According to our friends that transport bags along the Camino. This is the busiest week this year on the Camino. We have been slammed with pilgrims and have filled our beds in about an hour. Each of the last several days.
We have 48 beds, 24 sets of bunk beds and can put 2 mattresses on the floor to make a total of 50 spaces available. We are the least expensive albergue on the Camino at 6 euros so there are lines. Our albergue opens at 2pm. We tell people that it is a good idea to be here no later than 1:30 as the line forms and we can only take the first 50 pilgrims.
The last few days we have literally counted people in line once we get to about 40 and send the rest to find a bed elsewhere. Once we have checked everyone in we are happy to call and find each a bed if they are willing to wait. We have been 100% successful at finding beds. Most go to private albergue which cost from 13 to 15 euros per night but for a bed most are happy to pay whatever it costs. Today I actually had 5 people say they would not pay that much so they went on. I imagine that they will find a place to camp even though it is not legal to do so, many do.
Jacqui and I have had a blast. We have started providing the pilgrims with breakfast for a donation and the pilgrims have been both grateful and generous in their donations. Each day we receive more than enough donations to cover the cost of all breakfast foods, and fresh brewed espresso that I make in a Moka Machine that the Italians love, and so do I. I put out breakfast breads, muffins, sliced bread for toast, and 3 or 4 different kinds of jam. They go to town on it. We get enough donations to buy anything that the albergue needs along with replenishing the food for the next day. It is very cool.
The mix of pilgrims has been very interesting. Many Italians, and Spaniards, pilgrims from Korea, Hungary, Denmark, Sweeden, USA, France and Poland.
It is not easy to sleep in a room with 50 people. If you are a light sleeper you could be in trouble. People are getting up to go to the bathroom all night and many are getting up very early. This morning there was a man up at 3:30 am getting ready to go. That is a little crazy but it happens. We had one pilgrim get up this morning very pissed off saying that he could not sleep and the people were making a ton of noise all night. He was a very nice guy and was fun to talk to last night but this morning he was simply beside himself and stormed off. So it goes on the Camino.
My time as a hospitalero is winding down. We have 4 days left until our time is done. It is bittersweet as I am tired and need a bit more sleep, but at the same time I have really enjoyed this assignment and hope to return to Nàjera for another stint.