Scores on the doors 21.5 km up 154m down 44m
We let ourselves out of our pension at just after 8 the sun was just rising but despite the early hour it was quite warm, which boded ill, as it meant we were in for another scorcher of a day, which it proved to be probably I would guess in the high 20's or low 30's.
Just before leaving the city limits we came to a small chapel which was open, run by the Franciscan brothers, very simple and peaceful. We were then met by lots of runners out for an early run. We crossed the moterway and were out into the country, walking on a track parrellel to the road. We were passed by hoards of bicycle pilgrims, or "bicigrims" as they are known. This time around some days we see far more bicigrims than traditional pilgrims.
After an hour we stopped for brekfast and then onwards always west and slowly up hill.
The sun behind us creating interesting shadowed,
At just after 1 we arrived at Rabinal, we had decided on a shorter day as Lesley is suffering from blisters and both our feet ache. On passing the shop we noticed that it was shut, so decided to book in to our albergue and then get lunch in a local cafe.
We had planned to stay at albergue Gaucelmo because it is run by the Cofraternity of St James the British pilgrim organisation which we are members of. British pilgrims are a rarity, and so we were welcomed with open arms. (But then so were all the pilgrims).
Betty & Dugald the hospitaleros (assisted for a couple of days by Anne and Adrian) are most excelent hosts, showing us where everything was and then invited us to tea at 4:30, after lunch showers and washing settled down in the alberge garden
to read about the next few days and catch up on blogs and diarys. At 4:30 we joined them for tea a tradition of albergue Gaucelmo, our first Tea since leaving England. Doughal is a Permanant Deacon in the Roman Catholic church and regularly leads groups on the Easter pilgrimage to Walsingham, it's certainly a small world!
The albergue is just by the parish church and next to a Benedictine monestry, who lead vespers at 7 and a pilgrims blessing at 9 and I was asked to read at vespers as part of having the lesson in four languages. At 6:55 we were told vespers was canceled, as the monk who lead it had to go to hospital. So we went and ate and just went to the blessing.
During our meal I checked e-mails and we recieved one from Tanya our Spanish tutor, it's great to hear from the folks at home and to know people are Reading our blog.
As my cough is still bad at night we got some pastles from the chemist, to take just before sleep. The chemist said chew two before sleep (or that's what I thought) as Lesley has now told me the Spanish word chupar which sounds a bit like chew is actualy suck, I have chewed and have just broken a piece of a tooth! We will have to see how it is in the morning!
We let ourselves out of our pension at just after 8 the sun was just rising but despite the early hour it was quite warm, which boded ill, as it meant we were in for another scorcher of a day, which it proved to be probably I would guess in the high 20's or low 30's.
Just before leaving the city limits we came to a small chapel which was open, run by the Franciscan brothers, very simple and peaceful. We were then met by lots of runners out for an early run. We crossed the moterway and were out into the country, walking on a track parrellel to the road. We were passed by hoards of bicycle pilgrims, or "bicigrims" as they are known. This time around some days we see far more bicigrims than traditional pilgrims.
After an hour we stopped for brekfast and then onwards always west and slowly up hill.
We had planned to stay at albergue Gaucelmo because it is run by the Cofraternity of St James the British pilgrim organisation which we are members of. British pilgrims are a rarity, and so we were welcomed with open arms. (But then so were all the pilgrims).
Betty & Dugald the hospitaleros (assisted for a couple of days by Anne and Adrian) are most excelent hosts, showing us where everything was and then invited us to tea at 4:30, after lunch showers and washing settled down in the alberge garden
The albergue is just by the parish church and next to a Benedictine monestry, who lead vespers at 7 and a pilgrims blessing at 9 and I was asked to read at vespers as part of having the lesson in four languages. At 6:55 we were told vespers was canceled, as the monk who lead it had to go to hospital. So we went and ate and just went to the blessing.
As my cough is still bad at night we got some pastles from the chemist, to take just before sleep. The chemist said chew two before sleep (or that's what I thought) as Lesley has now told me the Spanish word chupar which sounds a bit like chew is actualy suck, I have chewed and have just broken a piece of a tooth! We will have to see how it is in the morning!
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