A Day in Burgos

After a long long nights sleep we set out to explore the Spanish city of Burgos. First stop was breakfast which was included in the price of our room. Expecting a hearty hot meal like Sue and I had in England I was quite taken back when breakfast consisted of two containers of yogurt, two green apples, and some crusty white bread in a basket with a variety of jams! I am not sure if that is the fare we will get along the way but time will tell.

At breakfast we did meet some other Americans. A lovely lady from Las Vegas who is traveling alone and a couple from Atlanta. The sweet woman from Nevada is having a tough time. Early on she fell and cut her head and had to get eight stitches! On top of that she has a serious tendon injury and has not walked for three days and plans to travel by bus tomorrow. She just does not want to quit but the way she is limping I don't think it looks too good. The couple from Atlanta are only doing the first half so they will be done in 6-7 days. It was good to talk to people who we could understand. We have met very few people who speak English.

Our next stop was the Burgos Cathedral, I am not sure if I was in awe or in shock. I have never seen such a church! Where did all that gold and silver come from? Who paid for it? Were peasants starving while the church built this unbelievable structure? It seems like they first built the main cathedral and then a number of bishops then added on chapels where they are buried. The art, the carvings, the sculptures, one more beautiful than the next!

By two o'clock the shops closed and the city streets became very quiet for siesta. Around 5:30 people spilled out into the streets again. Spaniards of all ages were out walking. Families with babies in strollers and very elderly in wheelchairs. It is now 9:40 and everyone is still out. As I sit in my room writing I can hear very young children still out playing. I wonder what time school starts. One other thing we have noticed is that no one is in a hurry. This seems like a very relaxed culture.

Besides the native Spaniards we are able to pick out the many pilgrims by their limps! We have our backpacks and Vaseline ready to go and are hoping the crowds out on the plaza quiet down soon so we can get to bed early and wake up rested and ready to start for Santiago!