DAY 20: September 13. ( rest day in Burgos)

Today once we finished our chores (laundry) we decided to be tourists. On our walking days we are often too tired to take in the sites. A pilgrimage is not quite the same as a vacation. Peregrinos sometimes need to reconcile themselves to this.
Burgos is a lovely city—-well planned and clean. All along the Rio Arlanzon there are park lands. The streets on either side of the river have many inviting outdoor cafes. Burgos is the capital of Burgos province in the Castile area of Spain and has population of 178,000. It is best known for its Gothic architecture, primarily the Catedral de Santa Maria built in the 13th century. This cathedral is known as the wedding cake cathedral because of its ornate spires. El Cid ( aka Rodrigo Diaz not Charlton Heston) the Castilian hero was born near Burgos. His body lies In the cathedral.
There is an incredible museum in Burgos called “The Museum of Human Evolution”. It began as a result of the discovery of ancient caves in the Sierra Atapuerta Mts. by a coal mining company digging a railway trench. The artifacts date back over a million years and are said to be the earliest ancestors of Europeans. In 2000 the site was declared Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The display was excellent but the two hours we allotted was not enough time. That goes for Burgos as well. Just a day does not do it justice…but the Camino calls us:-)