The only albergue open in Astorga at this time of year is a large municipal one with very friendly and welcoming hospitaleros. I explained that we had bedbugs and immediately wrapped my knapsack in a black plastic bag and then I was shown a room for two. Clearly they (and we) wanted to contain this problem. When Les arrived about three hours later, we immediately got to work to put everything in the dryer, even the back packs. As Les was taking off his shirt, I was stunned to see the welts and bumps all over his back and upper chest. We determined to visit a farmacia in the morning. Meanwhile Janey gave me some zinc oxide and teatree oil and that mixture brought some relief.
So this morning we woke and Les had more bites on his hands and face, the only pieces exposed. AND he was on the top bunk.
So, we checked out, had an egg and toast breakfast while waiting for a farmacia to open. At 9:28, we walked into the farmacia. I showed the farmacist the photos of Les’ upper chest and she pulled out a map to tell us where the taxi stand was and that we had to ask for the doctor. Away we went and 4€ later we were in what is the largest walk in clinic ever. They were relieved that Les had UK insurance as it saves lots of paperwork. He saw one doctor who wrote a prescription and said his colleague would give Les an injection. By 11am, we were back at the farmacia filling the prescription.
We knew that the washing and drying of all things had to be done again, so it was a camino moment when Wal walked in to ask if we were walking to Rabanal. I explained the situation and she recommended the hotel she had stayed at. Less than a block away, on the Plaza Mayor and it had great showers. We walked down the block, checked in and this month, they have a pilgrim special: 60€ for bed, buffet breakfast and free mini bar (1 beer, 1 pop, but still...). So we showered, took backpacks full of everything that could be washed or thrown in the dryer and walked the five minutes to a laundromat that had great washers and very hot dryers. My new smart wool socks are a little smaller, but I think we’ve got all bugs killed, at least I hope so. We had to return to the hotel, shower again, put on clean dry clothes and then wash the clothes we had been wearing. Anything else in our packs, including boots, was put in a big black plastic garbage bag. By this time it’s 3pm, and I’m starved. We picked the restaurant across the square and sat in the sun with the plastic bag getting hotter and hotter. Les had a coffee and they served it with a donut and I had bean soup with clams, pollo abuela (lovely tender chicken leg) with wine and bread, followed by chocolate cake. Fabulous.
Les ate most of the potatoes even though he sat down with a “I’m not very hungry”. 😜
We’ve now gone to the cathedral and they are charging for entrance just to light a candle! Stopped into a chocolate shop.....I mean we are in Astorga.... and we are set for tomorrow.
BTW for those who are interested, I felt the bugs crawling on my neck and face during the night, that fateful bed bug night, but I don’t have one tiny bite. I think they got their fill with Les and then had to stumble over me in their way home.
As they say, “that’s the Camino”.
We’re off to Rabanal tomorrow. A lovely 20km uphill climb. Maybe some snow!!!!
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