A few quirky albergues

Fuentrroble to Morille to Salamanca

It’s been a few days since I posted our travels. In that time we stayed at a quirky albergue called the Santa Maria Parroquial. These are albergues that are Christian based and looked after by volunteers of faith. Generally spartan they still have a fun feel about them. This place was somewhat of a museum with more antiques of varying value then could be taken in. We were asked our reason for walking to Santiago. After a pause we agreed it was a combination of meeting people, drinking beer , eating food and Christian faith, to ensure a bed. . We were assigned a dorm with 10 double bunks for just the 5 of us. We get our stuff inside and look at our ensuite. I nest when I say ensuite as it was a metre by a metre room with a shower and no shower screen. A team meeting is convened and decision is made not to wet the toilet paper with a shower so we defer to the pub and stay stinky for a day.

The next day we head to San Pedro De Rozados. The roads are quiet thou with narrow shoulders. We have found the Spanish drivers to be super bike aware when overtaking. The vast majority go completely to the other side of the road to pass and if they can’t achieve that that will patiently drive behind until an opportunity arises.

By the side of the road we see rural Spain pass us by. Pigs crossing the road on the way to market, storks in the field getting breakfast and the odd dear.

When we get to Rozados we find the town to be somewhat moribund. We have plenty of time and knowing the next town doesn’t have a supermarket we decide to shop for the next lunch, dinner and breakfast and keep going.

We arrive at Morille about 30 minutes later, it just wasn’t that far, and set out to find the municipal albergue. Using our pilgrim mapping app we hone in on the M to find it’s not as stated. With some broken Spanish we ask an old lady who sends us to Bar Marcos. Here a very bored and disinterested lady stamps our pilgrim credentials and points us to the unlocked albergue up the road.

Showers sorted all clean and up to our new local. Any town we stay at least one night in we adopt a local. Even just for a few hours it makes us feel like we belong. While sitting at our local two German girls we met the previous night struggle into town. It’s been a hit walk fir them and they dump their pack for a cold ale and a glimmer of hope that life off your feet is not far away.

After a good night sleep we again rise and head off along quiet country roads until we can see the steeples of Salamanca ahead. This is exciting it’s our 3 night break In this icon city to recharge our batteries.