Hospitality is the name of the game—Day 9
Hospitality is the Name of the Game
There is something to say about hospitality-it is memorable. Bad hospitality can ruin any restaurant's good name for many years. Even communities of faith are not excluded from this … they will know by your hospitality. Many books have been written on the subject. And yet hospitality is not rocket science.
A Shell of Wine at Irache is Offered
This is the famous Irache Wine Fountain
It is not hard to image that hospitality were vital on the Camino. Many pilgrims depended on good hearts of the folks in the towns along the way. Quite a few monasteries also offered hospitality along the way.
The Irache Monastery opened its doors in 958. But, due to the lack of noviciates the monastery closed its doors in 1985. For little more 1,000 years the monks served the people, the pilgrims. The monks served wine to the pilgrims for strength on the journey … this is wine country after all.
Today, there is wine fountain. You may take your glass or clam shell and enjoy some wine. There is a plaque on the wall at the site of the wine fountain and it reads: Pilgrim, if you wish to arrive at Santiago full of strength and vitality, have a drink of this great wine and make a toast to happiness.
I stopped to look at the wine fountain, but did not indulge; 8:30 in the morning was just a little too early for me. One pilgrim indulged a wee sip of the free wine. He looked at us and said, "It tastes like vinegar."
The Café Móvil is the Place to Rest
Eight kilometres before the rest stop for the day I passed by a Café Móvil-Mobile CaféI. Out in the middle of nowhere, this gentleman has set up shop with coffee and goodies. It was a welcomed pitstop along the way. He was quite friendly. And the caffeine deprived Dewald thoroughly enjoyed his latte, let me tell you.
Iglesia de Santa María de los Arcos XII is Interesting to see
I have arrived at Los Arcos. After a quick shower and a quick nap I walked around the small town. I stopped by the local Church Santa María de la Asunción. It was build in the XII century and was embellished in the 16th, 17th, and 18th century. The Church is quite unique because you can see the different styles: Gothic, Baroque, and Classical. Just imagine, for the past 900 years this community of believers have showed hospitality to the pilgrims.
Hospitality is the Name of the Game
Today, on the Camino, I was more aware of hospitality than any other day. It extended from the free wine to friendly faces at Santa María. It is true, hospitality goes a long way.
My journey on the Camino de Santiago started in September 2017. At the time I wrote blogged entries with pictures whenever I could. Now, three years later, it is time to revisit the journey; I am re-posting the entries with a few updates. Enjoy.
