Jane: well we leave here tomorrow and we shall go by bus to a place called Astorga. From there we shall start walking again on Thursday morning. This will have given Charlotte´s shin five days free of serious walking and hopefully she will be be able to cope with the mountains of Galicia (aaaghh!).
We have really enjoyed our brief stay here-- well, who wouldn´t?! We have of course attempted to retain a serious and contemplatative demeanour, but it´s hard when you have a glass of wine in your hand and have to nibble at another bowl of olives.
On a practical level we have got our washing done, caught up on BBC world news (anybody want to know the weather in Taiwan?), caught up on sleep, bathed until we look like prunes and re-stocked our wash bags with tiny upmarket shampoos etc. -- just what a pilgrim needs. We are not the only pilgrims doing this. We have met several others either just resting or injured and having an enforced rest -- I know they could have chosen the municipal albergue -- we blame Martin Sheen and the natural hedonism of human kind.
This is the Parador de San Marco, formerly a monestary, school, gaol, stable, military headquarters and nearly demolished in the 19th centuary -- thankfully now a lovely hotel and museum.
A view from the internal cloisters, where the stud once operated.
Our recuperative base where Charlotte´s natural piety shines around her!
Yes, we can turn even a Parador into laundry (another piece of top gear is the steatchy, peg-free washing lines).
We met up with Bethany from Hawaii again at breakfast this morning -- lovely to see her. She is charging ahead as she has a tight deadline.
The bar -- a sort of home-from-home. (Henry did say he was paying!!!!)
The view from our little balcony. (Very private fortunately as our smalls have spent some time drying out here.)
We are now gearing up to get back on The Way -- actually we really can´t wait to get going again.
More news when we have some. Love C&J xxx
Dear Perigrinos
ReplyDeleteLiz and I stayed in a Parador hotel in southern Portugal, and loved the luxury. After you’re Way walking you deserve to pamper yourselves. And Charlotte needs to rest up her leg. And, according to the internet, apply lots of ice to affected parts. So, I guess, you could argue that G&T, with plenty of ice, was medicinal. Cheers.
Loved Charlotte's halo - always knew she was 'special'. Must be the (secret) reason Charlotte did all the church and ‘holy’ commentaries in your last blog piece “Culture Vultures”.
The Parador de San Marco does look amazing, after your hostel photos. Enjoy the comfiness, become as prune-like as you want (and remember the medicinal G&Ts). And, restored, enjoy starting your Way walk again, on Thursday.
All my love XXXX Mark
PS Am preparing a Power-Point for Liz’s ‘do’, and have got an album of early twin photos to choose from, and scan. They looked so sweet when they were little, and so identical!
Wow! The parador looks very impressive! Reminds me of my honeymoon - we stayed in the parador in Granada for 3 nights and it was just awesome, everything afterwards was a step down.....
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