Arriving at the 14th-century Arco de Santa Maria in Burgos yesterday

(Burgos–only 8600 walking-around steps)

Matthew 6:25-34
v. 28a “And why do you worry about clothes?”

I had to laugh when I read this passage today. Last night we discovered Maurice had left our laundry supplies bag in the Belorado albergue. It contained the hand washing powder I had carefully researched and packed, binder clips (more versatile than clothespins), safety pins and, most valuable of all, our lightweight stretchy clothesline (really two lines twisted so you don’t even need clothespins if you run out) with clips on the ends. The clothes we had washed earlier weren’t anywhere near dry and the real hotel we are staying in does not have a clothesline in the bathroom or out the window. In the grand scheme of things the laundry supplies were a minor thing to lose (considering Maurice was ready to walk out of an albergue one morning without his glasses) but I was irritated. “Do not worry,” says Jesus, “saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” or ‘What shall we hang the clothes on?’ After our trip to the post office we went to the Chinese shop we had found the day before, where the dour owner pointed us to plastic rope and clothespins, only 1.50€. Later Maurice creatively strung it in our hotel room; we trust the clothes will be dry by morning. I am thankful for God’s faithful provision, for his Word that speaks to us where we are and for his gentle rebuke that nudges us back to the narrow road.

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Our goal for the day was the post office to mail items to Chris that have now been declared excess weight. The post office near the hotel was closed so we loaded plastic bags and walked to the main post office, where a pleasant woman helped us select a box and address it properly. “What do you have extra?” wondered Diana in an email. We packed up Maurice’s tennis shoes (because he decided in small towns his flip flops are fine), extra D-rings, most of the gear ties, the plastic trowel (it doesn’t seem things will get that desperate), a couple pairs of Maurice’s socks, one of his shirts, his headlamp (he uses the flashlight on his phone), some things in the first aid bag he decided we didn’t need, my wrap-around sunglasses and my original right shoe. “Only three shoes?” asked the post office clerk, looking around a bit mystified. We just smiled and nodded and didn’t try to explain. I am keeping the left old shoe until I am absolutely sure I can walk blisterless in my new one. Ready to mail, the box weighed 2.845 kg–over six pounds! Our shoulders are already happier.

Maurice’s panorama of the south side of Burgos cathedral from the square

Crossing the square alongside the cathedral, we ran into the French trio. We hadn’t expected to see them again, but Robert’s shoes were falling apart and they had to shop for a new pair. They were pleased to hear we had arrived via bus because they needed directions to the station; it was late for walking and they needed to get to their next reserved room.

Fountain and San Nicolas de Bari Church at steps to west end of cathedral

Maurice spent the next few hours drawing and enjoying a cafe while I went in to look at the cathedral. “Enorme!” Robert had told us. “Pas une eglise, pas une cathedrale–un musee!” Indeed it was; even breezing through took a couple hours, especially since I heard music outside and asked the gatekeeper if I could go out and come back in again (“si, si”). On the upper plaza a horn and drum were accompanying dancers who were entertaining a bride and groom; eventually they all paraded down the stairs and out of my view.

Meanwhile elegantly dressed guests made gracious entrances through the great west door behind me for the next wedding. I went back inside; a barricade separated the wedding chapel from the tourist throngs but I got a spot with a view of the open door and could watch the beaming bride’s entry.

After soaking in all the art and festivities, we ate dinner midday on a terrace with a view of the cathedral under a bright blue sky, then retreated to our room to rest and watch the laundry dry.

ART FROM THE CATHEDRAL:

Looking up at the central lantern (over El Cid’s tomb)

13th-century Magi in the cloister

Saints (13th century)

Benefactors’ tombs

Choir stalls

Angels on the ladder to heaven above the sleeping Jacob (detail from the choir stalls)