They were ten people including 5 kids. In spite of their attention to dining graciously the boys, all under 10, were running wild when I noticed them scaling a wrought iron gate liberally adorned with vicious looking spikes. I did warn them off and drew their mother’s attention to the danger of them being impaled but she dismissed my concerns with a haughty wave of the hand.
We had 102 pilgrims in the house last night and we had to open the basement accommodations. A Polish family with 5 kids ranging in age from a three month baby to an adolescent slept down there. About 30 others were in the same room.
It was an exhausting day and I was happy to sleep today… I had 2 siestas of 2 hours each! My Canadian counterpart goes to sleep at 8:30 as a routine but opens the door without fail at 6 am so I cannot fault that. Gilberto and stay up lock the spooky church and the street gate.
I am left to deal, with my wonderful partner, Gilberto, with the somewhat rowdy post supper bunch. The Italians in particular seem to talk at the tops of their voices and since the floor is unforgiving terrazzo, the noise is deafening.
At the end of the beautiful field adjoining our albergue is a site being excavated. A monument is to be erected there at some point. For now, happy dogs bound around, their masters throwing balls for them under the shadow of the beautiful mountain.