Monday 31 October 2016

Hospital to Murias ...

A sunny stroll on the last day of October ... another short day ... plenty of time for a late start and some dawdling along the way ...

But first, last night's supper was preceded by the resident family regaling us with gracious song ... 3 delicious courses, Greg failing to transform the water into wine and experiencing a rare dry day as he and Ed carouse their way along the Way, playing the Irish stereotype and advising this drier and longer walking pilgrim to take it easy ... which advice is accepted these last two days and maybe more to come ... after the food Mincho entertains us with an extended gag about the present moment ...breakfast tomorrow, if there is breakfast ... or tomorrow ... is self-service ... you may find it laid out on the table any time you want it ... or maybe not ... and if you wake up, and there is breakfast, the route is through the back gate, left, right, left, right, straight on ...and follow the arrows ... if you do wake up and find breakfast, feel free to make a donation for supper and breakfast ... whatever you feel ... take some money if you feel that, but do it with love ... after the philosophy, Bea borrows a guitar and sings ... explaining a conversion experience she says she was given the gift and the songs and told to share them ...she sang like an angel ... a pure voice, reminiscent of Joan Baez .... a magical moment in a magical place ...

Starting briskly, two consecutive villages and their bars come too soon ... until an Anonymous Pilgrim offers a discreet seat on which to strip to shorts and t shirt ... mind is focused on Astorga and the camp just before, famous for David, who so impressed Neil, my sceptical friend, on his Camino two years ago ... today taken care of by Luca in David's absence in Barcelona on family business ... and Jem the poet from two days ago turns up to continue the conversation ... and a personal recitation of his latest work ... then solo into the city, declining the €5 hostel on the way in, wandering through the streets busy on market day ... bumping into some of the crew from the Albergue Verde, who suggest one on the route out ... somehow missed ... a light lunch and on towards a suggested one kilometre offer ... closed ... the short day is getting longer and research is lacking ... on hopefully another 4 km to Murias which offers three ... including the small, tranquil and very beautiful Albergue Las Aguedas ... with vegetarian supper ... 

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