Blogs from Burgos, Castile & León, Spain, Europe

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Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos May 23rd 2022

We left Atapuerca a little after 6am, with quite a few others. After about an hour, we thought we saw Burgos way off in the valley. Shortly after that, we came upon Villaval, but it was just a tiny town with a few houses, and no cafes or bars. About a half an hour after that, we entered Cardenuela Pico, and I remembered the bus advertisement on the outskirts of town. It was for an albergue and cafe, the Bocateria. We, along with quite a few others, stopped there for breakfast. Another half an hour and we spotted Orbaneja Riopico, passing by Quintanilla Riopico. Get the similarity? All three towns were on the Rio Pico, or Pico River, so they named themselves after it. We entered and passed through Orbaneja Riopico and about an hour later ... read more
First view of Burgos, I think, a ways away
Villaval in view, but nothing there, just a few houses
A bus/advertisement on the outskirts of Cardenuela Riopico

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos May 21st 2022

We left Villafranca just before 6:30, knowing there was a stretch of 12 kilometers with no water, much less coffee. Unfortunately, there we no cafes open in Villafranca. About two hours and 8 kilometers down the trail, we discovered the "Oasis". I thought I remembered the place before we got there, and it was the right place. Unfortunately, it was only good for a rest stop, and bathroom break, as it was too early for any food and stuff. Another hour along the Camino and we caught sight of San Juan de Ortega and finally entered 15 minutes later. Here we gratefully sat down in Bar/Albergue El Descanso de San Juan for a coffee break. At about 45 minutes later, Ages pops up in sight. This was one of those towns that didn't show from very ... read more
San Juan de Ortega just barely in sight
Entering San Juan de Ortega
A much needed break at Bar/Albergue El Descanso de San Juan

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos April 12th 2019

Kindly our Burgos host let us leave our gear whilst we scooted off for a few days of exploration before returning later in the week. Forecasting a mix of snow, rain, wind, cloud, sun and thunderstorms, we’re feeling more than a little intrepid and quite at home! The night-before-research into this three day jaunt first had an 80km path, that crossed several B roads and then entered La Rioja province on the LR113. Zero degrees at 8am upon sunrise was likely to put our departures back, to comfortably ride. So with the big back pack packing out of the way and panniers loaded up, we finally set off at 11, with energy to burn. Navigating out of town was trying, but soon we’d gone off piste, not quite as planned, trying to cut some distance on ... read more
They may be MTB, but ....
Off road, unexpected, to Canales
Rain ....

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos » Pedrosa October 1st 2018

Well, I’ve been reduced to buying soap by weight. No snoring, farting or other sweet lullabies last night ( none I could hear anyway ), and I woke at the indulgent hour of 9am; this is the life. The breakfast buffet was opulent by Camino standards and I carb loaded. The fruit was too big to pocket a few pieces, so that budget plan was abandoned. The management here are on to my tricks. I shared a table with Greg from the States, who is about my age and is aiming to reduce his impatience, and go home a calmer man with more tolerance for others. He runs a construction company. Greg has just completed 2x40 kilometre days and 2x30 kilometre days. He knows it’s ridiculous; his feet have been declared a disaster zone, by him, ... read more
Breakfast.
Suburbia
Essentials

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos October 1st 2018

Well have you heard of Frias? We hadn't either . It had never been on our list of to do places. Must sees in Spain. We have been three times and never once come across the name. But then it is not a big city. It is not a Burgos or a Salamanca. Nor is it a Madrid or Santiago. I dont imagine many folks find there way to Frias as it is off the beaten track. Positioned in the Merindades region north of Burgos. The river Ebro flows by. It is the smallest city in Spain. The third smallest in the world . So why have we never heard of it? Well it only has a population of 275. The journey was tortorous but breathtakingly beautiful. Glenn had to wrestle with Gabbys steering wheel as ... read more
Frias castle
The tiny alleys
I just love these water spouts

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos » Pedrosa September 30th 2018

