Day 16: San Juan de Ortega to Burgos

Mileage: 16 miles
Altitude gain: 581 feet
Altitude loss: 1,030 feet
Weather: cloudy and cool enough for a sweatshirt in the early morning; warmer later, and the rain started after we reached Burgos
Total mileage: 182.5

Today was physically much easier than yesterday, but the long walk into and inside the city of Burgos was harder mentally. That said, I did train on city streets, and it felt more familiar!

Moments I didn’t take pictures of:

-The old man in the village of Cardeñuela Riopico who gave strawberries to a pilgrim in front of us (he shared) and then gave each of us a rose before motoring off with a wave.

-The 30 minutes where we were walking and walking and walking around the perimeter of the airport without seeing another pilgrim or a trail marker and being sure we were lost (we weren’t!).

-The best falafel (pronounced “fa-la-FELL”, FYI) I’ve ever had. Random Middle Eastern place on our way through Burgos.

Overall another good day. We’re living it up in the big city - sock shopping, laundry (we were asked to do this by the locals, LOL) and a beer while our clothes washed. Dinner at a vegan restaurant (!) near our hotel. We haven’t seen the big sites of Burgos yet since I chose a hotel (no bunk needs tonight!) on the near side of town. I’ll make a separate Burgos post tomorrow.Read more