- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2009-2022: CFx6, CP, VdlPx2, Mozarabe, more later.
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Talk about silver linings -- getting to spend time at the Peaceable is always a treat, and now you will have to go back again to restart!
Hope all is ok for you, Alex. Buen camino, Laurie
Can anyone tell me whether the Peaceable Kingdom is an albergue, an overflow albergue, or one of those mythical places like the Last Homely House which only the fortunate few ever find their way to, or all of the above?
I needed to stop my Camino for family reasons ++, and had a hard time in Carrion de los Condes on my logististics. Then I just started walking towards Sahagun, the nearest town with a railway station... Going along, I came to think of the Peaceable Kingdom, their place in Moratines, just some 10 kms from Sahagun: Maybe they could help? (the phone no. is in the CSJ guide). I called while on the way, and 20 kms later I was warmly received, got my flight reservation and most other stuff sorted out, enjoyed a good meal and conversation.
Next morning Reb took me to Sahagun by car. I am now home, and all is sorted out. I may need to depend on them once more in order to restart from Moratinos. A warm and heartful thanks to both of you.
Only one more thing: If you plan on visiting, make sure to bring a good ration of choriso with you: Fried, it will do well with a tortilla, but most of all, their dogs will just love you for your treat!
It is two people (have to call them mayoresCan anyone tell me whether the Peaceable Kingdom is an albergue, an overflow albergue, or one of those mythical places like the Last Homely House which only the fortunate few ever find their way to, or all of the above? I had heard rumours of its existence on this forum, but lacking specific directions could not find my way to it in Moratinos. Furthermore, I was dubious about my welcome. I'd love to know more.
Can anyone tell me whether the Peaceable Kingdom is an albergue, an overflow albergue, or one of those mythical places like the Last Homely House which only the fortunate few ever find their way to, or all of the above? I had heard rumours of its existence on this forum, but lacking specific directions could not find my way to it in Moratinos. Furthermore, I was dubious about my welcome. I'd love to know more.
t2andreo:The Peaceable Kingdom is a private home, actually a more than 600 year-old Mozarabic hacienda, with one meter thick adobe walls. Retired newspaper folks Rebekah Scott and her husband Paddy (Patrick) O'Gara live there and are genuine "Camino Angels" of the first order. Throughout my life, I have never met anyone with as much Christian charity and compassion just oozing from every pore. Paddy is also quite an accomplished, though as yet unheralded, expressionist painter. He demurs when I praise his talent, but he is very GOOD.
They are VERY active in all things Camino-related. Rebekah, when not working on her next great novel, works with the Camino Chaplaincy program out of Santiago, to help reestablish Catholic Churches closed along the Camino. During the summer, if a Catholic priest can be arranged, I think she has him living in an attached flat at her home to provide Catholic sacraments to the villagers, as well as to all pilgrims passing through. Rebekah also coordinates projects with the Pilgrim House, also in Santiago.
One of Rebekah's pet projects has been to resurrect the ancient "hospital" or albergue at the ruins of the San Anton Monastery, located just before Castrojeriz (see Brierley stage 14). Over the past two years, she has raised money and has been receiving pilgrims at this ancient site. She coordinates finding volunteer hospitaleros as well. The facilities are basic, but the experience is genuine and authentic.
In addition, each autumn Rebekah and Paddy host the "Ditch Pigs" at their home. The "Ditch Pigs" are an ad hoc group of Camino addicts who come together from all over the world to pick up trash along stretches of the Camino, especially along the Meseta, which is where Moratinos is located. She identifies a stretch that needs a pick up, and the "Pigs" do the rest. I missed it last year, due to a move, but I hope to participate this year.
Moratinos is located some 31 kilometers West of Carrion de los Condes, and about nine kilometers East of Sahagun. If you look for it using Google Maps, you need to expand the page, or you will miss it. To say it is small is an understatement.
There is one albergue (San Bruno) and one hostal in Moratinos. It is Rebekah and Paddy's practice to welcome a limited number of pilgrims into their home when the local albergue is "completo." The senora at the albergue will usually take the overflow pilgrims in-hand down the street to Rebekah's and present them. At other times, the overflow folks are given directions. Either way, they are greeted with a smile and generosity. They do this for free but graciously accept donativo contributions to their unique ministry.
Many times, pilgrims passing by, will simply stop by and ring the bell, to say hello, and receive cold refreshments and pleasant conversation before pressing on to Sahagun for the evening. Mind her menagerie of dogs though. They DO love their dogs, and there are usually half a dozen or so. They are all friendly, but full of energy.
Rebekah has more friends from around the world than you can imagine. They do tend to come by, when in the neighborhood...
So, if you have the privilege of meeting Rebekah and Paddy in their hacienda, the Peaceable kingdom, DO be generous...VERY generous...
Oh, and before I forget, here is Rebekah's blog: http://moratinoslife.blogspot.com/
I hope this helps.
Heavens. Amazing how a simple reality can blow up into all kinds of legendary-looking stuff.
I do not do any more than the usual Church-Lady volunteer does at your neighborhood charity shelter, I only do it in a unique place in the world. I try to do what Jesus commanded in the Gospels: "Feed my lambs." What St. Benedict wrote in his Rule: "Open the doors." And what St. Francis summed-up so well: "It is in giving that we receive."
It is very, very rewarding. If we didn't like doing this, we would stop.
Anyone passing is welcome. You don't have to phone ahead.
We don't advertise or list ourselves or put up arrows to our house, because we like to leave things up to random chance, or need. We don't want to attract curiosity-seekers or undue attention. We are not a business, we are happy with the number of people who find their way to us.
And we really do not want to take your money. If you give to someone and expect something back, that's a transaction, not a gift. Still it's true: people are amazingly generous to us. That's why we head up these fund-raisers -- we all have more than we need ourselves, and we can afford to help out those who have a lot less.
You can do this at home, people. This is not an exclusively Camino phenomenon, (although hospitality and generosity are old-time Camino ethos.) All you gotta do is see the need, and step up to meet it.
Now you can stop making me blush!
Heavens. Amazing how a simple reality can blow up into all kinds of legendary-looking stuff.
I do not do any more than the usual Church-Lady volunteer does at your neighborhood charity shelter, I only do it in a unique place in the world. I try to do what Jesus commanded in the Gospels: "Feed my lambs." What St. Benedict wrote in his Rule: "Open the doors." And what St. Francis summed-up so well: "It is in giving that we receive."
It is very, very rewarding. If we didn't like doing this, we would stop.
Anyone passing is welcome. You don't have to phone ahead.
We don't advertise or list ourselves or put up arrows to our house, because we like to leave things up to random chance, or need. We don't want to attract curiosity-seekers or undue attention. We are not a business, we are happy with the number of people who find their way to us.
And we really do not want to take your money. If you give to someone and expect something back, that's a transaction, not a gift. Still it's true: people are amazingly generous to us. That's why we head up these fund-raisers -- we all have more than we need ourselves, and we can afford to help out those who have a lot less.
You can do this at home, people. This is not an exclusively Camino phenomenon, (although hospitality and generosity are old-time Camino ethos.) All you gotta do is see the need, and step up to meet it.
Now you can stop making me blush!
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