The Camino Frances

The Camino Frances

Sunday, September 16, 2012

I can do it!

It is noon, and I am enjoying a cafe con leche in Pilar´s Alberge. It has 100 beds, and internet,and makes real ccl, as opposed to our strong coffee and hot milk, which we serve for breakfast. Many groups stay at Pilar´s, and one just left after singing several songs on departure. Isabelle, the owner is trying to sell the albergue, but there are no takers. This is a village with 13 residents in winter, when most of the albergues close,  so the only business is pilgrims. This short video shows one of the churches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUZRXy3tKF8

So now Dave and I are in charge. Claire and Keith left this morning, after helping with breakfast and cleaning, so tomorrow will be the test. There are so many cleaning products here, but I know it will be better once I get into the flow, and find my own way to get it all done. There is a great expanse of floor, and string mops to wash them with. They will shortly be reverting to cotton sheets from disposables, so that will add a lot to the job.

Yesterday we had 33 pilgrims. I hope we have less than 24 today - that way we won´t open the barn - 16 fewer beds, and we will have less bathrooms to clean. The pilgrims all have their own story.  Last night we had a couple from Toronto! About 5 young pilgrims left at 5 am this morning in order to be at the Cruz de Ferro for sunrise. More power to them! So we had about 25 at breakfast.

After the cleaning we walk the garbage up to the top of the town to big bins - just like at the Bain!. They only recycle bottles here. We took the crusts of  our breakfast bread to a man on the way and he will feed them to his hens. We try to be good neighbours, so I cleaned the square this morning - mostly emptied the garbage bins and the cigarette butts.

I´m going to try and blog about this time every day, so enjoy this with your morning coffee or hot water and lemon.

Hasta luego
Darlene

2 comments:

  1. Darlene I stayed at Pilar's. Lovely hospitable lady. You are so made for being a hospitalero. the pilgrims staying at your Alburgue are very lucky. Please keep blogging. You are right I am enjoying my morning coffee whilst reading your blog. hugs. J.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Isabelle is the owner, and the gossip is she wants to sell for 500,000 euros, but will take less. Anyone interested?
    Darlene

    ReplyDelete