A bed on Via de la Plata
Thank you very much for this information, Eamann. Then we are a bit prepared, can make our decisions, relax and look forward to our walking on Via de la Plata in a week or two.
After reading a diary written by a man walking Via de la Plata in spring 2005, which was very much concerned with starting early to get a bed, not beeing past by to many pilgrims during the day to get a bed, not wanting an upper bed (if that is the right word in english?) and so on, I made a decision: "Never worry about where to sleep in the evening! You never did for three years on the Aragon and French routes, and you had some wonderful weeks, which will call you back each year!"
Walking the Camino is a too great experience to let a bed be the thing you keep in your mind during the days. I am looking forward to meet people on the Camino ones more, and do not want to meet them as candidates for the same bed! I have to many wonderfull memories from sharing the Camino with interesting people to afford that, and I think its easier to keep that in mind if you are prepared and know that it may be crowded.
We have been wondering if we should bring a sleeping mat or not, and this information made the decision easy: We bring a sleeping mat. Then all we need is a roof and a floor, and if it is necessary we can do without that too. And then there are hostals...
In situationes when I think, "there are too many people here. Why are they all here? I wanteed a bit more solitude", then I think of a guide in one of the important churches in Jerusalem. There were hundreds of people inside, crowded(!), and when we went into the building, he said: "Remember that they are all here for the same reasons as you are, and that you too are a reason for why there are hundreds here. May be that will make you think of all the others in a different way." I found this a good advice there and then, and I have found it a good advice in many situationes later. So may be this is a good advice to bring with us to the Caminos too? Bjørg
