To Burgos (Tuesday, May 23)

To get to Burgos I have to climb up the Oca mountains ( goose mountains). In previous centuries this part of the Camino was dangerous as it was full of thiefs and bandits and pilgrims got robbed ever so often. How easy is it today for us to walk with the sense of security. Also among the pilgrims today  is an extreme solidarity - we would stand up and fight for each other any given time.

Up on top of the goose mountains it’s foggy and cold so I walk faster to get out of this funky weather. Already at San Juan de Ortega the sky lightens up and  Juan de Ortega lived in the 11/12 century and became a saint late for his constant support of the Camino and the Capilla de St Nikolas which he built out of thanks when he got rescued in a terrible storm.

Down the hill I walk as I hear a sudden,‘Hey Andy‘, from my fellow pilgrims I met in the youth hostel on the first evening. The Urologist with her Baritone from Philadelphia. Where was she when I had PPP ( peeped problems - sorry for this joke)? The shear imagination she would stick a finger into my behind puts a big smile on my face - I hope she can’t read minds. ‚I was really sick after the first night and when I tested me it was clear: I had Corona‘, she announced and put a serious face on me again. Does this mean I had the virus, too?  ‚See you in Burgos,‘ I wave to them good bye as they were walking too slow for my need. 

The remaining way into Burgos was funny - straight along the National road which displayed the kilometers to go - every eight/nine minutes another tease sign: 9, 8,7…. I felt like a New Year‘s eve count down in slow motion.

Finally I reach Burgos, one of the largest cities on the Camino with its 170.000 inhabitants. My hotel is right next to the river and just a 2 minutes walk to the cathedral. I ask in one of the stores where I can find good local food and the lady replied ‚Try Pancho‘s‘. What abgeraten tip: the food was delicious.

Right next to the main square is a sign which shows the different levels of flood in the past centuries - the peaceful river in sight must have been loaded up with water from the Oca Mountains and others then.