Day 13

Monday September 27, 2010

Day 13 on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela

San Juan de Ortega to Burgos

Dear Blog Readers

Last night share a drink with the lovely couple, Elsa and Alfredo, who own the Casa Rural. This morning have a quick breakfast, leaving Belorado by 7:45 a.m.  by taxi back to San Juan de Ortega, where I left off yesterday.  Again share the taxi like the day before with a Swiss ex-military man and his younger companion, who has done the Camino before and is acting as his guide.  Forget to take their photo.

Morning is chilled, driving to San Juan the gauge reads -1 degrees, yikes, get the gloves out.  Set off at this temp and it does not warm up for most of the day even when the sun comes out.  Walk pass fields and rolling hills again. Up through the pine and oak forests with my breath misting in the chilly air.  It is a day of colours, first the lovely lonely bunches of poppies waving along the path. Next are some purple flowers growing right out of the dirt or small stones along the path - no stem, no leaves, just a lovely blossom emerging from the ground.  Try my best not to step on them as the push to feel the warmth of the sun.  Today when the sun finally shines on the flowers along the stone and dirt paths, I see periwinkle blue butterflies again.  Pass more wilting sunflower fields, ´poor pilgrims´!

Some trek uphills and several downhills on tough ground filled with large stones and rocks - making the Camino through this leg a hard walk.  Travel through several small hamlets, stop for a hot chocolate to warm my chilled bones.

Finally see Burgos from the top of a plateau.  This is one City I’ve been dreaming about because of the history, can´t wait.  Burgos is home of the great El Cid.  As a treat, staying near the Cathedral in a 5-star hotel called Mason del Cid.   However, even though I can see the City of 170,000 inhabitants, it takes about 3 hours to get to the edge.  Too tired to go another km. take a bus to the center, but must walk for another 30 mins. to the hotel.

Trek 26 plus kms. Today brings the total to 290.1 kms.  Will take a well deserved rest day tomorrow and tour the City and historical locations.  Also get caught up on the washing!  Will write a retrospective tomorrow on the trek to date.

Blessings from the Camino,

Yasmin

My personal thoughts for today -  Even on a tough, rough day’s trek, flowers and butterflies bless the Camino - I am humbled!