Because of Easter vacations I've been unable to book accommodation for the next stage in Quéntar. I will skip this stage and walk into Granada today, a bit over 40Km. I need to leave the albergue ASAP, so I will let a fellow pilgrim write my entry today. He sent a message to people involved in the camino association, and also a copy to me. I will edit it for brevity and clarity:
Dear [members of the association],
I have reflected before writing this note to you... But in conscience, and with respect for all the work you do to make this a wonderful Camino experience, I need to make my experience and observations in Albergue La Peza known to you.
It is my belief, based on my experience and observations in the Albergue in La Peza (18/04/25), that the hospitalero's alcohol consumption (yesterday) is seriously impacting his responsibilities and the visiting pilgrim experience.
He was sleeping when I arrived from Gaudix, and when he finally opened the door, there was a strong smell of alcohol from him. The Albergue was not clean and no effort was made to have the Albergue ready for pilgrims. He communicated to me (and other pilgrims) that he would be preparing a dinner and breakfast. He said dinner would be approximately 7pm.
At 7pm another pilgrim informed me that the Hospitalero was in bed sleeping and that Mark (another Pilgrim from Madrid) was in the kitchen trying to make dinner. We all cooperated to make dinner with what we could find in the kitchen. The supermarket didn’t open yesterday evening.
There were 5 pilgrims altogether last evening. We made a lovely dinner. The Hospitalero finally got out of bed and went to the bar for a ‘coffee’ while we were preparing dinner! After he returned, he took some photos of us, gave us a small amount of food for breakfast and went to bed again. I did not communicate anything to the hospitalero regarding my observations or experience because of the language barrier, and he had no interest in me or the French man.
I write this experience because I respect so much everything both of you do to make this a great Camino. I have totally loved my time so far, except for yesterday! I never experienced anything like in 11 years walking many Caminos. In my opinion, no one person should become the lasting memory of what is a great Camino experience for the wrong reason.
I offer my experience in good faith and without prejudice. Thank you both for so much! Your values, love and passion for Camino are what makes this Camino so unique and special. I am very grateful and you have my respect and love for what you do.
Again, heartfelt and sincere thanks to you.
Kind regards and with a lot of respect.
G. from Irlanda.
I was not bothered at all by the situation, the circumstance is the same as not having a host at the albergue, which is to say it's completely normal. G's lividness baffled me to a degree, he was angry that the man was not living up to his responsibilities. The difference in our reactions intrigues me, and makes me wonder about the origin of it. Is it in our upbringing? In our sense of fairness? In our compassion towards the other? In our perceived loss?
I don't believe either reaction is right or wrong, but it points towards something subtle that I had never considered: the fact that something doesn't bother me doesn't mean it isn't wrong. If I am to uphold fairness and justice, I should have done something about this hospitalero. Perhaps I would have an honest conversation with him before deciding to report him to the association.
I beyond all of this, I enjoy the friction of the social world and how it yields wisdom from very simple events. I observe and I learn.