Category: Camino Frances

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September 22 & 23 Burgos for Two Nights

September 22. Burgos for two nights. Arrived and my room was ready early. Much to see in this city, but this is rest period so must limit my curiosity. I’m near the city center across from the cathedral, so not far from the happenin’ places.
 
While in 

Ibeas de Juarros, I had breakfast with a young Spanish woman who stopped on her way to Burgos with her full pack. And I had thought this route was off the Camino. She showed me this was an optional route-4 km longer than the main path, but this route is flat. Main route is hilly. I’d be more attentive to alternate routes, but after Burgos it’s flat. The views in the hilly areas are breathtakingly beautiful, and long days of flat in front of are monotone. My knee will be happy for flat, but my mind will miss the surprising vistas.

 
I’ve learned my fatigue barometer:
-Not tired-focus on destination begins about the last 1-3 miles.
-Very tired-focus on the destination begins before I get my boots on.
That should be my signal for a short day or a rest day. Who wants to walk all day with a bad attitude!Spain wakes slowly and stays up late. The restaurant in last night’s village opened at 9pm, but 7-8pm seems to be more usual. It’s 12:10 pm and stores on the plaza are still sleeping.

Hotel Cordon $54.50/night
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September 21 Ibeas de Juarros Blog Bulk Update

Today has been a little unusual, for a number of reasons. Conveyance between points has been through combined travel modes of foot/leg and taxi. Further, the EU SIM card contract ran out of minutes, disabling interested followers from keeping abreast of travel updates. And then there is a sore knee thrown into the mix, now having some time to recover for tomorrow’s continued adventure.

Paraphrasing Mary:

“I had to wait until I was in a village where I could use WiFi to recharge the card. I left Abelard this morning, walked about 8 miles through four villages and am now in the fourth one, Villafranca Montes de Oca. My knee is hurting and there’s a big hill and a 4-5 hour walk to the next village, so decided to call this a short day. Just 8 miles which is about halfway from my original plan. All is well. It’s just getting time for a rest day which happens soon.”

Here are some photos that were taken along the way.

Villages of Tosantos and Villambistia
just a little over a mile apart. 

 

Wine while waiting for taxi
and it’s here already!
Home Sweet Home
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September 21 Belorado to San Juan de Ortega 24 km / 15 miles

Plan du Jour
9/21 (Saturday) 
– walk from Belorado to San Juan de Ortega- – 24 km / 15 miles 
– take taxi to Ibeas de Juarros for the night
 
9/22 (Sunday)
– taxi from Ibeas to Atapuerca
– walk to Burgos
– 21.5 km / 13.5 miles
– probably another 2 miles to get to hotel
– night in Burgos 
 
9/23 (Monday)
Rest day in Burgos 
 
9/24 (Tuesday)
-walk to Hormilla Del Camino
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September 20 Santo Domingo de la Calzada to Belorado 23 km / 14+miles


September 20. 8:33 late start. Leaving Santo Domingo. No cafe on the way out of town! Breakfast and coffee must wait until the next village – Grañon.
 
 
 
Grañón
Grañón
Viloria de Rioja
Grañón – The My Way bar. Hated to leave. They were playing the BEST music! Visited the church across the street.
Grañón
Grañón
Viloria de Rioja – Not much air conditioning in these small villages, but this doorway provides a nice barrier to the elements.
Villambistia – Another rest stop! yay!
Crossing into Belorado
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September 19 Santo Domingo A Summary from the Home Front…

This is John writing in the first person. I’m going to share a summary of our conversation of this evening, and sprinkle in a few photos she has shared with me. Mary has had a long trip today, pushing the limits of her comfort zone, but doing well, ne’er the less. Her original lodging plans didn’t work out as well as expected, but she’s found accommodations more to her liking.

Within this post, there are some photos she’s taken while sipping a glass (or two) of wine and chatting with me via the usual channels.
Through the miracles (read: technology) of Google StreetView, I can get a glimpse of where she is. So, with the give and take of chatting, I can pretty much get a sense of the environment. Amazing, really.
She had the opportunity to share a table with some local folks that may have been our for dinner, given how they were dressed. Mary and the lady to the right shared some language via iPhone text messages, some how. The young lady spoke a little English. Mary has been enjoying mingling with local folks along the way and has found them to be very friendly.
This is from StreetView Mary is along this strip of wide sidewalk somewhere…
A StreetView from across the street of where Mary is.

This family welcomed me at their table. They didn’t speak English; I didn’t speak Spanish, but we had a grand time. Shared family photos, made jokes. We all laughed and none of us understood a word. I love villagers!