We would have spent longer exploring the area around the castle, but a none too friendly security guard came out and told us that the castle was closed (we should have slept in like the Castillians). Another good reason to rise later would have been the fog, which prevented us from getting good photos looking down on the cathedral.
So we set off for a hilltop walk along the ridge above Burgos, where we met a friendly woman walking her dog, who gave us some pointers about where the trails went.
It was then down into town for coffee and a Danish at Juarreno, a bakery on the Plaza Mayor, where we met another helpful young woman. Marty and I were standing in what we thought was the line, but we were actually waiting behind people who were standing at the counter drinking their coffee, and the young woman suggested that we go over to the side where people were ordering their drinks. It seems that in general, it is only the young people that speak any English, and definitely better English than my Castillian. This bakery is great - a latte and potato pie or croissant for 2 euros. Needless to say, the staff got to know us well.
Fortified, we headed off down the river on the north side, crossed over at a footbridge and walked back up the other side of the river, through the university, where we bought baguettes and cheese to make lunch, which we ate in a large nearby park.
After lunch we set off to visit the other local monastery, Real Monasterio de las Huelgas, on our way back to town. Remember my comment yesterday about timing, well the Cistercians at this monastery close at 2 pm, and we arrived just too late for entry. I guess they need more rest than the Carthusians. So not willing to wait 2 hours, we walked back to town.
In the evening we had our first taste of tapas at a couple of tapas bars on Esquina San Lorenzo, which we had noticed last night were particularly busy. The specialty in this area is morcilla, which is blood sausage. Marty tried the morcilla eagerly, having been raised on it, Randy tried it by accident, but Marlene and I passed on it. It was actually difficult to order tapas as the menus were only in Castillian, and most dishes included some type of meat or fish. But we did enjoy a few different items, even if we didn't know what we were eating!
We headed home around 10:30 pm, which is early for the locals, and were surprised by the number of women walking alone at night, although the streets are well lit. Another great day, and our last full day in Burgos. Tomorrow it is on to Lugo.
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