To Hornillos and San Bol

2006

Hornillos

In 2006, we stayed in the Hornillos Municipal Albergue. 

It was tiny, cramped, and dirty.

The attendant was a kind old man.

This was my first experience with bedbugs.

The albergue filled up quickly,

and people were then given mats to sleep on the floor

in a nearby building.

Many of them came out the next morning 

covered in bites.

I had never seen anything like it before,

lumps as large as apricots on people,

red an inflamed.

I felt lucky I didn't get bitten,

and have never again tempted fate by staying there,

as I have met bug-bitten pilgrims over and over,

who got their case of bedbugs at Hornillos.

The church was very pretty,

and if they clean the place up and get rid of the bugs,

I think it will be a nice place to sleep,

but I went by there in 2013,

and found bedbugs again.

Inside the Church

Drying laundry

2013

San Bol

In 2013, I stayed in San Bol. This was a beautiful albergue with a sweet spirit.

The floors were warmed and there was only electricity for 1 hour in the evening so people could charge their phones. The rest of the time, it was blessedly quiet.

To San Bol

Another spectacular walk!  

I'm running out of adjectives.

I did about 27 kilometers today from Burgos to San Bol. I stopped at Hornillos, exhausted, thinking I might take a chance and stay there since the weather has been cold and bedbugs haven't hatched yet. But after a quick look, I realized these are the same old bug-ridden beds and I didn't want to take the chance if carrying eggs on or in my sleeping bag.

So I stopped and had a salad and then trudged on, praying San Bol would have a bed. 

They did

And a heated floor!

No electricity. Bed is 5 euros. Dinner is 7 euros and we all eat together. This is not the old hippy joint of the past. It is exceptionally clean, with good hot showers and scenery that is almost ethereal. 

I'm exhausted but happy. 

Tomorrow I may do a short day to San Anton for old times sake. 

I have this weird blood blister on my right heel. It is from where my insert meets my shoe. Must be pinching. It is very tiny but deep and painful and I haven't been able to completely drain it. I got antibiotic cream in Burgos so I will try again after my shower. I hope I can lance the darned thing. It's that pain when you have a splinter and have to walk on it. Ouch!

See tomorrow's blog for more photos of San Bol.