Musings on the albergue at Guemes

Where to start ... this place is unlike anywhere else I've stayed. I was here a couple of nights ago, before heading to Santander for a rest day. 

The albergues are generally private,  like simple hostels, or run by one of the various Catholic organisations who support the Camino, in which case they are extremely simple, low cost or on a donation basis. 

This albergue, however, is run as a sanctuary for peregrinos, where the ex-Catholic priest who heads up the place also organises a group of volunteers in other charitable works. For example, one of the volunteers is a guard at the local prison, where they've started an initiative whereby the prisoners grow beans, which they sell, and all procees to to supporting a primary school in Guatemala. This seems to benefit everyone. While the albergue and it's philosophy show a Christian background, it's completely secular, while paying homage to all faiths which are open and inclusive. 

The albergue is on this gentleman's family farm, and he rebuilt the place over 30 years, with the assistance of volunteers - it's easily one of the best and most comfortable albergues I've stayed in yet. It's on a donation basis, so you pay what you think the comfortable bunk bed, hot showers, and good, simple meals are worth to you. It's also tranquil, set in a farming valley and surrounded by fields and trees. 

The philosophy this gentleman espouses is best summed up by the series of photographs below, which I took in the meditation hall. He calls it El Camino de Vida, the Camino of life.

Picture 1 shows the consumer-driven society on which we live, and people as puppets controlled by external requirements

Picture 2 shows an awakening, where people can open their eyes, both literally and figuratively, to the world around them, open their hands for help, and start, with their feet, on a journey 

Picture 3 shows the pilgrims setting out on their journey, whether physical or mental, looking for their destination

Picture 4 shows that, while it's easy to focus on the expected path ahead, the true path is to look around and see the world around, proving assistance where it's needed ( shades of The Good Samaritan story here)

The true path, however you travel it, is here in Picture 5, to share your wealth ( literal and metaphorical) and serve your fellow humans. In this case, it's captured as peregrinos serving and sharing food together, as well as their experiences on the Camino. 

Picture 6 ( sorry, really dodgy photograph as the light was shining in) shows the enlightenment that can be achieved through travelling, sharing and serving. 

The artist for these pictures was an old South American artist, living in Spain, who was commissioned by the gentlemen who runs the albergue. The artist got his impression by living in the albergue for some days, talking to the peregrinos passing through. 

I was sad to leave, although happy to be on my way again.