Eighteenth update on pilgrimage 2021

 Hello, everyone. 

Yesterday we were still tired from our early train ride, and the aftermath of our weeks of walking. We slept as long as we could make ourselves do it!  And we presented ourselves, laundry bag in hand, at the laundromat at the head of Calle Cervantes the very moment the lady was open for business: 0900.

The washer and dryer took about half of the time my ones at home do.

We encountered the Parrochia del Sagrado Corazon, a beautiful church, in the afternoon. (Bonus: they have a bunch of pews placed in front of the door to the tiny adoration chapel.) 

While we took photos there, none are on the tablet, so they can't be added here just yet.

This morning we made ourselves rest until 9 and then walked to the Museo National Anthropologico, which is across from the Atocha train and bus station. 

Woven plant fiber mochila--backpack--used in the Philippines, especially in rugged areas like the Luzon mountains. 

The rows of fringe here are not a fashion element! This is the rain protection the Filipino ladies wear over the backpack. The fibers in the fringes are supposed to wick the rain water away from the contents of the pack.

I kind of blinked my eyes at that explanation and reflected on how different this system is from the waterproof ponchos or bag-covers that are used by pilgrims walking on the Camino.