Burgos this evening 17 C cloudy

[MickMac]

 

[rappahannock_rev]

Ah, just the tonic I needed after a long week. Two emotional funerals in two days, sigh! ... So indulge me a wee bit, OK?....

Thank you for your Burgos pix!

In June 1977 I arrived in Burgos by train, from Lourdes. I was a well-intentioned but very naïve first time visitor to 'The Old World.' I was 24, just out of grad school and doing the classic 70's young-American-with-a-Rail-Pass thing. I was headed for SdeC, but you couldn't get there easily in those pre-internet, pre-yellow-arrow, days. No-one was walking back then, of course.... A Burgos rail-stop seemed convenient and, well, there was all that El Cid history and stuff, ya know....

The train station was not where it is now. It was fairly close into town but across the Arlanzon. By the time I got to Burgos I was exhausted on several levels.... I hailed a cab, and told the driver in my half-baked Mexican Spanish to take me (Ha!) to a hotel that accepted American Express. He took me to the Residencia Cordon -- which was actually located in the historic Casa del Cordon -- and has long since closed. Memorable mostly for its lack of air conditioning. (As per my carefully preserved receipt: "Clients leaving in the evening should place their rooms at the disposal of the Reception at Midday otherwise the following night will be charged.") No sleeping in the historic Casa del Cordon nowadays!

I won't go into detail about my exploration of Burgos the next day. I spent hours in the cathedral, hiked up to the castle, toured Las Huelgas. (Boy, has that place gone upscale since 1977!) I had a grand time. That said -- my first impression of Burgos was not all that good. Burgos in 1977 seemed, well, ... quiet, tired, stale, and depressed. No sense of urban vitality. Lots of clergy in cassocks visible on the streets, lots of uniformed guardia/soldiers. Very few foreigners, and ZERO pilgrims.

I've been back (on foot or by bus) many times since then, and grown to appreciate Burgos. That café terraza in the lower left of your first pic? -- that's the Café Bonfin. Decent enough place for a glass of vino tinto and some morcilla. View of the plaza can't be beat, which is what you actually pay for, of course..... I'll be sitting there in September, God willing, when I begin my next (last?) walk....

Pax. Fr. J.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Ah, just the tonic I needed after a long week. Two emotional funerals in two days, sigh! ... So indulge me a wee bit, OK?....

Thank you for your Burgos pix!

In June 1977 I arrived in Burgos by train, from Lourdes. I was a well-intentioned but very naïve first time visitor to 'The Old World.' I was 24, just out of grad school and doing the classic 70's young-American-with-a-Rail-Pass thing. I was headed for SdeC, but you couldn't get there easily in those pre-internet, pre-yellow-arrow, days. No-one was walking back then, of course.... A Burgos stop seemed convenient and, well, there was all that El Cid history and stuff, ya know....

By the time I got to Burgos I was exhausted on several levels.... The train station was not where it is now. It was fairly close into town but across the Arlanzon. I hailed a cab, and told the driver in my half-baked Mexican Spanish to take me (Ha!) to a hotel that took American Express. He took me to the Residencia Cordon -- which was actually located in the historic Casa del Cordon -- and has long since closed. ("Clients leaving in the evening should place their rooms at the disposal of the Reception at Midday otherwise the following night will be charged.") No sleeping in the historic Casa now!

I won't go into detail about my exploration of Burgos the next day. I toured the cathedral, hiked up to the castle, toured Las Huelgas. (Boy, has that place gone upscale since 1977!) I had a grand time. That said -- my impression of Burgos was not all that good. Burgos in 1977 seemed, well, ... quiet, tired, stale, and depressed. No sense of urban vitality. Lots of clergy in cassocks visible on the streets, lots of uniformed guardia/soldiers. Very few foreigners, and ZERO pilgrims.

I've been back many times since then, and grown to love Burgos. That café terraza in the lower left of your first pic? -- that's the Café Bonfin. Decent enough place for a glass of wine, and some morcilla. View of the plaza can't be beat, which is what you actually pay for, of course..... I'll be sitting there in September, God willing, when I begin my next (last?) walk....

Pax. Fr. J.

I would love to hear your memories of Burgos in 1977!
And please don't refer to the next camino as the last one. You never know!

 

[OzAnnie]

View attachment 104207View attachment 104206

So envious @MickMac
Are you going to walk far ? Or just enjoying getting to Spain?
Looks like a balmy evening. I wish I was there too.

buen camino
Annie

 

[MickMac]

Hi Annie just driving on way down from Bilbao to Costa brother has a house in mountains outside marbella.

Sorry to hear about another lockdown in Sydney. Get European Union covid passport next week does away with PCR tests for travel within our European Union great idea.

Keep well and keep safe Annie hope to walk in August, Ponferrada to Santiago again.

 

[rappahannock_rev]

I would love to hear your memories of Burgos in 1977!
And please don't refer to the next camino as the last one. You never know!

My complements on your excellent book.

 

[Kazibar]

I hoping to start in Burgos in September. Also suspect it may be my last Camino (cancer). Loved reading this, when I was there last Burgos seemed so vibrant!

 

[Marbe2]

I hoping to start in Burgos in September. Also suspect it may be my last Camino (cancer). Loved reading this, when I was there last Burgos seemed so vibrant!

May you be blessed with a wonderful camino! The pandemic has reinforced my belief of living in the moment! We only have this camino!. None of us should count on anything more.

 

[BROWNCOUNTYBOB]

I am a two time cancer survivor (testicular in 2014) and basil cell carcinoma a few years ago. At age 64 I am in good health and good shape, taking our beagle for 30 minute walks each morning followed by a 30 minute workout on the treadmill or elliptical 4 or 5 days a week. My wife and I are hiking our 4th CF mid September to late October.

I told my wife if I ever an diagnosed with a terminal condition, I will make immediate plans to hike Camino Frances one last time no matter the time of the year.

God bless you Kazibar for an enriched, enjoyable and spiritual Camino Experience! Bob