Camino Francés descending into Santo Domingo de la Calzada, La Rioja
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Thinking about repaying a little of my debt to those who make walking the Camino de Santiago feasible and enjoyable, I had considered for several years the possibility of being a volunteer hospitalero in one of the albergues which offer inexpensive accommodation to peregrinos. In March I took the training course for potential hospitaleros offered by American Pilgrims on the Camino at its annual gathering, this year in Winter Park, Florida. I applied for a 2 week assignment (the usual term) shortly thereafter, and a few days ago I received an assignment: I shall be serving at the "Casa del Santo" Albergue, operated by the Cofradía del Santo in the town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada (St. Dominic of the Causeway, about whom I shall have something to say in future postings: he was sainted following a life of serving pilgrims) in La Rioja. My hospitalero term extends from 16 May to 31 May.
After hospitalero duties, I plan to walk for a bit more than a week on one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela, though I have not yet decided where. My current thinking is the Camino Inglés from Ferrol to Santiago in extreme northwest Galicia, though I may opt for the Camino Portuguése from Tui in southern Galicia to Santiago, or perhaps I may simply revisit one or another section of the Camino Francés. The hospitalero assignment came only a few days more than 2 weeks before my duties begin, and I leave for Madrid in a bit more than a week, so I have to make lots of arrangements in a hurry! In the meantime, I may not have time to write much until late June.
If you should be on the Camino Francés through Santo Domingo in the last half of May, please stop by at least to say hello, if not to spend the night.
