Day 12, Atapuerca

Louie and I left Villambistia in an on-again off-again drizzle at about 6:40 am with the plan to walk to Atapuerca. This is a UNESCO site of prehistoric caves. During the communal dinner last night everyone talked about this site, so we all made plans to walk here, about 22 km.

The walking was made difficult by the cold and the lack of services along the way. Yoko user her bike only as a pack-mule and didn't ride it. Yoko is on her 14th month of traveling.

We also passed an Oasis for Pilgrims which had picnic tables and a guitarist monument.

There were bathrooms in San Juan de Ortega, but the only food was sweet - chocolate croissants and such. While I like them, I can only eat so many and I was very hungry for real food by the time we arrived in Atapuerca at 12:30. I didn't like the look of the parochial albergue, where Louie decided to stay, bit am very pleased with the municipal one - very clean and sufficient showers (Louie tells me that his albergue has only one working toilet/shower for 16 people).

I had some beer and pizza and snacks, so hopefully that will last me til morning.

Gabby has made reservations on the bus for us to visit the archeological site/museum so we will be heading there in about 30 minutes at 4:30.) The tour was entirely in Spanish, but Suzanna interpreted the important points for me. Evidence of human habitation, tool usage, cannibalism and such were found here in cave dwellings, some dated 1.5 million years ago, which is much earlier than was originally thought for humans in Europe.

Whenever Suzanne got lost in a very long translation or technical words, she just said "a part of the cave", then "another part of the cave", until we were giggling together.

Not a lot to see, but somewhat interesting and hanging out with Suzanna, Gabby and Hug (like Hugo, but without the "o" and not pronouncing the "h") made for a fun excursion. Bonus - my ticket is also good for the museum in Burgos.

We returned to the pick up spot in Atapuerco at 7 and I had a light dinner in the bar while the others had a drink. Louie, Suzanne and Gabby went to a restaurant that didn't open til 8 - a bit too late for me.

I've arranged to meet with Louie at 6:30 am for the walk to Burgos tomorrow (20 km), after which he returns home, as will Suzanne and Gabby.

It's now 8:30 and I'm in my habitacion in PJs planning to read for an hour or so before bed.

Burgos tomorrow.

Guitarist monument

Archeological site

Sylvie and Alfrede in San Juan de Ortega

Yoko pushing her bike

Suzanne, Gabby and I

Me, Hug, Suzanna, Gabby