Quiet Day

Yesterday was crazy busy. We had pilgrims everywhere; in a tent on the back porch, in the hospitalero room, and three in the park across the street. This morning was really hectic with all of the extra people eating breakfast and getting ready to go. We got our cleaning done and the three pilgrims from the park showed up. They had their own food, so they just used our table. 

Elidio left to go home to see his doctor. He has cancer. The first day I was here he went into Oviedo for four hours of chemo. I thought, "No way will he be able to do much after chemo." But he's been doing everything. I'd say he's in his forties. He is a really gentle soul, but stubborn. He's an excellent hospitalero and I've come to totally trust his judgment. He has great instincts on what to do and when to do it. He is very giving. He also smokes like a chimney. He loves living creatures of all kinds. He taught me how to feed bread to the sheep to get them to come around. He noticed there is a feeding place for stray cats near us and that some of the neighbors drop off food and fill a water container. He notices bugs on the wall and knows oodles about trees and plants. Here's a picture of Elidio and I under the albergue's clock that tells time, temperature, humidity, date and day. 

After Elidio left, Bea and I went to the market for supplies. Bea is a delight to work with. She speaks a little English and I speak a little Spanish. We are teaching each other. I'm really surprised how much my Spanish has improved this year. It's still rudimentary, but better rudimentary. lol. However, Bea said it really isn't very good. Sigh. 

Bea is probably in her thirties with a naturally happy and outgoing personality. We have had lots of laughs together. We get a lot done when we are working and she picks up on what needs to be done quickly. She's never been a hospitalera before, but she is a natural. She also enjoys feeding the sheep. She took this picture of me with the bread lady, whose basket was empty again today. Her bread must be really good, because she is always sold out. 

Here is a picture of Bea sitting in the kitchen window and a picture of the Albergue from the outside the Albergue this morning with happy pilgrims eating breakfast. 

This really is a lovely Albergue. If anyone is doing the Primitivo it would be a great place to stay. There's someone here today who is on the APOC fb page. So, we will see if he has anything to say about his stay here. 

Well, I spoke, or wrote too soon. Just after I wrote about how relatively quiet it was today, a pilgrim from France shows up at the door at 9:40 pm. It's getting dark, every Albergue and pension within 10 km is full. So, we pitch the tent on the porch. Then as we start pitching the tent one of the guys that was sitting on the back stoop drinking beer gets up and he is drunk. Bea and I have a giggle about how good he will feel walking tomorrow. Then we get the French guy settled and the doorbell rings and another pilgrim who is a little tipsy missed the 10pm deadline. Oh well, it's easier to just let him go up and go to sleep. He was only a few minutes late.