Day Minus 1 to the Camino – We’re ready to walk!

We’re about completely recovered from our jet lag so staying 2 days in Burgos is turning out to be a good idea.  We’ve also had the opportunity to take in this beautiful, medieval city.  After a very satisfying breakfast at our hotel (eggs, toast, ham, fruit, pastries, orange juice, and cafe con leche)  we walked to the edge of town to visit the Monasterio de las Huelgas which was initially built in the 12th Century by King Alfonso VIII and his wife, Queen Leonor.  It was worth the walk. Although the building doesn’t have the jaw dropping impact that the Cathedral of Saint Mary has in central Burgos, the chapels inside this monastery are very impressive.  The spanish tour guide provided a lot of detail.  I’m finding that it is extremely helpful if you can speak spanish.  More on that in another blog.

After walking about 6km round trip to the monastery and the 1 hour guided tour, we were ready for lunch!  We recognize we’re spoiling ourselves right now because once we start our Camino tomorrow, we’re not expecting to eat as much.  We shall see. I asked the concierge yesterday where we can eat that is catered more to the locals than tourists and pilgrims.  She mentioned the street Calle San Lorenzo.  Great call!  We found the Meson de Amarilla.  Once again the food was “off the charts.”  For a total tab of 40 euros, Nancy, Andrea and I each had a delicious bowl of soup (Andrea and I had the potaje de garbanzos, Nancy the sopa castillana) followed by their local specialty, stewed lamb (meat very tender and literally falling off the bone).  Did I mention they also brought with the soup a basket of fresh oven baked bread and a bottle of a very good tempranillo wine?  Desert followed which was equally delicious.  Nancy had a tiramisu type chocolate sponge cake, Andrea had a soft, delicate cheese cake smothered with raspberry sauce and I had the ice cream with chocolate and nuts.  And of course the ubiquitous cafe con leche with the desert.  I can see this Camino quickly becoming a food and wine tour of northern spain mixed with meeting interesting people from all over the world and of course, there’s going to be some walking involved!  Speaking of interesting people….

A Dutch born Canadian couple who started their Camino at the traditional point of St. Jean Pied du Port in France, sat next to us at the Meson de Amarilla restaurant.  Paulus and Annemieke were both very lively, energetic and friendly.  It’s amazing how good they both look given they arrived today in Burgos and have already walked over 300 kilometers!  They shared several of their experiences along the Camino.  Paulus gave me sage advice regarding how far we should walk tomorrow and Annemieke has such a quick smile and funny sense of humor.  We certainly hope to see them again along the Camino!

Tonight we plan to eat a light meal (given our princely breakfast and lunch today) and a good nights sleep.  I’m hoping we find beds in the village of  Rabe de las Calzados which is about a 7 to 8 mile walk.  Starting off easy and gradually building our endurance will hopefully provide better results.  I keep thinking of the “6 P’s” Carl shared with me this past April in Florida.  Besides, we’re not in a race and we do want to experience all the Camino has to offer.  We’re ready for our Camino adventure and walk starting tomorrow!  The weather forecast is for a lot of rain with the temperature in the mid to high 30’s F.  What a way to start the Camino!  I hope to make a post and load more pictures tomorrow.  Buen Camino!

There are several wide tree-lined “paseos” parallel with the Rio Arlanzon with flowers everywhere.

Beautiful,wide tree-lined paseos along the Rio Arlanzon

Monasterio de las Huelgas

This is the waymarker as we leave Burgos onto the relative wilderness of the Meseta.

The Dutch born Canadian couple who have already walked over 300 kms. They look great!