Often times while staying at an albergue in the middle of nowhere, with no sites of interest to explore, the only thing you can do is talk to the people there who are also in the middle of nowhere. After liver and lima beans, striking up conversations with perfect strangers rates right up there on my list of things I’d prefer to avoid, at all costs. Luckily for me my sister is cut from a different cloth. Within seconds of meeting someone she doesn’t know, she’s has told her life’s story, gotten their life’s story and they are now BFFs! Since we are chained together for this adventure, I sit, listen, take it all in and marvel at how she does it.
Once the dust had settled from being surprised that my sister also has the ability to teleport to different locations, the introduction to what would become the new normal for the next 6 weeks began. First, check in with the hospitalero, get your Pilgrim Passport stamped, receive your disposable sheet and pillowcase, find your pack, find your bed, unload what you need for the night, sign up for the Pilgrim dinner and get in line for a shower. Second, once that is all done, the rest of what’s left of the day is yours for the taking.
The large and beautiful deck of the albergue perched on the edge of the mountain afford incredible views. We spent the remainder of the afternoon under the large umbrellas drinking cold beverages, one after another and talking to other pilgrims we’d met along the way and some we would come to know. On that first day, little did we know, we would become acquainted a group of people who, at the end of our Camino, would become lifelong friends. We fondly called ourselves “The OG”, (original group or possibly Orisson group)
I am a firm believer you can sleep when you’re dead. Sleeping is much overrated in my opinion. Not so for the vast majority of pilgrims we met, including my sister. Because Orisson, France is closer to the equator than Maine, druring the summer the length of the day is longer in summer. It is still very light even at 10:00 pm. I was physically spent from the trudge up the mountain but I wasn’t sleepy. “When in Rome, do like the Romans” so despite the lack of dark, I headed to my bunk trying not to wake any of the other sleeping Pilgrims.
As you can see, these beds are designed for 7 year olds. I was always relegated to the top bunk. On these particular units the opening to the bed is small and one must hang on for dear life to either upper rail while swinging a leg (it didn’t matter which one) over said rail all the while not making any noise despite the swaying of the entire unit so as not to disturb the person already asleep. I don’t need to elaborate. As a general rule, many pilgrims are of an age that denotes experience. These beds, especially in the dark when Nature calls, can be like descending a very steep trail or mountain or staircase blindfolded. You really don’t want to turn on your flashlight in case you wake someone. The floor seems miles away. That is exactly what one of our bunkmates discovered in the middle of the night. A terrible whacking noise followed by a groan woke each and every one of us out of a dead sleep. Assistance was offered, ice was retrieved and the pilgrim seemed to be fine in the morning.
I’m happy the Pilgrim was not injured but I was happier that it wasn’t me.
Buen Camino,
“Holy” Sneakers 500
"Holy" Sneakers 500 