Blogs from Burgos, Castile & León, Spain, Europe - page 6

So sorry about the mess we made of the last entry. The computer which we were using was very odd indeed and wouldn´t allow us to edit anything! Link for Matt Tingle and Chris Gascoyne´s fund raiser is url=http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=derbyboys&faId=172495&isTeam=truehttp://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=derbyboys&faId=172495&isTeam=true Back to the continuation of the blog. I think we were still walking on the motorway! (under construction!). Anyway we managed to get to Santo Domingo safely albeit footsore after walking 30 Kms. It was a lovely town and Monica decided that we needed to experience a degree of austerity and stay at the Albergue which was run by the Cistercian nuns! It was certainly spartan - no glass in the windows - ... read more

God forbid you're wrong... As this is a religious pilgrimage, I have been learning a lot about religion in general and the people that practice different sects. Sara and I are always discussing religion as we have very different beliefs. I love that she is so open about it and is so willing to educate me on different Christian beliefs within her church. She also is very good about answering my questions. I ask her things that I would never feel comfortable asking anyone else because the things I like to ask sometimes cannot be sugar-coated and may come across as insulting. However, Sara is very open minded and likes discussing such things. We both make jokes about religion quietly to one another on a daily basis, very light heartedly of course. I have met way ... read more

This morning saw us board the bus for a tour of Burgos and environs. The walking tours have been occasionally challenging, as autumn has brought periodic rain to the area. As it was raining this morning, we rearranged our tour to begin with a visit to the Monasterio Cartuja de Miraflores. This monastery is just outside Burgos, and was founded by Saint Bruno. Burgos is home to many monasteries and churches, as it is directly on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. This monastery is notable for being the birthplace of the modern rosary. They still make rosaries here, with beads made from rose petals. The monastic community here maintains silence, and keeps to the longstanding tradition of "Ora et Labora" (pray and work). After the monastery, we returned to Burgos proper, where the rain ... read more

Nearly everyone attended yesterday's walking tour of Salamanca, but for two singers who have head colds. They opted to rest up prior to the concert. Those of us who went on the tour enjoyed a long visit to the cathedral, where we were able to do some semi-spontaneous singing under its soaring 220 foot dome. In the evening, we were off to the Palacio Figueroa to sing our first concert of our amended tour. The room was packed, with audience members standing all around the walls after the chairs filled. We could not have had a more receptive and appreciative audience. We retired from the concert to a group dinner near the city center. We didn't finish dinner until nearly midnight, which means we're starting to eat on Spanish time (most restaurants don't open their kitchens ... read more

See text in English below 14 abril 2011 El pico San Millán es el monte más alto y más emblemático de la sierra de la Demanda burgalesa. Su cara sur desciende suavemente 1.000 metros hasta el pueblo de Pineda de la Sierra, en el valle del río Arlanzón, el mismo río que atraviesa la ciudad de Burgos. Su cara norte, es mucho más agreste, dominando el valle del río Urbión, y asomándose al del río Tirón, cuyas aguas bajan al caudaloso río Ebro. Monté la bicicleta en el autobús de Zaragoza, y antes de las 9:30 llega a Belorado. Tras tomar un café con leche y hacer algunas compras pedaleé hasta Santa Cruz del Valle Urbión pasando por Pradoluengo. Santa Cruz del valle Urbión es un pueblo pequeño dividido en dos barrios, y con las casas ... read more