The Camino Frances

The Camino Frances

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Completo!

When we opened the doors yesterday at about 1 pm there was a lineup. About 10 people sat on the patio, as I signed them in, one by one, or in couples. There was a woman from Jasper, Canada, and a guy from NZ and 2 Americans, a couple from Ireland, and assorted others. We put up a sign saying Completo (full) after 23, and let in one more single person. We decided to leave the barn closed. We sent anyone who walked in without reading the sign to El Pilar, as their charge is 5 E and they have 100 beds.

The first woman sat down and said ¨Do you have my bag?¨ Gaucelmo has a policy that we only accept pilgrims who do not use transport for themselves or their bags, and the company Jacotrans, knows this, and usually doesnt accept the bag´ for transport. If they accept by mistake, they deliver it to El Pilar´s. So that was a bit difficult, though not as hard as a woman on the previous day who had thought she sent the bag to us, and wanted us to find it and send it on, while she walked on. We didn´t want that responsibility, but Dave  did find it.

Once we were filled we switched to assisting pilgrims with questions and laundry. We have a centrifuge which spins the laundry so it dries in the garden in about an hour, and they appreciated it very much. Then tea at 5 in the garden - no scones, as there were too many pilgrims. Most of them showed up, and stayed to chat.

Today the cleaning was 1.5 hours, so I went for a walk towards Rabanal Viejo, but I turned around before I had to descend into and out of a valley to get there. I will try to walk so I stay in shape, but time is so limited.

Our average per pilgrim was 6 euros yesterday. That is about $8 - for a clean bed, a shower, tea, breakfast of tea, coffee with hot milk and bread and 3 kinds of jam, plus assistance with the route, blisters, lost items ( we replaced a towel for a guy today), a listening ear and dinner from the cupboard if they need it. This is a priceless service we are offering and it is not about the donativo, but I wonder at the value placed on the service. We have donors who sponsor a week, so that might cover some repairs, or garbage bags, or tea for the week.

However, I am here to serve, and am now going back to the albergue to do it all over again. I wonder who will show up today?

Darlene la hospitalera

5 comments:

  1. Hi Darlene. I finally caught up with your blog and love reading your posts. It sounds wonderful and exhausting. I will keep following you. Take care and enjoy your stop with all of the other pilgrims. Vicki

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    1. thanks Vicki - I love to hear from home, though there were 3 pilgrims from the GTA last night, so that felt a little homey.
      Darlene

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  2. Gosh Darlene, I am quite shocked at the number of pilgrims walking at this time of year. I would love to see the area in the Fall. What is the weather like? Hope you are taking photos. Keep up the good work. Love. J.

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  3. Mom, you mentioned that they serve "real" ccl at Pilar´s Alberge... I thought ccl was strong coffee with milk, but you say that is what you serve and it is not the real thing. What is a really "real" Spanish ccl?

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    1. At Pilar´s they make espresso, so the ccl is espresso with steamed milk. We serve very strong coffee with hot milk for breakfast, so it is not quite the same. I am trying to cut down on the ccl consumption, however it is made.
      Love Mom

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