Humbling Day

Travel in a foreign country when you don’t speak the language is humbling. Everyone should do it.

I was humbled this morning several times trying to get the bus from the airport to Burgos. I already had a ticket for the 8:15 am, but because we got in early, I thought I could get into the 7:15am bus and get into Burgos an hour earlier. The 7:15am Bus driver doesn’t speak English and this peregrina never bothered to learn any Spanish. (In fact, I crash learned how to use Google translate on the flight to Madrid.) I am pretty sure the bus driver said, “You dumb American, your ticket is for the 8:15 bus. You can’t just get on this bus.” No, that probably isn’t what he said, but he should have. So instead of being able to say, “Could I just purchase a different ticket for this bus?” I waited for the 8:15. I would still be in Burgos before noon.

I will cut to the chase and tell you, I missed the 8:15 bus too. Not because I was off drinking Cafe con Leche somewhere. Nope, I was right there where the buses come and go. Between chatting with a new found pilgrim friend and not being able to understand the response when I asked, “¿es este el autobús a Burgos?” The 8:15 headed off to Burgos without me too. So, the next bus wasn’t until 10:45. Luckily there were many other people waiting for this same bus and I was finally on my way to my Camino starting point.

Victor from Mexico heading to Irun and the start of the Camino Norte which goes along the northern coast of Spain. It is supposed to be beautiful and challenging.

Cary from Alberta Canada. Also restarting her Camino in Burgos.

Welcome Back to Burgos

I was finally in Burgos by 1:15 which actually was perfect timing for checking into my apartment. After getting settled I headed out to run some errands. First stop was the Correos (post office) to mail my IKEA Frakta Bag to the Correos in Santiago where they will hold it until I pick it up. I think. Again, lack of any ability to communicate in Spanish has tripped me up. Well, hopefully not.

The rest of the day was uneventful. I enjoyed a beer sitting in front of the Cathedral and bumped into Cary (from the bus ride) again.

I got my passport stamped at the Cathedral right next to last year’s final stamp.

Had a delicious tapas dinner.

And I attended the pilgrim mass.

I took my picture with this pilgrim last year. He was here waiting for me this year.

In bed by 9! Looking forward to tomorrow.