What a funny place the Albergue was in San Pedro and it was the private albergue. We arrived pretty spent but as we were first we chose our beds. Andy rushes off to have a shower and says it is cold. There is no way I am having a cold shower but Peter comes to the rescue by identifying matches sitting on a shelf next to a gas heater. He also notes that the heater has no flue to the outside so we must turn it off when we go to bed or risk asphyxiation! The few windows are high up the wall and not openable. Once heater is lit hot water is plentiful but the showers are just cubicles with curtains and no place to change privately if it is mixed sexes. We dive into this delicious shower and change in the cubicle but Peter inadvertently hits the tap with his elbow and gets doused again. Next it is the Spanish women who have been singing as they walk. They hop in and I proceed to do the washing in the tub which is also in the shower area. They hop out stark naked with shower caps, only to freak out when the bathroom door is opened by Peter. He can't see in but I stand in the door saying "Senoras only". We all have a laugh. This place has two toilets and a pissoir but the ladies loo has no seat. We retreat to the bar for refreshments, explore the town and play cards at another bar. These men are playing Dominos very loudly.
This town is all higgeldy piggly with a shop here and a shop there but no sense to it. Next morning the room at the Albergue smells of bodies and a bit sweaty. This obsession with closing windows is awful. I always want them open for fresh air.
Tomorrow we are meeting some of Andy's family as they have flown in for the long weekend( bank holiday in England) and they are going to walk out with Karen who is much improved to meet us at the battle for Salamanca spot. This was one of the greatest losses the French ever suffered against the British apparently. I have started to cough and not feel so good and think I have picked up Trish's cold. We are also meeting Katharina, our German Camino friend. Andy is very keen to get there today but it isn't a particularly interesting walk.
When we finally get to the rendezvous point I am cold and tired. The cough gets worse. Andy's family are great fun and very friendly. We drink our cafe con leche when we hit town. The. View of Salamanca from the roman bridge is spectacular.
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