Day 15 – Burgos to Las Quintanillas

May 21st – My visit in Burgos last night was short but memorable.  It’s a magnificent city and I was staying directly outside the Santa Maria gate.  The very Gothic cathedral is considered one of Spain’s most beautiful.  It’s amazing edifice with outstanding spires stands on medieval streets that surround it.  I manage to make it there before it closed for the night and had my pilgrim passport stamped at this most prestigious location.

At the cathedral I run into Orisson pilgrim friends Scott, Dave, Mike, Cindy, Jane and Sandra.

Scott does an imitation pose next to one of the statues and then I do one showing girls can fly too!

Before long I see Kim and Sue enter the square and a short impromptu party unfolds as bottles of wine begin appearing at the sideway cafe tables in the square facing the cathedral.  Many of the Orisson group have traveled together daily while I see different people often as I hopscotch across the Camino staying at in between stages like I will again today.  It’s a joy when I get to reconnect.  There are other pilgrims who I do not see tonight but hope to again very soon.

I have liberally applied sunscreen today for my very short recovery walk – probably about 7 miles – resting before I have another 20+ miler the following day.  After a lovely little breakfast I am once again on the Camino.

I leave Burgos by walking along the river again continuing westward bound.  Locals are walking and running in this beautiful park area and a feeling of gratitude for this experience swells in my heart.  Today I enter the much discussed Meseta.  I’ve heard it said that the Camino has three parts:  the first one third is physical, the middle the mind and the last your soul.  The Meseta is supposed to go on and on with same after same crop fields and little to stimulate the eye or the mind.  I look forward to this new experience while keeping my intention to stay present as my mantra.

After passing the Monasterio de las Huelgas Reales I’m not sure of the Camino path and stop into a small hotel at the edge of town to inquire.  As is typical the woman does not speak English and I no Spanish so she goes outside with me to point the way.  People are so generous with a true desire to help the pilgrims.  We meet another pilgrim, Kristine, who is American but speaks Spanish.  The woman and she communicate rapid fire and then Kristine and I are once again on the path.  We continued to walk together sharing lovely conversation.  When it comes time for me to part ways to my destination, Las Quintanillas, I have made another pilgrim friend.