The Camino Frances

The Camino Frances

Thursday, September 20, 2012

The benefits of tea

I´m rushed today as we went into Astorga to shop for supplies, so must rush back to serve tea.

Yesterday´s pilgrims could not have been different from the German cooks of the night before. We had 7 from Taiwan - our previous total over 10 years for Taiwan was 11! We usually don´t host groups over 4, as they change the dynamics, and usually keep to their own group, but I made it work - the magic of tea! We also had a group of 5 Spanish, who usually keep separate, but once again, they loved the tea party. Also, 4 Danish women and a Danish man,  a couple from the USA who run a hostel along the Appalatian (sp?) Trail, an Austrian who went out and painted a lovely 9x12¨painting in watercolour of the church, (he is staying on at the monastery next door for a rest and to paint more) and a German girl who helped to set up for brieakfast this morning.

Tea was a smashing success. Everyone talked, there were bottomless pots of tea, and the oatmeal fudgies were a great hit, and I could eat them too! Hurrah for the soothing benefits of tea.

One of the Taiwanese women has 2 children in school at U of T, and when she found out I was from Toronto, she helped me to wash up from tea and told me about her visit to Ontario and Quebec.

It was a very peaceful and restful group, and I ended the day by going to Compline at 9:30. The service is entirely in Latin, and most of it is sung by the 3 priests. They did a blessing of the pilgrims - also in Latin. I had a very healing sleep last night, and woke promptly at 6, just in time to head down and turn on the coffee pot. And so it goes.

Darlene

2 comments:

  1. So, is Guacelmo one of the only alberges that serve an afternoon tea in addition to dinner?

    Do you have an alarm clock to wake you? Or do you rely on your internal clock?

    How did you get to Astorga?

    What prompted you to decide to accept two groups larger than 4 people yesterday?

    What time did you get back from Compline, how far away is it, and what time did you finally get to bed?

    Sorry for so many questions... wish I was there to experience it all with you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Aisy - All good questions, and I will answer them in today´s post.
    Mom

    ReplyDelete