Wednesday 23 March

This morning's breakfast was leisurely.  The 3 of us were thinking we might have to put on some rock n roll to wake them up because the Gregorian chant just wasn't doing the job this morning.  We can see the pilgrims from the second story window when they  depart.  Today there were several of them, including Pedro doing the stretching movements  Javi showed them last night before they hit the road.  All were gone by 0830 and we were done cleaning by 1000.  It is nice to have a another pair of hands.  Maribel stopped by to ask Javi if he had a car and if he would take her to the grocery store in Santo Domingo which is only about 6 miles away.  We were going to do our shopping so she came along with us.  She gave us 4 duck eggs in appreciation.  She comes by the albergue to collect ashes from the hot stove we use for heating, bringing us fresh herbs from her huge garden and she also takes any stale bread we have to give to her dogs.  When we returned Cullen went to the farmacia to get some cold medicine then to bar teo for a cafe y croissant.  We really like the owners of the bar, Alberto and Maria.  Cullen talks a bit of politics with Alberto, most recently about the bombings in Brussels.
So far our first pilgrim to arrive is an Italian from Rome.  His name is Francesco and he  looks young.  Then 3 young S. Koreans (2 boys and a girl), then another S. Korean followed by 3 Spaniards ( a mother and twin daughters).   I don't understand these pilgrims who carry hair dryers!