emilyonearth

After a much appreciated rest day in Burgos yesterday, we were back on the road bright and early this morning. There’s something of a heatwave in Spain at the moment, with some of the southern regions hitting 40°C, so we started walking at 5:40am to try and beat some of the heat. It was dark and a little tricky to find the way, and then of course leaving a city means having to walk all of its outer streets which feel like they go on forever, but eventually we made it back to the Spanish countryside.

Leaving Burgos meant we were entering the Meseta, and the second third of our Camino. They say that the Camino contains three sections: a physical one, a mental one, and a spiritual one. Whereas the first third was all about the shock to the body that is walking 20-30km per day and all the aches and pains that come with that, the second third brings with it the monotonous Spanish Meseta. It’s comparatively flat, straight, and boring. I’ve been led to expect a lot of wheat. Endless wheat. Very little but wheat. It’s going to be hot and there will be a severe lack of shade. With nothing to look at, nothing to distract you from your thoughts, and nowhere to hide from the sun, this is the part of the Camino that causes people to give up altogether.

I have music to listen to, of course, but I’ve just done this twice while walking so far. It kind of feels like cheating. It’s like the Camino is supposed to be hard, and by listening to music I’m providing myself with a distraction that takes my attention away from the challenge of the walk. I suspect this will be something I rely on more during this section of the walk though, whether that’s what I’m “supposed” to do or not.

With the early start we arrived at our albergue quite early. We went through the usual routine: shower, laundry, food, rest. You wouldn’t believe how tiring it is just to walk! We met another mother and daughter combo, and the daughter is just 15! She has wanted to do the Camino since she was 13, but her mum made her wait until she was older. She seems to be a cool kid!

Anyways, I’ll leave you with a couple of pics from Burgos, with a heavy focus on the cathedral. Enjoy!