The Tasty Pilgrim

So yesterday was my last day with my pilgrims.

At two o´clock I opened the front gate and loud and clear my mantra was directed al all those waiting

WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF GAUCELMO ! WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING YOU !

All those faces lit up, as there is nothing more boring than waiting outside in the street. As quickly as possible I tried to register them. It was a long line of people waiting and after half an hour the dormitory as full. The old hag wanted to close the refugio, but I just opened the barn and let people chose a bed. At the end of the day we had admitted 40 pilgrims. Yet something fishy had been going on. In the dormitory all the bed had been taken, but this did not correspond with the registration. Anyway had a lot of fun with my pilgrims. In the evening I went to Gaspard for a grand meal, fish soup followed by sole ! I will miss this meal ! Later in the evening we had nice discussions why pilgrims go on the Camino. I did some guitar and some others also.

At half past ten I locked the gate and turned off the lights. Slept very well.

This morning got up at six and prepared breakfast for the pilgrims. The communist wanted to keep the door closed, but I just let it open for people to come in. Then at seven it was rush hour for the breakfast. Everyone who left, I asked for their camera and took pictures. They were so pleased with the gesture. Time for my own breakfast after eight. It is stale bread and jam, a meal I wish to forget as quickly as possible. Then cleaning time started and I took time to clean the dormitory and the sideroom as best as I could. For the next months nobody will use the vacuum cleaner and mop it properly. And nobody will vacuum clean the beds ! The English are really a filthy race. It used to be " my home is my castle" but at present it reads " my home is my pigsty" ! The charman will be happy to receive my report. Had a shower and a shave and got my stuff together and pushed everything into the rucksack. When I was ready to leave the other two had disappeared.  Hilarious ! They were obviously afraid of this moment. Went across the street to the bar of Antonio and had my usual caffee con leche. He called a taxi which took me to Astorga. First I enquired at the bus station. There is one bus to Bilbao, but at 3 o´clock at night ! Not a pleasant prospect. I checked into the refugio where my friend Lisa Marie works. Tomorrow morning I will take the bus to Leon and from there the express bus to Bilbao. It has been a funny day to end my stay at Rabanal.