Our Canadian guest and her dad did stay over a second night. We drove up to the Iron Cross yesterday after lunch. The Dad walked up and we drove him back. It was strange being a tourist there, and fascinating. There was a tour bus there waiting for bus pilgrims to have a snack and be transported to the next sight on the Camino. I hope when I walk up next Monday, it will seem different.
So, we accepted everyone yesterday until we got to 36, and then we put up the completo sign. Doing tea for 30 was a challenge, but it worked and fortunately I had a batch of cookies ready. A young man from Venezuala did all the dishes, and neither Dave or I could understand him.Breakfast was a challenge, as we can only seat 14 at a time, but still they all ate breakfast in 45 minutes. It was just as much fun as the smaller group from the day before. Every day brings challenges and joys, just as in my life at home, but here the challenges are solved and over quickly, and we move on. I shall try that at home.
We had help with the cleaning this morning, (the Canadian Dad - they took a taxi to Cacabelos, hoping to be able to walk tomorrow) so it went well. I just hope the sun comes out so the pilgrims´ laundry dries for them. We do have a balcony and drying racks, but not enough space for the laundry of 30 pilgrims.
Life does seem so simple here.
Til tomorrow
Darlene
The Camino Frances
Showing posts with label laundry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label laundry. Show all posts
Sunday, September 23, 2012
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
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
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