Another Encounter With The Spanish Public Health System

I went to sleep last night about 9 pm. I suddenly awakened by rustling bags, lights flashing around the room and going on and off, door squeaking as it is being opened and closed repeatedly, and voices in a street volume, not hushed at all. I thought, "oh Lord, I've overslept again. I looked at my phone and it was midnight. 

After about 15 to 20 minutes of this nonsense, I went out and explained that lights out was 10 pm. Everyone is supposed to be in bed and quiet now. She said the man in charge said they could fix their bags. He may have said that at 9 pm, or he may have said they could do it in the morning. I seriously doubt he told them they could do this at midnight. He wasn't even around. Most hospitaleros go to bed after lights out. I wasn't going to wake him and ask him if he said that. The girls were young. They probably came in on the train to start their Camini. They had come to the Albergue shortly after I did. They were probably out late and someone opened the door for them, and they decided they should get their bags ready. Who knows? I just huffed and puffed and went back to bed. It's probably some sort of living amends or retribution. 

I was twenty once. Or at least I think I was, it's hard to remember so long ago. lol I was glad they were gone when I got up. I might have been tempted to trip them. 

Upon awakening I decided I was too sick to continue, my body isn't retaining nutrients and I'm feeling tired. I asked the owner how to get to the train station. He was giving directions, and he said, there is a Centro de Salud right across the river. I thought, "Well, why not." 

I trotted off to the Centro de Salud, walked around the building to find the entrance and walked in. There was a line of two or three people, and then three people taking info behind the desk. I figured this must be the place. I got in line, waited for about 5 minutes, and gave the woman the information she wanted and my passport. She filled out some forms, handed them to me and told me to go to Room 18 arriba. 

Off I went upstairs where I sat by room 28 for about 15 minutes and the doctor called me in and discussed my health problem. She gave a prescription for some powder to mix with a liter of water and lemon juice. Five packets for five days. She said no café con leche. That about broke my heart. She suggested I consult my doctor when I get home. I'm on a limited diet of Apple, banana, rice, chicken bullion, and natural yogurt. 

The whole process took about 30 minutes. I love the Spanish Public Health system. I've had to use it three or four times, including a emergency surgery. It has always impressed me. 

Oh yeah, I also asked if I could continue the Camino, and she said yes. So off I went. I decided not to go to Portomarin because I got a late start and it was already hit. So I stopped somewhere past Barbadelo Casa de Carmen. 

I was all alone here for a while, then three German women came in. They started in Triacastela. They are newbies and thought they would just try a part of it, before thinking about doing the whole thing. The mom is finding it hard, especially the heat. They are from the part of Germany that is on the North Sea. 

Then two bikers came in, a man and a woman. They are Spanish. 

Here are a few picture:

Looking back at Sarría as I was leaving:

And then a couple of shots from the trail: