Hi I am planning on doing the walk from France in may 2014 and would like to experience the comraderie and friendship of the refuges, and enjoy sitting around at meal times sharing stories, but at the same time am such a light sleeper I don't want to share a dormitory style accommodation. I'm quite happy to pay extra for a private room. Maybe a pension or b&b style would be better suited? Or would the refuges have private rooms? I've hiked many times in the Himalayas and the tea house style seems to offer the best of both worlds. Any advice gratefully received.
I have a couple of thoughts: One, I'm also a light sleeper, but I found that with a good (not foam rubber) set of ear plugs, being exhausted from the day's walk and then a good meal high in carbohydrates, I had no trouble sleeping.
Two, I walked from Montserrat through Catalunya and Aragon where I was completely alone until Logrono (my keyboard doesn't have a tilde for the 'n'). I stayed in pensions, hostels, and albergues where they were available, and enjoyed the solitude. But then when I joined the French route in Logrono I found walking companions and enjoyed the albergues with them immensely.
And finally, I was in one albergue where a couple, who were not registered there, tried to use the kitchen facilities and join in the group atmosphere, and were politely but firmly told that the use of the albergue was for registered guests only. Some pilgrims eat at restaurants and of course you could join them there, but that gets expensive so it's not a normal occurrence.
Bottom line - I'd get a good set of earplugs (I bought mine at a gun store where there was a wide variety) and enjoy the albergues.
DeMar
http://thepilgrimwalker.blogspot.com/
Sauntering to Santiago (at Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords.com)
