10 reasons to not stay in Alberques

So we thought you should know that we did have our first really genuine Alberque experience and we have swom an oath that it will be our last. On the camino, there are many persons relying on the guide book we brought as our bible, and we have decided to stay at the in between places not the main stops suggested by John Brierley. Not all towns offer alternative accomodation to the large one room alberque style. We are now into the last 100 kms. and many more pilgrims, pilgrim oriented enterprises and towns compete for our attention. Since Sarria, we are now in Galician hillsides and our routes wind their way through the farm fields and homes of the locals. Yesterday we enjoyed some fresh raspberries picked by the farmwife and sold to us still warm from the sun. It is a green, and mist laden landscape. Although we expect the fog to lift today, it is after 10 a.m. and we are still in a dense fog in Portomarin. Although foggy it is still warm and we are not using our heavy clothes at all. We all agree that September is a great choice for the camino. Some of the rock lined paths would be difficult if not treacherous in the rain and mud that apparently is common in this area.

So while we were enjoying our half day of rest (think cervezas, sangria and vino tinto) in the small town of Ferrerios yesterday we met many people. We feel confident in sharing our new found wisdom about alberques and the 10 reasons we are not going to do them again - here they are:

1. Bed bugs - we met a woman from NZ who had the worst sores over her legs and arms, and she was afraid they were becoming infected. all acquired after her first night in an Alberque.
2. People using your bed or sleeping bag to pop blisters - trust me, you don´t want to think of persons spreading their things around your space.
3. One toilet in a room meant to accomodate at least 22 people. You really want to avoid having to use it.
4, Snoring - thank goodness for ear plugs.
5. Suspicious messages on the slat boards of bed above you, honestly I´m too old for Brownie camp.
6. Socially inferior people - now in case you think we´ve become snobs, that was mentioned to us by a group of Irish peregrinos as they hopped into a cab to avoid the Alberque we were staying at.
7. Speedo ¨packages ¨- generally worn by old German men who may be sleeping next to you.
8. General smells, feet, breath, fats, (you get the drift of this).
9. The herd leaving the alberque in the a.m. - honestly, everyone was up and the place sounded like a hive of bees by 0530.

and last but by no means least

10. H1N1- and no place to wash your hands with the person in the next bed coughing and sneezing without covering their mouths.

Dawns´feet are almost totally recovered, although she expects to lose her great toenail at some time in the future. This happened, because she now has her new shoes, which we acquired in a special way. We must be ¨blessed¨or else it was all of your positive thoughts that brought us to the town of Sarria on their feast day. All stores were closed except for the Pilgrims Shop which had the largest and most affordable selection of TEVA´s we have ever seen. Anyone considering the Camino should have a pair of shoes with no toes, but capable of hiking with, as their back up shoe...they have saved Dawn´s feet and her Camino. Hasta luego, Jo, Trish and Dawn.