I have received emails from a very large percentage of my readership in which he has demanded a map.  I’m afraid this is the best I can do for now. It’s a driving map, but it gives some idea of the pilgrim’s progress.

It’s been a day of contrast. Contrast in weather, contrast in terrain. Contrast in location. We started out from the village of Cardeñuela. Over the last eleven days, we have stayed in buildings that were from a couple of hundred years, to a thousand years old. The building we stayed in last night, has stood since 2011. Or thereabouts. It’s still being built, in fact. Yes, it is a new albergue, so new, it wasn’t even in my guide book. It serves good food, nice wine and there was plenty of company.

Anyway, we started out in cool conditions with threats of rain, and walked small country roads for about an hour, until we came to an airport, which we circumnavigated, to arrive at a busy road through an industrial zone. This road led straight to the city but we took a small, grassy track along by a river. It had by now become very warm and we followed the river all the way to the centre of Burgos.

The previous night, we had booked a hotel/hostel online, so we now off loaded our bags there and went for a beer. Sitting in the square, it was so warm, that layers of clothing were removed. We met with David, an Australian friend and went to view the old city. The centre piece is the 13th century cathedral of Santa Maria. It is quite spectacular. It takes a few hours to work your way through it. And it was cold in there! By 4 o’clock, I seriously regretted my earlier wardrobe choices. I had reached the cathedral crypt and was just about as cold as the 15th century occupants of the tombs around me. A quick exit was called for, but by now, it was just as cold outside, and beginning to rain! A dash back to the hotel to warm up, get my coat and go for dinner.

Strolling in the city was nice and quite a change from yesterday’s hills and forests, but it’s back to the track tomorrow. Ever westward!