Plaza de Maria Pita

Last night, I took a short excursion and as I walked up the stone medieval street and crested the rise, the most amazing cathedral rose out of the ground (see pictures). Burgos is famous for the Cathedral de Santa Maria, and the moment I saw this cathedral literally rise from the ground below, I already knew that I would be visiting the next day.

But not before, I take care of some of the business of the Camino...It is freezing here...12 degrees but a cool wind, and unfortunately, I sent back to Canada some of my warmer things when I thought that Spain was having a heat wave. Also important to note that in Spain not only do they siesta the better part of most afternoons, fail to open for all holidays, celebrations or otherwise, they also do not work on Sunday. So my rest day is Sunday and I am desperate for something warmer. The ONLY store open on these tourist busy cathedral streets, except for cafes, is a dollar store, so 28 euros later, I have a toque, some gloves and a man's sweater ( size small). I also stop at a convenience store that stocks mostly wine, but I found more tinned tuna as emergency rations. And finally the fourth ATM is working...so now I have money! Now I am ready for my cathedral tour.

The cathedral truly is amazing...I have visited many churches on holidays in Europe, and often feel that one church is much like another...this Cathedral is like nothing I have ever seen. First, it is literally sunk in the ground. So it rises out of the streets...I believe it was built on the foundations of an ancient castle, and the cathedral also has two levels to match the two street levels that it hovers over and around. It rises like a cloud out of the streets.

The cathedral is a testament to Mary and was built over 22 years beginning in 1121. Though the cathedral has undergone additions and renovations over the years, the essential structure remains the same which is why the architecture of the building is largely gothic. Gothic architecture includes pointed arches, stained-glass windows, flying buttresses, ribbed vaults, and spires. These are all evident in this cathedral in each of the 21 chapels. The cathedral is essentially a collection of chapels built over time to honour various political and religious leaders of the time who created these monuments either as a testament to their living and dying, or a testament to their strong faith and convictions. But the truly remarkable feature of the cathedral is the lasting art work where now the Cathedral is as much a church as it is a museum. The sculptures, the stone architecture, the stained glass windows, and the paintings that adorn the walls are a testament to the art that has survived the passage of time, and recounts the ages.

So after my Cathedral tour today, I went off looking for lunch ( albeit the late Spanish lunch) and if it wasn't my friend, Diana, also looking for a late lunch...so 4 glasses of wine later and some pinchos...we arranged to meet for dinner two hours later! Which of course has given me a bit of time to catchup on my FindPenguin footprint because tomorrow is a walking day.Read more