Burgos - rest day and as few km as possible

Burgos has an amazing cathedral and we visited it this morning. It is huge and ornate and fascinating.

They began building it in 1221 and this continued until 1567 - updates have been added since and it is still being renovated. 

We took some photos to share with you but the size and designs really need to be seen first hand to be appreciated.

After our visit we did our longest walk today to a vegetarian restaurant to catch up on the vegetable that we have been missing out on recently - it was so nice to eat green things!

beautiful domed ceiling

ornate altar decoration

another domed ceiling

the main part of the church

El Cid's tomb

The oldest altar from the 12th century,
I think it was the nicest too!

A painted ceiling in another side chapel.

A tiny paining of a very kind looking Jesus.

In a side exhibition there were a set of amazing modern Stations of the Cross.

Illuminated manuscript.

One of El Cid's letters.

Burgos Cathedral from the outside.

 

Day Thirteen - St Juan de Ortega to Burgos - 500000000km - ok only 30ish

We had a better night at the Casa Rural in St Juan de Ortega than we had expected. There was no breakfast as such provided but they gave us some food to take away in the bar last night so we were able to have breakfast in bed! Delicious!

We stopped for a nicer cup of coffee in the first village we came to, Ages. This gave Gary the chance to make his little joke and to sample some local food!

Most of the mud from yesterday had dried up and the paths were a lot more stoney today. We seemed to make good progress this morning but for some reason this afternoon took ages.

There are two routes to take into Burgos - the shorter one through the industrial estates or the longer one along the river. We chose the river route. It was pretty but it was also long - our feet were very tired and we were glad to reach our hotel and take our shoes off. 

We have a rest day tomorrow and we are looking forward to exploring Burgos.

Another village, another pretty view.

At one time all the hills around us were covered in wind turbines.

'Rock of Ages'
Gary was so pleased with this joke!

We stopped for morning coffee and there on the counter
were these Spanish versions of a Cornish pasty!
Gary was even more pleased about these than his rock joke!

Atapuerca - Oldest human remains ever discovered in Europe were found here,
900,000 years ago man used to live and hunt in this valley (they used to eat each other too!)
Now a days the locals are a lot more friendly!

No mud today but a lot of stones in the first part of the walk.

This cross marked the top of the first hill.

and nearby was this stone spiral!

We have no idea what this says but you
can see Burgos behind it.
It looked so close but it was still 13km away.

We took the scenic route into Burgos and followed the river.

It was very pretty.

The seeds of a tree were blowing, like snow, through the air.

We have no idea what the tree is but white fluffy bits were everywhere!

Day Twelve - Belorado to St Juan de Ortega - 24.3km in the rain!

Today we walked in the rain and in the mud!

The trail took us up hills and through forests. The trails should have been compacted mud but the rain made them sticky and slippery - thank goodness for hiking poles!

Tonight we are in a village called St Juan de Ortega. It has a population of 20! There are two monasteries - one derelict and the other being restored, an Albergue, a bar, the Casa Rural - where we are staying, and a couple of houses. Our dinner is in the bar tonight consisted of lots of wine. We also had the choice between morcilla (blood sausage) and tortilla (omelette). We chose the latter.

The Casa Rural and bar is run by a father and 2 sons. Somehow all works out ok, although we imagine that a Spanish sitcom could be created about the accommodation complete with a waiter from Torquay..................

Tomorrow we walk 26km to the city of Burgos and a rest day. Plus we hope to eat some vegetables.

In Belorado we saw these tiles in the road, we only recognized this name.

MUD!

lots of mud!

a funny shaped house!

we're getting nearer!

Through the rain you can see the trail going up the other side of the valley!

the rain coming again!

and some more mud!

a monument to the memory of those who died during the Spanish Civil War. 20 bodies were found here and are thought to be those of people that went missing during the war.

the trail disappearing into the distance

more wind turbines

more wild flowers

The Augustinian monastery and a big crane!

Day Eleven - Santo Domingo De Calzada to Beldorado - 22.9 km

Yesterday our walk was mainly on a path along a highway - we had huge lorries racing by just a few feet away! 

In the evening we met up with some other walkers in the main square of Belorado, the sun shone and all was good. Then we had to find somewhere to eat!

There were 2 restaurants recommended by the people we were staying with. One was buzzing with old people playing cards! When we went to go into the restaurant they said it wasn't open until 9. So we went to the other one. The waitress read us the menu and we chose what we could understand! Soup and spaghetti for first course, a chunk of lamb - all on it's own on the plate - for main course and an ice cream in a packet for dessert!  There are two vegetarian restaurants in Burgos - I am so looking forward to it!

A stork!

Yes he is carrying a cello!

We leave Rioja and enter Castille de Leon

Hiking by the highway.

Walking into Belorado

The sphinx?

a house built in the cliff

we watched these cats being fed by the man in a fresh fish truck!