- Time of past OR future Camino
- Many, various, and continuing.
I can´t tell you how many English-speaking pilgrims dream the dream of moving to Spain and opening up their own albergue along the camino. It is a wonderful idea. Because I did something similar a few years ago, and I still help with hospitalero duties at several foreign-owned places, pilgrims often ask for tips or advice. Here is what I tell them, more or less. (this is adapted from a recent communication):
Do not do this alone. You need at least two, and better, three people to properly run and maintain an albergue year-round. You are taking on a HUGE enterprise, and the odds are stacked against you. First you need to have clear answers to a bunch of questions:
Is at least one of you a citizen of an EU country? Can one of you become an EU citizen?
Is at least one of you Spanish? Is at least one of you a fluent Spanish speaker?
How old are you? How healthy are you?
Are you serious about uprooting your comfortable present life, and completely rebooting?
Do you have independent income or wealth?
Do you have experience in the hospitality industry?
Do you hope to make a living at this?
Have you ever served as a hospitalero before?
How many different languages do you have between you?
Does at least one of you know about DIY and building maintenance?
Do the people in your group have a tested, rock-solid relationship?
Do you want to have a private house that takes in the occasional pilgrim or two, or do you want a full-on albergue operation? Is this place to be a hobby, or a business, or a charitable enterprise?
What happens if one of you dies, gets ill, or pulls out?
Do you have a particular site in mind? Why do you like it so well?
What region or autonomous community do you have in mind? Are you able to patiently deal with bureaucrats and regulations?
Who will be in charge?
Are you in debt? Are your finances and family relationships in order?
Do you have a strong inner life?
How do you deal with long stretches of solitude and/or boredom?
The first step, without a doubt, is to get trained and volunteer as a hospitalero -- that will show you the hard reality of your dream.
Don´t spend any money on that "dream albergue" until you know exactly what you are doing!
Do not do this alone. You need at least two, and better, three people to properly run and maintain an albergue year-round. You are taking on a HUGE enterprise, and the odds are stacked against you. First you need to have clear answers to a bunch of questions:
Is at least one of you a citizen of an EU country? Can one of you become an EU citizen?
Is at least one of you Spanish? Is at least one of you a fluent Spanish speaker?
How old are you? How healthy are you?
Are you serious about uprooting your comfortable present life, and completely rebooting?
Do you have independent income or wealth?
Do you have experience in the hospitality industry?
Do you hope to make a living at this?
Have you ever served as a hospitalero before?
How many different languages do you have between you?
Does at least one of you know about DIY and building maintenance?
Do the people in your group have a tested, rock-solid relationship?
Do you want to have a private house that takes in the occasional pilgrim or two, or do you want a full-on albergue operation? Is this place to be a hobby, or a business, or a charitable enterprise?
What happens if one of you dies, gets ill, or pulls out?
Do you have a particular site in mind? Why do you like it so well?
What region or autonomous community do you have in mind? Are you able to patiently deal with bureaucrats and regulations?
Who will be in charge?
Are you in debt? Are your finances and family relationships in order?
Do you have a strong inner life?
How do you deal with long stretches of solitude and/or boredom?
The first step, without a doubt, is to get trained and volunteer as a hospitalero -- that will show you the hard reality of your dream.
Don´t spend any money on that "dream albergue" until you know exactly what you are doing!