amancio
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances, Norte, Primit, Salvador, Portug, Arag, Ingles, VdlP, Leban-Vadin, Fisterra, Invierno, LePuy
Does anybody else find Roncesvalles one of the unfriendliest places in the whole Camino, or it is only me?
10 years ago, when I first got there, it was nearly snowing and my phone got wet, was not able to contact my family, and then some pilgrim lent me a mobile so that I could quickly ring. It was approximately 9:59 pm, and the albergue was closing at 10:00. I was standing by the main door trying to ring when a Dutch volunteer approached me and told me the albergue was closing at 10:00. I explained him the situation, I just needed a few seconds, say hi, I am fine, and I would be finished. But the Dutch volunteer was standing holding the entrance door, with a massive frown on his face, staring at his wristwatch just inches from his angry face as if counting the seconds for closing.
So, I was not able to ring my family because he was determined to close the albergue whatsoever.
From that moment on, and after having an awful meal in the only bar there, I decided Roncesvalles was not for me.
10 years later, 2 weeks ago, I went back to Roncesvalles, this time I was walking from SJPP. I needed to use the toilette, so I went to the albergue, and the receptionist told me I needed to fill out a form with all my personal data in order to use the toilettes. I was not very impressed and left on the spot (fill out a form to use the toilette????).
I then decided to go see the old church, and the first thing you see is: "Insert a 1 euro coin to light up the church for 8 minutes".
That was the straw that broke the camel's back, as you say in English: I decided Roncesvalles was definitely not for me, and I walked onto Zubiri, an epic stage, far away from such unfriendly place.
Does anybody else find Roncesvalles an unwelcoming place?
10 years ago, when I first got there, it was nearly snowing and my phone got wet, was not able to contact my family, and then some pilgrim lent me a mobile so that I could quickly ring. It was approximately 9:59 pm, and the albergue was closing at 10:00. I was standing by the main door trying to ring when a Dutch volunteer approached me and told me the albergue was closing at 10:00. I explained him the situation, I just needed a few seconds, say hi, I am fine, and I would be finished. But the Dutch volunteer was standing holding the entrance door, with a massive frown on his face, staring at his wristwatch just inches from his angry face as if counting the seconds for closing.
So, I was not able to ring my family because he was determined to close the albergue whatsoever.
From that moment on, and after having an awful meal in the only bar there, I decided Roncesvalles was not for me.
10 years later, 2 weeks ago, I went back to Roncesvalles, this time I was walking from SJPP. I needed to use the toilette, so I went to the albergue, and the receptionist told me I needed to fill out a form with all my personal data in order to use the toilettes. I was not very impressed and left on the spot (fill out a form to use the toilette????).
I then decided to go see the old church, and the first thing you see is: "Insert a 1 euro coin to light up the church for 8 minutes".
That was the straw that broke the camel's back, as you say in English: I decided Roncesvalles was definitely not for me, and I walked onto Zubiri, an epic stage, far away from such unfriendly place.
Does anybody else find Roncesvalles an unwelcoming place?