It is partly sunny this brisk
fall morning about 59 F overnight low, some of the local aspen trees are a
bright golden in the early morning sunshine. We are leaving this morning and
Jane wants to visit the very famous caves in the area so off we trot to breakfast.
Exploring caves takes a lot of energy! We reload the car, as we are heading head towards
Burgos after the caves tour.
After breakfast we checked on the
caves with the concierge and were informed that advance bookings 24 hrs prior
are necessary as they only take small groups of 12 at a time through the caves
on the 45 minute tour! Well damn! First El Capricho and now the caves, is there
no end to this disappointment?
We decided to stop by and take
our chances without a reservation. Paul took one look at the walk up the hill
to the entrance and decided to stay below in the parking lot and talk to the
two horses in the next field! (Mom and
Son who was NOT totally weened yet.)
I spoke to the ladies at the
entrance and was very kindly allowed to join the next group. They said there
was only four people so it wasn’t a problem. By the time we started there was a
full group!
The Monte Castillo caves are
considered the most important comprehensive European Paleolithic archaeological
site, dating from the Lower Paleolithic Era (about 150,000 years) to the Bronze
Age, about 6,000 years ago! They were discovered in 1903 and have been declared
a World Heritage site. I cannot explain everything in here and would suggest
you Google for any questions you have. I just have to tell you that walking
where humans walked 150,000 years ago is a humbling experience. There is a lot
of discussion and talking about the “drawings” and handprints left behind but I
will leave it to the experts. There is still a lot of excavation going on and
let me tell you this was no “restored” display. The steps were uneven and low
lit, the ground was uneven, the air very humid. I just wonder how long they
will allow people in. In Altamira a few kilometers up the road only very select
people are allowed in and the waiting list is a couple of years long because
all these people walking around and breathing can cause huge damage.
My feet were killing me by the
time I walked down the hill to meet Paul who was patiently waiting. We headed
out to Burgos passed the wonderful green of Cantabria to the high mountain
passes and rocky terrain of the province of Burgos in Castile y Leon. El Cid
country, he was born around here. A nobleman and a warrior! He was admired and
feared by Christians and Muslim alike and he changed sides a time or two but
his name lives on in legend! Burt Lancaster played him in that old movie which
I might just dig up and watch!
Carmen Garmin routed us through
very narrow residential streets up and behind the cathedral climbing higher as
we went. We thought she had lost her mind again! Turns out the Hotel Abba
Burgos is just 300 meters from the cathedral. The center of town has been
pedestrianized, thus the circuitous route around town!
We asked the receptionist where
he would eat if new to the town. Puerta Real is an Asador below the cathedral. It
was quite a fancy place where we both enjoyed the best milk lamb chops. And a
lovely rosado wine Penascal.
Paul refused to walk back up the
hill (it was quite a minor, climb) and I refused to go wandering around looking
for a taxi , so I headed up the hill to the hotel. I waited quite a while
before Paul arrived back, but he finally found his taxi!
It had been another long, busy
day so, evening time, we stayed in for bar snacks and an early night. (it is
never early, it just means we stayed put for a couple of hours!)
Buenos noches!
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