Sunday night

Mass is usually at 7 every night band Father Jesus does a special pilgrim blessing every day. It is wonderful to think that is the same one given to pilgrims in medieval times. We encourage all pilgrims to go because it is a time we love. We have a respite from the pilgrims for about 40 mins to finish cooking and to knock back a quick glass of wine before they return. However on Sunday mass is at 1pm and not 7pm so no respite for us tonight. It was my turn to cook and the menu was mixed ensalade for the primero plato, chicken stew for the segunda and arroz con leche (rice pudding) for postre. I started cooking at 5pm for 19 pilgrims for the meal to be ready at 7. By 6pm we had 30 pilgrims and they kept on coming and by 6.50, just as we were going to serve we had 45! By that stage I was giggling semi-hysterically but I opened another tin of the wonderful Spanish white beans to throw into the pot and a big bottle of chickpeas as well as another can of tomato puree. We quickly made another big salad and cut up another 2 loaves of bread. Some miracle must have occurred because there was enough for most to have a second helping and when we gathered it all up there was even some over. Pilgrims tell us that the word is going down the line that they must not miss Granon. We are now almost in the winter season and are still getting more pilgrims every day when the numbers should start to fall off. We had 12 different nationalities here tonight and this morning we had a lovely Japanese lady who stopped for some bread and fruit juice, and who wept copious tears when we showed her some kindness. Our cupboards are once again bare and we will have to go into Santa Domingo to shop when we have cleaned up after the pilgrims all leave. Some times they are reluctant to leave and we don't chase them away. 4 lovely young American guys did a bible study session in the church before setting off this morning. Right now we are bursting at the seams and don't have a spare mattrass and have pilgrims crammed into every nook and cranny We even have one of the latecomers sleeping in the vestry with all Father Jesus's robes. Unlike the other places that put up a 'completo' sign when they are full, we are not allowed to turn anyone away but heaven only knows where we could fit in another body. Thank goodness we did not have to find that one out tonight.
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