Waking up in refugios

If you take an alarm, take a vibrating one that no one else would hear. But, I found myself waking up to the rustling of people from 5am onward. I would fall back asleep until the next sound gets me. On and off until I get up. So chances are you don't need an alarm, others will wake you.
By the way, I was one of those late starters which allowed me to walk between the crowds. That was nice, too.
Lillian

What I found, and what was one of the most deeply satisfying experiences on the Camino for me, is that your body's circadian rhythms will begin to coincide with those of the earth. After a few days of the Camino routine, it will become plain old "natural" to wake up before the dawn (with or without the bag rustlers), and get out on the road so you can make time and distance before the sun gets high and oppressive. Then you'll eat a small meal, find a place to take a siesta (what else are you going to do in the midday heat?), and then walk some more in the afternoon as the earth starts to cool. Farmers have been living this way for eons- modern day peregrinos are relearning the practice.

Out in the manmade world we constantly mask the earth's rhythms with lights, alarm clocks, air conditioning, etc. On the Camino, you'll find your personal rhythms will synch with those of the earth and nature- I found it was a profound feeling to experience.

So, I wouldn't even bring the alarm...

..... and, if you are the last person sleeping, the hospitalero will soon wake you up and send you on your way!

sillydoll said:

..... and, if you are the last person sleeping, the hospitalero will soon wake you up and send you on your way!

Click to expand...

I reckon you deserve a special certificate if you are the last person sleeping in some of the noisier albergues. I can't imagine ever managing to win such a thing though!!
Margaret

Margaret, in 2007 we met a delightful young man from Belguim. He was having a ball on the camino - partying and staying out as late as possible, the last to leave the albergue in the morning, spending restful hours at cafes and bars along the way, snoozing in the shade for a couple of hours at mid-day and always the last to arrive at the next albergue. Hospitaleros took pity on him because he always looked exhausted - as though he had walked much further than anyone else! We would leave the albergue before sun-up and arrive around 2pm. We never saw Tomas along the way but he regularly staggered into the same albergue after 7pm. He always got a bed, albeit a mattress on the floor.
Did anyone else meet Tomas - and his lovely girlfriend in September 2007? I 'adopted' him and he always greeted me enthusiastically as "Moeder' whenever we met!

I almost laughed out loud! There are many very thoughtful people on the camino who talk loudly,rustle their bloody plastic bags,make phone calls,turn on all the lights,have alarms going off,banging doors etc etc.