albergue next to the church. I said we tried to find it and went on after an failed attempt. Anyway he found it and said he had the most amazing experience there. He said that after dinner they went to a cliff church ( photo below) and had a mass in it conducted by a pilgrem priest. This cliff church is from the 7th century. He said it was an amazing experience. Singing, music, prayers and laughing rounded out the evening. We are so sad to have missed this one. Sorry I couldn't get a closer picture.

OK back to the albergue. There was a French lady soaking her oh so blistered feet, I felt so sorry for her. I can't imagine how it must feel to have to walk on them.

This is another persons foot (Ali ) see the blister on her little toe. Good shoes that fit properly and lots of preparation befor the camino can help.

Before dinner Kate and I walked over to the lacal church wich again must be upwards of 800 years old. The doors were open. We went in over a stone floor unevenly warn by thousands of people over the many centurys. Thie inside was elegantly simple.

Dinner was prepared with few basic basic ingrediants from a tiny local store. A wonderful dinner was prepared for 11 of us with desert. A great evening to a wonderful day. This is the soul of the camino to me .

I am really looking forward to my son Brian meeting us in Burgos tomorrow.

Getting up early torrow and leaving at 6 am tomorrow.

We saw a few great shirts also.

Paul

Granon to Homeless

Everything at the church went real well.  We began by preparing the food for a communal dinner.

After that we went to mass and received a tour of the church museum.

The entire operation was spearheaded by  a gentlemen that reminded all us of Ramon in the movie The Way - a little bit crazy.  After church we were led to another shop and every nationality had to sing a song in their own language to get desert (we chose if you are happy and you know it).

We then carried back desert.

After dinner they gathered us all and opened a small closet door from one of the small dorms and through a short stone tunnel we entered the choir loft of the adjacent church. The choir loft was illuminated with about 75 tea lite candles. The only other lights in the old stone church was the illuminated large golden alter piece. Truly an amazing sight to see.

We then proceeded to give our wishes for the camino and a short prayer. 

The next stop was Belorado and we had lunch there with a smart pigeon who liked the no dogs sign.  At another stop we found that our WiFi code worked from last year,

We also found Paul being a tourist.

The following was part of the effort to stop bullfights.

We then continued walking but could not find a place.  Several did not have WiFi and one would not let us see the room. The sights continued.

While cool in the morning, the afternoon sun is intense and we do get tired.

Meanwhile our Korean contingent thinks it is cold - look at their clothes.

We were about ready to drop and made reservations at a place where there may have been a slight communications problem.  It is a three star hotel for. $127.00 a night.  A little high for pilgrims.

We were so tired we did not care.  After 30 kilometers we were done and there are certain  European benefits as Kate demonstrated.  Great showers with hot water and towels too.

We had a nice dinner and are going to bed.  Another 40 kilometers to Burgos in the next two days and we then meet Brian.

Guy