May 30 - 31 Santiago to Zamora From Pampered to Service

May 30 - 31 Santiago to Zamora

From Pampered to Service

The breakfast service at the Parador was lousy. I had to hunt someone down to get my café. Ok, so that is my "tourist" voice. Now I'm in Zamora being a hospitalera and I'm grateful. Tourist demand, Peregrinos are grateful. 

Before leaving Santiago yesterday, I got a chance to stop by the Cathedral and have a wee chat with my friend John. There are now English masses every day in a little chapel. Pilgrims have begun writing their prayers and leaving them in the chapel. So I wrote one for Sal and all others in the fight with breast cancer. Then I walked to the train station and caught my train for Zamora. I didn't get lost, didn't miss any trains. Wow, I'm on a roll. I got to Zamora and on the way from the train station, I stopped at the market and got some pan and aqua. I felt almost like a local, walking down the street with my stick of pan. Well, except for the backpack. lol, It was late Saturday afternoon in Spain. You could have shot a cannon down the Main Street and not hit anyone. 

I arrived at the albergue to a warm welcome. Claudia, from Italy, started showing me the ropes. Marisa from Logoño came in and we started exchanging English and Spanish lessons. They are the hospitaleros that are leaving tomorrow. We discussed the difference in the pronunciation between "shit" and "sheet." I met a woman from Australia and since she is walking I will probably see her again in Santiago. A little later Jose Luís arrived with his girlfriend. Marisa and Claudia said they were going to say goodbye to someone they met here and they would be back at 10 for dinner. Ten pm for dinner?! Oy! 

Jose Luís, his girlfriend and I chatted for a long time. He teaches Hospitalero courses here in Spain. He is very nice. We decided I would help him with English and he would help me with Spanish and we would all talk slowly. lol. They wanted to know the difference in pronunciation between "beach" and "bitch." Where are they hearing these English words? I didn't even try to explain "sunny beaches." ; )

Marisa and Claudia came back about 9:30 pm and we went downstairs to the kitchen and dining room for dinner. Marisa and Claudia made pasta. I cut up some fresh strawberries and we had a mighty fine dinner. There were also three guys, two from Spain and one from France) still eating. There was another Spanish guy from France who was suiting on the couch quietly. Then he started singing. Oh my goodness, he had the most beautiful soulful tenor voice. He sang to us for about an hour. There were also many funny stories being told. I could only get the gist of them because when people start telling funny stories they talk fast. My Spanish is improving, but I can't process it fast enough. 

Finally got to bed about midnight and up at 6:45 to make café and toast for Peregrinos. Got lots of hugs and besas from departing pilgrims. Then we set about cleaning. There were four of us today. Tomorrow there will be only two. José Luis and I. These guys have all been doing this for years. I'm just a newbie, so I can learn a lot from them.  

I'll be sending this off now because I don't know when I will get another chance today.