28-05-2018
Walked 24.1 km, 4 hours 54 minutes
Ascent: 120 meters
Descend: 270 meters
Kilometers to be traveled: 505.7
The dorm was large, the noise not too loud the last night. The second usually means that my rest has actually been a bit of a rest. Do not wake up dozens of times by tree sawmills and night owls. But at some point you will certainly be disturbed by pilgrims who think they have to leave far before dawn. Walking in the real dark does not seem to really enjoy the surroundings.
But today I also arrive early, just don’t know why, do I want to be in Burgos early to see the city or because I have had enough rest? When I think back now I can no longer remember why, but we do go out at 6 o’clock. It is not really light yet, rather dark, but that is also due to the very low clouds hanging on the ground. A meteorologist would say: With here and there low hanging fog, suddenly crossing fog banks etc.
Now I also know that leaving very early is not a good option, you see very little, especially in this situation with drier rain and fog. The first and only time I have to walk with a light. And pay attention that we see the arrows / shells and do not miss, I do not want to get lost … But then immediately 5 get lost.
After half an hour we are allowed to climb a mountain again. We are not the only early starters, we pass groups of Koreans, mostly pensionados, who left early. They also go to Burgos but will stay there an extra day, take a rest day to view the city well.
It is best to be careful while walking uphill. There is almost no vegetation on the mountain, you walk over stones that can be slippery, so be careful with the ankles. Occasionally we walk in a train behind each other, then we can catch up with a few and then end up in a train again. Once we reach the top, we come across a cross that slowly emerges from the fog. A smaller version of Cruz de Ferro that we will encounter much later on the route.
Then the road goes down again and you arrive at a road that leads you further. We pass a painted double-decker and a little later a beautiful wall painting of a pilgrim with a heavy backpack that thinks back to his lazy chair, in which he could now also lie. It is now time for something to eat, otherwise it will take too long. If I remember correctly at Sandwich Shop Bocateria San Miguel. Yes I am right, how useful if you always have the coordinates included when taking photos, you can look back on the route via Google Maps.
It is a busy stop, it is actually the first that is open, because of the early departure time of us we have been walking for almost 2 hours. After a nice breakfast, I no longer mention what I ate because I am going to repeat myself, follow the route again. It is still about small roads and sometimes paths towards Burgos. For Burgos you have to make a choice, because there are 2 roads running towards the center. To the left and to the right, with one you walk long through an industrial area, with the other not.
The choice falls on the left-hand variant, less industrial area, but if I compare it with the entire route that I have walked so far, it is still a lot of industrial area. But it should not and will not spoil the fun on this drizzly day. Yes the weather is not getting any better, my bright orange colored raincoat all day long. Then we pass the first BURGOS place name sign, which is located along a busy street.
We walk through a few suburbs to the center in search of the municipal inn. It is still early, but also busy in the city. The cathedral can already be seen when entering the city, but it also regularly disappears from view. Pass under the city gate to reach the center and keep walking towards the cathedral. The alberge is not far from the cathedral.
It is 11 o’clock when I arrive at the alberge and the line of waiting pilgrims is quite long. Oliver and Victor are already enjoying a cafe on the terrace. I put my backpack in line, of course at the back, and also go for a drink and food, because it takes another 1 hour before the alberge opens. From the terrace you can easily follow how the row of waiting pilgrims grows slowly. And you also see familiar faces again.
At 12 o’clock in the morning the big doors open and pilgrims are registered 1 by 1 and instructs on the course of events in this alberge. Accommodation costs € 5.00, but the luxury that you get for this is enormous. They are bunk beds that are all separate from each other, everyone has a personal light and socket, plus a lockable cupboard, TOPPIE. The number of toilets and showers seems on the few side, but there are no long queues.
After the usual landing ritual it is time for us to eat and drink something. Victor has been given an address where it is good to eat and enjoy. When we enter that restaurant, it is packed. No table free, but if we are patient, a table will be available for 7 people in 20 minutes. We first have a drink, I take a Sangria, delicious. And if we are allowed to join, we each order a dish that we then share together, so we get 7 delicious dishes on the table. It is indeed all delicious.
After dinner the group divides into smaller groups, I walk through the center and after taking some nice pictures, I visit the cathedral. A beautiful and impressive cathedral. This also makes a big impression on me. I am happy that I paid an entrance fee to view it. Then it’s time to go back to the alberge, take a rest and do some blogging.
At 7 o’clock there is a holy pilgrim mass in a chapel in the cathedral, many pilgrims take place and receive the blessing after the service. A group of German pilgrims finally sings a pilgrim song in German. Now just to eat something for the stock for the next day and to eat this evening. No not at a restaurant tonight because I am not very hungry. It will be noodles in the alberge, also a tasty dish.
After dinner we call home again and let everything sink in again, tomorrow there is another day with a new road, Santiago we are coming.
Accommodation: Albergue Municipal
