This bronzed medieval pilgrim fixed to the pavement outside the Parador Hotel incongruously came to life and said ‘Mike stop hesitating just start walking’ Now the albergue at Villadangos del Paramo, where I am to be a volunteer hospitalero, is 20kms from Leon. I had planned to take public transport. Most sensible. After all, I had not done much preparation and it was awkward carrying a guitar as well as a regular pack.
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But why be sensible? So I stepped out into the early morning, activated the guiding app, found my blue dot and took off. Street walking is much more interesting than sitting on a bus. Gaudi would agree. His creations need to be enjoyed first hand. When we reached the Parador both Sancho and Guitar suggested we check in. I replied ‘no self respecting pilgrim would ever stay in a place like this’ Martin Sheen take note. After breakfast, it was uphill for several kms. I had thoughts of dropping in on the Baggins’ for a break.
We pressed on. Besides we were now only 300 kms from Santiago.
True! At the time I was walking with someone who had started his Camino from Notre Dame in Paris - it’s all relative!
Like this hierarchical stork nesting tower, the bossier the stork, the higher the position.
About half way through the morning, I came across this delightfully named village. Shortly after - roadworks permeated with the symbolism of the Camino.
I was pleased I walked. It gave me a chance to reconnect with the experience of randomly meeting people along the way. Conversations can carry us for kms, as well as dampening aches and pains. I experienced that today!
I was happy to arrive. Today marks a transition point. Today I was a peregrino walking the Camino and booking in at this albergue and being cared for Tomorrow, and for the next two weeks, I will be a hospitalero here caring for people like me, and not like me.
The Camino will come to me for a change.
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