November 1, 2004
Hospital de Orbigo
Not all accidents end badly. On All Souls Day/
Día de todos los Santos I would meet my first camino angels.
November 1, 2004, after crossing the long medieval bridge I entered the town of Hospital de Órbigo. Attempting to photograph the parish church I lost my footing and fell head first onto the irregular pavement! Flat on the ground my forehead and shoulder hurt like hell! An egg was quickly swelling on my forehead (by day’s end I resembled Cyclopes).
Exiting the
Día de todos los Santos mass a kind Spanish couple approached; the man said “Don’t worry, madam, I am a Chevalier de Santiago and will help”. They quickly took me to the regional hospital, where I was told to rest, and see a doctor again the following day.
The couple then graciously invited me to lunch at their house. My host explained that the Chevaliers de Santiago are a group of Catholic men, who have been nominated to become members and who pledge to foster the Camino and to help all pilgrims.
In the Spanish custom lunch lasted at least four hours! Two charming adult sons cut my food while I alternately held ice to my head and tried to eat with my left hand since the right shoulder and arm were extremely painful. Nevertheless, how, lucky I was to be able to move and to have met a family of guardian angels.
..Now after all these years I still fondly remember their kindnesses and spontaneous gracious hospitality. It was, indeed, heartfelt camino
caritas.