On my Camino journey, the lodging I enjoyed the most was my first night in Spain. I’d taken the water taxi out of Portugal across the Minho River at Caminha and finished my eight miles that day in the town of A Guarda, Spain. I stopped at a cafe for tea and a slice of fresh cheesecake– a welcomed snack after a hot and strenuous day. When I looked at the map, I saw my hotel was nearby. Walking out of the cafe, church bells were ringing from down the street where that church was behind the restored convent where I was staying–the Hotel Monument Convent de San Benito.

The convent had been home to nuns from 1558 – 1984. The interior with its rich colors, heavy moldings, historical pieces and artifacts was a fascinating place. My private room with a modern en suite bathroom was a welcoming home for the night.

I walked about the convent and imagined all the women who’d lived there over those years. I wondered what they would have talked about when gathered in this meeting room–though it was more likely their superiors were having those discussions.

There were richly carved and painted statues. I could have spent a day in the museum looking at each piece of art, each figure of faith and the intricacies of that ancient artifact. How fortunate I was to have full access to this place of history and art for the price of one night’s stay.

The convent overlooked the harbor and all around the waterfront were lively restaurants. I was starving by the time I sat down to my dinner of swordfish– always the freshest seafood throughout Portugal and Spain!

That night as I watched the light fade from my room, I wondered who the women were who’d called this place home. What led them to the convent? Was it for religious reasons, or perhaps economical ones–a family with too many children to support, or was it because she could get the best education here? I hadn’t thought about that reason until I did some online research today. I was surprised to learn that even women of nobility entered convents in order to get the best education.

“A proper education was difficult to come by during the Middle Ages for men and especially women. If women wanted to receive a higher education, they had to reach for a higher calling—and join a convent.” https://www.history.com/news/women-education-medieval-nuns-church

I wondered if any of the women who’d stayed in my room had been forced to join the convent–maybe due to a conflict, a temperament and predisposition to behaviors that would bring shame to the family. This painting on my wall had me imagining that was the case for some of those young women between 1558 and 1984.

I slept well in the comfortable double bed and awoke to the cool morning air through my open window. Downstairs, a very nice breakfast had been laid with a variety of coffee cakes, sweet rolls, deli meats, fruit, and freshly squeezed orange juice. The coffee was served in regular size cups–like we use in the US, instead of the small expresso-size cups like I’d had in most of my accommodations. The best part was that I got to savor the food and the atmosphere at a patio table near the fountain. What a perfect place to think about the day ahead and ask God to bless the people and places I’d encounter on my path.

People have asked me about my accommodations on the Camino. They’ve wondered if I stayed in bunk bed hostels or bedbug infested cheap hotels. I will say that my lodgings were excellent due to opting for private rooms and the experience of Mary Maddox, the one who mapped out my route and made my reservations https://prayerfulpath.com

I would have loved to spent more nights at Hotel Monumento. That environment was so rich in history and architecture that a Five Star Hotel couldn’t have competed. Today I looked at the reviews on Booking.com and they were overwhelmingly positive, other travelers sharing my sentiments about that special place.

Now, when I pray for God to “Bless Me and the People and Places in my Path,” the Hotel Monumento will definitely be remembered as one of those blessed places.

Blessings to you this day and to the places in your path,

Connie