Day 9 - to Burgos, city of El Cid

We knew we would have rain in Spain eventually, and this morning was it. Up early as usual, and out the door with all the rain gear on our pack and on ourselves. And it was RAINING! No gentle drizzle this. At the first town on the path, still too early for coffee as the bar was still closed. the town did introduce us to four very nice Italian fellas who let us follow them out as today's first 9 km were over the top of the mountain - rough rock, rain slick and pooling water everywhere. And of course, being that high, we were walking through the clouds, so misty fog to content with as well. Needless to say,the iPad stayed safe and dry in the backpack,so no pix of our morning trek. 

Grabbed a coffee and a butter-cake in Cardenuela Riopico. We were so wet and cold that our fingers reused to cooperate, a minute wrapped around a the coffee cup restored some of the feeling and movement. We walked another 6 km to Villafria, which is the outskirts of Burgos, and decided to take a city bus through the industrial sprawl -really didn't miss anything 'pretty' and the bus had half a dozen pilgrims on it already, so we were in good company.

Grey, raining and cold...and really who needs to see more industrial sprawl?

Treating ourselves tonight and got a hotel room, in a very nice hotel, Hotel Via Gotica. The hotel is in the arts district and right across from the Puente Santa Maria. 

Arco Santa Maria, that's me on the right side of the arch with my arms in the air. Busy spot and no one would stop so Barb could take the pix...

Across the bridge, and there's the Arco de Santa Maria which lets you into the plaza in front of the Burgos Cathedral, resting place of El Cid himself.

Burgos Cathedral

Mural painting of El CID

El CID statue 

As we were having a very well deserved lunch, Toronto Richard and Ester (who now live in Texas) stopped to have a tea with us. The camino is a wonderful place to meet people, all ages, all nationalities and all walks of life.

Ester and Rick (he's 85 years old - an inspiration to be sure)