Where can you get an Australian adapter plug in Spain? In the Albergue in Atapuerca, 21kms back from Burgos, that’s where. Last night I left the hotel at A. at 9.45pm and casually unplugged my phone and iPad from the communal powerboard in the dorm. You know how sometimes you have those,” I must do that ...” moments but never follow through. Well I had one a few hours earlier and it went like,” I must tape those 2 sections of my adapter together to stop them coming apart”. I didn’t do it. Tomorrow I will search out the local ‘Chinese’ shops, ( the hotel receptionist’s description, not mine), and hopefully match it up. He pulled out a big bag of chargers left at the hotel and gave me a USB charger. The sticker on it ... read more
Burgos In The Distance
The Cross At The Peak Of The Mountain
An Albergue Alternative

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos » Pedrosa September 29th 2018

Today I could spend the whole post describing our accommodation, if you could call it that, and the charming facilities. If I walk out tomorrow with no bites , or cuts and abrasions from the shower, I’ll consider myself lucky. Lucky might have been if it had been a full house , and I had to find a tree to sleep under. This was once a barn, servicing the hotel attached to it. They have replaced the donkeys, chickens, and pigs with humans. The bunks are about 400mm apart, have rubberised mattresses and pillows, with no paper sheets or pillowcase in sight. I’ll sleep on top of my sleeping bag and use a shirt as a pillowcase. Moving on to the shower room, there are two showers and one toilet for about 30 people. Each shower ... read more
View of Tomorrow’s Walk From Atapuerca
Entering Tosantos Expecting Breakfast
Matt, the media lockdown guy.

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos » Pedrosa September 28th 2018

I never knew opening an envelope could be so liberating. During the night I came to a decision that my Camino was becoming a bit of a group venture. It started out as a private enterprise but I’ve let it slip. The village I was in was terrible and not worth a look around, and now I was booking a bag through, booking an albergue, and therefore making a commitment that I hadn’t been so keen on. I canceled the albergue at 5am, and after preparing 2 backpacks last night, one to send on, one to carry, I combined both and opened the forwarding envelope. It felt very empowering to take the €5 and put it back in my wallet. My group, who are all very nice people, left before breakfast, and I stayed on to ... read more
Dawn, Lookig Back To Ciréna
Entering San Domingode la Calzada
Early Morning Sight Of The Tower, San Domingo

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos September 11th 2017

We overslept a bit and didn't leave the Albergue until after 7am, and decided to eat breakfast at the only place open in Ages, El Alquemista. After a quick meal of normal tortilla de patatas and coffee, we headed to Atapuerca, only about 2 kilometers away. Atapuerca is a famous World Heritage site where I think they found the remains of the oldest humans. Since we weren't tourists, we had a long day ahead, and it wasn't open that early, we continued on to Cardenuela Riopico, another 6 kilometers along. We made our first stop there at Bocaterio San Miguel. Besides the usual coffee, I couldn't resist a delicious looking cream filled long John. At this point, it was getting close to noon and we still had almost 14 kilometers to go to Burgos, so we ... read more
Atapuerca in sight
Walking the spiral
Cardenuela Riopico in sight

Europe » Spain » Castile & León » Burgos September 10th 2017

We left Belorado around 7am, hoping to stop for breakfast in Tosantos, but we didn't see anyplace to eat, so we continued another 3 kilometers to Villambistia, and again nothing on the Camino. There was a sign for a bar off the trail, but Juan had continued on ahead, so I followed, telling myself that I was stopping at the town no matter what, at least for a break. At this point, Juan was ahead out of sight and Raresh and the young couple were behind me out of sight. When I entered the third town of Espinosa del Camino, lo and behold I spotted the welcome sight of a bar right off. Juan had apparently continued on, but I was hungry, so I stopped after verifying that it was the only place. Raresh and ... read more
Villambistia in sight
Espinosa del Camino in sight
Villafranca Montes de Oca in sight




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