A Beautiful Memory

[Anniesantiago]

I was just poking through YouTube tonight, looking for anything interesting to watch,
and I happened upon this beautiful familiar face, Hospitalera Marina!

In 2006, on our first Camino, Joe and I stayed at San Anton.
The hospitalera was serving there on a sad occasion - the regular hospitalero had been killed in a train accident, and she had been asked to take that place.

She was such a delightful person!
Always laughing, always happy, she just SHONE with light.

Of course, this is San Anton, so there was no hot water, no electricity, and in addition, back then, the room we slept in had only three walls! The fourth wall was a sheet of clear plastic that was rolled up during the day and dropped at night to sleep.

That night, she put together a feast of pasta, pan, ensalada and of course, vino.
And after dinner, quiet music, more wine, and a million stars made this one of the most magical, memorable stays of my Camino!

I will never forget her.
The love of this hospitalera and the service she gave was remarkable.

Here is a link to the video and a photo of a much younger me on the right with the shiny pin on my shirt - a precious memory.
Video of Marina and Maura

 

[domigee]

How lovely

 

[Dani7]

Thank you for sharing this lovely story and video. I had a very very special stay at the donativo San Juan de Bautista in Granon.

 

[Theatregal]

Beautiful. Thank you so much for posting this Annie.

 

[davejsy]

What a beautiful memory

I too was lucky enough to stay at St Anton last October, and it was one of the most beautiful experiences and my favourite night on the Camino. We'd never heard of it until that day we arrived and decided to stop there. We slept out under the stars and I woke up to my Birthday - almost like the Camino had arranged for me to end up there!

Antonio the hospitelero was just as amazing as Marina sounds

 

[Kirkie]

I was just poking through YouTube tonight, looking for anything interesting to watch,
and I happened upon this beautiful familiar face, Hospitalera Marina!

In 2006, on our first Camino, Joe and I stayed at San Anton.
The hospitalera was serving there on a sad occasion - the regular hospitalero had been killed in a train accident, and she had been asked to take that place.

She was such a delightful person!
Always laughing, always happy, she just SHONE with light.

Of course, this is San Anton, so there was no hot water, no electricity, and in addition, back then, the room we slept in had only three walls! The fourth wall was a sheet of clear plastic that was rolled up during the day and dropped at night to sleep.

That night, she put together a feast of pasta, pan, ensalada and of course, vino.
And after dinner, quiet music, more wine, and a million stars made this one of the most magical, memorable stays of my Camino!

I will never forget her.
The love of this hospitalera and the service she gave was remarkable.

Here is a link to the video and a photo of a much younger me on the right with the shiny pin on my shirt - a precious memory.
Video of Marina and Maura

Marina was hosting a prayer gathering of hospitaleros a few years ago.. perhaps she still is. It ended up being too late for me on the evening chosen...but I can echo totally the effect she has on a group. A warm and enthusiastic woman. Hospitalera personified...

 

[J Willhaus]

Marina was hosting a prayer gathering of hospitaleros a few years ago.. perhaps she still is. It ended up being too late for me on the evening chosen...but I can echo totally the effect she has on a group. A warm and enthusiastic woman. Hospitalera personified...

Phil participated in that gathering each week during COVID as the lone American. Marina is doing well. We hear from her a few times each year. She's a lovely person and a Camino angel.

 

[byrdie444]

what a great experience! I passed through San Anton - maybe next time I will stay there.

 

[markie6]

All my best camino memories are about the albergues and pilgrims. I make more of an effort since my first trip to keep a note of where I stayed and who was there, most pilgrims don't walk my pace so I rarely see them again

thanks for that Annie