After yesterday's slightly caustic comment on pilgrims preferring a little more comfort after walking all day ... and having the resources to pay between 15 and 50 euros instead of donativo to 12 found in the basic albergues ... a timely reminder from Thay, via Stanhope friend Norton's post on FB on the discriminating mind ... not to mention the judgemental one ... and of course the practical provided by Robert, a Brit with Canadian accent, seeking the route, hearing his story of losing wallet and phone at Heathrow, spending time hopping back and forth to Bilbao to arrange new cash card, staying in places other than our more than simple albergue ... joining up just outside town with regular walking partners, also skipping our home comforts .... the snorers, farters, mumblers and soap dodgers ... yes, another opportunity to discern or judge yesterday's pilgrim, shocked at 10 euros, accepting the free bed and breakfast ... though not washing his plate; finding resources for cigarettes and beer (to be fair, he offered some coins for that) ... interesting to observe that the self-service breakfast, having been temporarily subverted by table service plus porridge (a hit again, especially with delighted Germans), sets up an expectation that washing-up will also be taken care of ... with some exceptions ... all material for social psychology investigation part of this chapter of the Camino ...
A message from the editor, back in England after Ciblat summer, to suggest more detail on the lives of pilgrims, less on the landscape ... the first opportunity, at the cafe, Roque or maybe Rocky, craggy peregrino from Tenerife, limited by my poor Spanish and his wish to walk ... next, two peregrinas, maybe Dutch, at bus station for Santander bus and shopping for sandals after foot damage from tight shoes ... or wide feet, depending on perspective ... no time there either ... feet treatment in surf a little chilly and the call for relief hospitalero to enable Picos crossing before snow arrives at lower levels ... results in first pilgrim, Remi, cycling Frenchman, accepting the mission ... then Karina, French woman, retiring from Camino due to injury, wanting to stay three days before flying home ... and would have taken the job too ... anyway, the coast is clear for mountain hike in the morning ... and if the forecast is right, the hills will be without cloud too ...
Michael, from Germany, arrives, then French reinforcements from Clemence and Wissal.... on one of these wonderful programmes to offer teenagers a different way of life and us some rap culture on the commandeered computer ... early morning routine more gentle Ave Maria and Om Mani Padme Hung ... Philipp from Austria, Rachel from Barcelona, David from Madrid, Corinne from France, Lao from Manchuria make ten for breakfast ... porridge training for Remi ... then on the Way again ...
The middle way of hostel living is appealing, the options are open anyway ... having saved sufficient from the pension during these periods of mutuality ...
In depth interviews not pursued today, French folks off out together ... the suggestion has been accepted and put into the universe for action ...
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