Category: 2018 Camino

Not sure how to put this but I sort of wanted to stay here. All along the walkways inside this hotel were the voices…taped of course…. of Monks singing. Something…and I’m not getting religious here…but something descended on me. It wasn’t mystical it was just a sense of relief and peace and being connected to myself and all I love. I know I have to move on but I loved it here. I wanted to stay. I bathed and sauntered out to the cloister bar and ordered Pizza…yes Pizza…and tomato’s salad. how disgraceful, I was starving…..and wine of course…? I didn’t get anywhere but I did reflect on the world…..

Best of all I was in time for the post office!!! I threw my boots and at least 7 tops into a scraggy poly bag…all I had…and sauntered off back over the bridge to the post office. I seemed to wait an age whilst the Posty dealt with 2 ageing cyclists with their helmets on…aren’t we all ageing??

“Poor favor Signor… “I start. But he looks at me and understands and proceeds to pull out a cardboard box. I fit everything in as he keeps asking if there are any sprays or aerosols….NO I say. and with that, He asks me do I want it tracked…NO…not necessary and my address is written on in biro…off it goes…that easy…I think? No time limit, no questions, no fuss and 23 euros. Gone!  I’m elated. I will zip my case easily now. No jumping on the hard top smearing it with insect repellant and sun cream just to close the darn thing!! Success.  That made the pizza and wine taste so much better!!

I slumber into my bed….mmmmmm

 

So I set off in the dark , I opt for coffee sad to leave my monastery. Nothing will feel so gentle and serene to me plus the fact my itinerary says that I will be in a hostel next!! Fear strikes me. As usual after 2 hours a make shift bar appears. I need the toilet. When I say make-shift I mean make-shift. Oh God give me back my hippy man.  A Mr. Groucho greets me on his trestle table offering burnt sausages from his barbie or coffee in a polystyrene cup. The choice is endless. I can of course opt for a banana or bruised peach…orange juice?  …I opt for coffe. Is there a toilet I ask in Spanish…

”NON NON…no pee here”

Oh, never mind I think.  I return to my picnic table. On my morning journey I was walking behind David…wise man…You can pick him out because he has three quarter white cardiolist suggested socks on.  He had turned and must have seen me in my morning white plastic Primark poncho…..he waits for me…we have an amazing conversation about American politics, Clinton and Hilary…and Trump and mid terms and how he wont get in??? I’m not so sure…then it leads into brexit…oh god!!

I kind of mutter that we didn’t know all the facts , we were just worried about immigration…but then all this about no medications and visa’s and trade agreements come to light. I always thought that united we stand is better than apart but I end up saying…

“well we have survived 2 world wars, never been invaded and maybe we will be ok!!!”

My coffee was 1.30 euros?…lets see if we make it in a year. It might become 3 euros!!!

I think David realises after he went off for a wee outside the bar commune that I would have to stop outside a tree further down the road. So he bids farewell. I photograph the sign that says…YOU CANT PEE HERE!! I cant pee here. I have to move on.

I get to the little village. It was hot and weary again in the last hour and in my mirage vision I can see the village. Well I think I can…I take a photo….as I approach I realise it is just a hay rick with a roof on…and a church behind!!! Merdre!!!

But I do get there…it seems to be past the main aubergue and round the corner. I read in the manual that Caesar owns 2 together with a swimming pool if you want to use it. He is a pilgrim that has done the Camino 7 times!!  Am I on a winner?

Because of my early start, I arrive early, sweaty, no room ready and no case!! So I try to write outside where the sun is baking hot. A group of pilgrims join me. I order rose wine and cant write anything. They call me Liverpool Carol!!!!! I go twice to Cesar behind his little reception area, pleading for my case so I can wash and bathe….

” Tranquila…” He says. Smiling at me. I looked like a drowned locust. Case arrives,  yeah!! I bathe, wash my hair,put some semblance of eye make up on to make it look like I am really awake. Caesar suddenly notices the difference.

”Hola!  Buen Camino “ he says as he follows me to the bar. I smile weakly…but happy for him to carry my BOTTLE of rose!!!!! To the outside table. Well!!! Its so much cheaper than getting a glass for 3…its only 9!!! I don’t care if I pour it away, well just a smudge on, which of course I had to….only after a wonderful paella…just for me. The chef in his stainless steel kitchen has a gourmet good food certificate….so all good. I loved it.

But I am weary and there is a lift to my second floor. Its an old farmhouse with only 2 floors. From the reception there is a central atrium that look up to the second floor. I just want to crash now…after all the chat of peoples experiences…and the ‘poorly bus’. ..and the man next to me who had severe shin splints or tendinitis after 18 days of good health!!! He has to bus it to Leon and wait 3 days!! I’m shocked but I need my bed.

Bed is ok..Very heavy wooden ceiling…I look for bedbugs…the sheets seem clean but for the first time they are not white!! I can’t open the blinds, there is no mechanism so it is very dark and hot. But that wasn’t the only problem. It was SO LOUD>>>>> The kitchen staff yelled and cleaned for hours…people laughed and shouted!!! I kept thinking….”Oh well, people are happy and not fighting!”….but I couldn’t sleep!!!!

It was the small hours before it went quiet and then so much was going round my head…daaaah!  We cant have everything.

Tomorrow will be better?????