What another amazing day. Yesterday we had 45 pilgrims lining up at 5.50 am, waiting for breakfast and they were all gone by 7.15am. Today was the 'tranquilo,' group as Barbara calls them. We had to switch the lights on at 6.35 am to get them going. The Spanish normally have toasted baguettes and jam plus strong coffee with hot milk for breakfast which is hardly sustaining for a pilgrim so we give them that plus fruit juice, croissants and the usual cakes as well as fruit and boiled eggs to take with them. To get back to today - our lovely Spanish former hospitaleros helped us clean so were done by 9.30 even with all the bedbug prevention measures we take. That left us time to do a leisurely shop at Santa Domingo, including browsing through the Chinese shop. We still gad no water when we got back and it only came on again at 4.30 pm by which time we had turned away lots of pilgrims so we ended upbeat 11 pilgrims -our lowest number yet. I was on cooking duty and Padre joined us for the meal. With a small groups wet can all sit around the table and use the candles. It is so exciting as we have no idea what tomorrow will bring. We are now getting into count down mode and by tomorrow we will only have 5 days left plus a hand over day. None of us wants this to end
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There must have been a lot of disappointed peregrinos Jenny! You have really settled into the routine of the work and I can understand that you don't want it to end. But, I'm sure you can also understand why HOSVOL doesn't expect people to serve for more than 15 days. Its hard work - never ending work - and it can take it out of you when the adrenaline dips!
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