Day 16–to Sahagun—some washing clears the air—May 7, 2024

After yesterday‘s long hike, I got off to a slow start just after checking with Michael, who was still in bed ill. He said he was getting better and would get on the trail shortly.

I stopped in Ledigos for breakfast of potato and cheese pie along with coffee and OJ.

Shortly after I left, Michael had caught up with me, but then he was still not feeling well, so he took a break for a while.

I met up with Stephen, an attorney, from New Zealand.  We stopped at two places to get fresh orange juice.  At the second one we met up with Jan and Jody along with their friend Laura, who I had met the day before while having dinner.

Stephen and I walked all the way to Sahagun.  Here was our first glimpse of the city.

Right before getting into town, the Camino took a short detour over to this 11th century church. The town has an annual procession and festival out here.

In town, I lost track of Stephen when I kept going around the Toro Plaza and he took a left into town and over the railroad tracks along the Camino Trail.

When I didn’t see him for a while, I double checked the map and realized I turned right instead of left. I backtracked into town where I ran into Barry and his wife Lisa from the UK who told me about the Monostario de la Santa Cruz Albergue and said it was good and cheap.

I tried about three hotels, but they were all full.  I continued on through town to the Monostario Albergue which was at the far end of town, and decided to stay there.

John, the host, explained the nature of the albergue, some of the rules, and some of the events that I was invited to such as a meeting of the pilgrims to share their experiences on the Camino, later a mass in the church next-door, an 8 PM Pilgrim dinner, and a 7 AM morning shared breakfast— all with the intent of establishing community.

John explained that this used to be a convent, and is owned and managed by the Benedictine Order. Hospitality and community are two of their values, so the managing of this albergue fits into that concept. Other than the earlier place I stayed that asked for donations, the cost here was just €7–the cheapest so far.

John did a lot of moving of people around so that I would have a bottom bunk or bed in a room with two others and a shared bathroom. He also found me a blanket to use for the night.

The room had a bunkbed and a single bed, and I got the single bed. We had the bathroom in our room rather than down the hall.

I immediately took a shower, washed some clothes, and hung them out to dry in the courtyard.

Since I wasn’t going to go to any events there, I walked down to the triangle restaurant I had spotted on my way in and had a fish—hake— dinner along with some delicious soup.

Back near the Monasterio, I went to the super Mercado and bought some orange juice. While there I marveled at the fish counter, as well as the wine racks that showed very inexpensive wines on all racks.

When I got back to my room, the two young Italians had just arrived, and the room stunk. Although these guys had just taken showers, they had not bothered to wash their clothing. I suggested they may want to do that if they want people to enjoy interacting with them.  They took it well, and disappeared with their dirty clothes until close to 10 PM— and lights out— when they came back, they and their clothes smelled better.