16 th May 2023. Leaving Burgos for Hontanas, with a following breeze.

18 May
Well placed on the Camino and very Pelegrino friendly.
Two photos from the lobby of our hotel
View from our room at 06.30
We left just after 08.00 – school children en route.
The Cathedral in all its splendour.
A number of these along the Way,commemorating the Holy Year,2021
Leaving the old city via the Arco de San Martin and the remains of the city walls
The Milkmaid.
After a short stroll we came upon this ancient hermitage. San Amaro was a French pilgrim who returned here and dedicated his life to the service of pilgrims.Plus the beautifully renovated, ancient faculties of the University. Formerly the grounds of a Pilgrim Hospice.
It was Rob who attracted our attention to this site – what a privilege to study here.
Our first signpost and an original waymarker.
These more up to date signs will be helping us for many stages to come.
There were not many of these posts on this section – 300 miles to Santiago de Compostela
There will be a number of these information boards along the way – the maps,if not the Spanish, are self explanatory.
Some quiet road walking and then across the River Arlanzon
We were now making our way to Tardajos and hopefully, coffee.
Wildflowers , especially poppies, were abundant in fields and verges.
Cruceiros are commonplace on the Camino
Americano and a pastry – perfecto.
A stork’s nest – on any available tower- always eye catching.
Equally eye catching roses in a sunny corner .
There were several larger mansions with coats of arms on the outskirts of Tardajos – Keeping up with the Vecinos?
On the route now towards Rabe de la Calzadas and some striking murals.
Not all are Camino or Christianity themed.
A Sower Went Out to Sow…Very appropriate for the Meseta.
Multi lingual
Mostly decorating farm buildings
Livestock rarely to be seen over the next couple of days .
Leaving Calzadas and the Meseta has begun

I have very ambivalent feelings about Graffiti, regarding it as mostly infantile scribbling – in cities I have developed indifference towards it – but my hackles were raised when this son of Wales cast no glory on his homeland by defacing these signs.

Welsh for “ Long live Wales” . I will spare you what some the group thought should happen to this prattish individual and to the son of France who thought his blisters added glory to the Camino!
RANT OVER…

High on a hill overlooking Hornillos , was this cross at the top of a rare hill on the Meseta

MATA MULOS – a local reference- MULE KILLER, thankfully we were descending, so we were spared that fate.
A classic Meseta scene with the path wending its way through the fields
Lunch stop at Hornillos which means “ little stoves”. A quiet place to say the least, but none the more welcome for that. Other than the tiny hamlet of San Bol, there was little of distraction before today’s destination, Hontanas.
The terrace in San Brigida
End of walk beers on the terrace with Tom in contemplative mode
Ps.They’re not Tom’s socks drying out – he doesn’t do Pink.

That quiet scene brings an end to the first day’s walking – such variety of places,scenery and signs…hopefully of more good things to come.

One Response to “16 th May 2023. Leaving Burgos for Hontanas, with a following breeze.”

  1. slodown 18/05/2023 at 16:01 #

    Thanks John.
    A truly beautiful country.
    Pity about the infantile Pays de Gallles and also the French remark.
    Please keep the images and desk flowing.
    Buen Camino.
    Derm

    Reply

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