Today, Chris and I walked like 24 or 27 kilometers from Castrojerez to...ok, let's be real, I always have to check yesterday's blog to remember where we started in the morning, and I have to use some "find my location" feature in order to remember what town we are currently staying in. At least I know where I'm going--Santiago, right? ;) Pilgrim Brother is the navigator and keeper of the guide book (in case you hadn't figured that one out yey). Thanks, brother!
Today we passed by an albergue called San Nicolas.
As you can see, it's pretty old and more or less in the middle of nowhere. There is no electricity--when it gets dark, they operate by candlelight! This beautiful albergue was restored and is now cared for and run by the Italian confraternity of St. James and St. Benedict Labbro. Chris and I worked as hospitaleros (pilgrim house hosts) in Rome at the albergue there that belongs to this same confraternity.
Today was also exciting because we met a chemist from Budapest who spoke both English and French--which means after 15 days, Chris and I were finally able to communicate more than "Misa?" with Father Pascal!! I was so excited I didn't even know what questions to ask him (a common problem for me). Turns out, his parish in Normandy is along the rout of another walking pilgrimage. He'd been seeing pilgrims pass through for years, and he wanted to be a pilgrim himself. He wanted to be a pilgrim so badly that at first he thought he would go "undercover", without really announcing the fact that he was a priest. However, that plan didn't last one day. Some pilgrims wanted to go to Mass on the first day, the parish priest was sick, Father Pascal stepped up, and everyday after pilgrims looked to him as "Padre". As our new Hungarian chemist friend said, "Good thing, because the Camino needs Padres." Thanks for being our shepherd along the Camino, Padre!!!
Goodnight. I sleep now. Hopefully wake up in morning.
+JMJ+
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