Hospitalera Day 18

This is it, our last day as volunteers at Refugio Gaucelmo! Our relief came by in the morning and helped us to clean. Then we had to count the money.

As I mentioned yesterday, there was a special celebration today, actually more than one.

First, there was a bench donated to our garden for which some important people gathered for a blessing.

Then there was a special mass in honour of the former prior of the monastery next door. He has now returned to Germany to the ‘home base’ and been promoted. To Abbott Presidente. So this mass was attended by several priests, nuns, and local dignitaries. This was followed by special luncheon, to which I was not invited. The bishop of Astorga did get an invitation, so he attended.

Later on Abbott President Javier stopped by for a drink. He is actually a very funny guy.

Please check out the video on the footprint. The man who does the music for church had a back up today. I call him the Maragato music man.

He lives in Rabanal and plays during mass. A recorder and a drum at the same time. And today the extra musician had some kind of instruments in his hands. Maragato are the people who have lived in this area around Astorga for generations. They have special music, dancing, and food.

While we were at mass we had an abundance of pilgrims and the ‘barn’ was opened, so I got to take a look.

Now I am a little superfluous but will soon start packing as I leave in the morning. I am walking westward to Santiago. Llew will be walking eastward to Astorga, then catching a bus to Burgos where he will meet his friends who are walking the Camino. They will walk to Santiago and beyond, to Finisterre.Read more