Villafranca Montes de Oca is yet another of those towns being supported by the Camino. It is recorded that in 1594 16,767 pilgrims passed through. There was a hospice founded here in 884 that continued in one form or another until the late 1800s. The town has one nice hotel, 3 (or more) bars, 3 (or more) alberques for the pilgrims to stay at, no grocery store and no bank or ATM.
The local church, out our front door, is said to have a very good Santiago Perigrino statue, but it is locked. It does chime the hours and quarters, but it is a piddley little bell, and won’t interfere with our sleep.
This evening before supper we watched a group of older ladies bowling on the plaza in front of the church. They use 10 pins a couple inches in diameter, and a couple feet long – they have trouble keeping them upright. The exciting thing is that at least some of the time, they bowl from the same end as the pins! The ball goes through the pins with a satisfying clatter of flying wood.
We walked part of this morning with a woman from Australia. Her partner took a taxi because “her blister broke and she couldn’t walk”. Vic scorned that one.
Just googled “albergues” and found out so much about them and the Camino in general!
Have you stayed in any? Sounds like they can be very nice …or not!
We stayed in a couple of albergues ten years ago. Imagine staying in a room with 50 people, half of whom are snoring louder than you can even believe. Then at 4 am a group turn on flashlights, pack and unpack their backpacks, and leave just after it is too late to try to go beck to sleep till your planned wake up time of 6:30. And you are sharing 2 showers and 4 toilets with these folks. To get a spot in one of the choice albergues you need to arrive by 2pm (hence the 4 am start). And if there are no spots available, walk another 10 km to the next one. Booked hotels for me, thanks.
Are you staying in the hotel or alberque? (what are they like??) Hope you can continue walking on those poor blistered feet Vic!
Big hoorah with bowling in the park. Sean is near Landsdowne park…big hurrah from the football game ..Ottawa winning ..fireworks exploding. Thanksgiving weekend and life is perfect…weather warm and balmy, leaves beautiful colours of red and gold…kids all in good health.
Walk on and give thanks for the many blessings…