Im preparing to repeat Camino Frances' with my husband this Sept (1st Camino Fr. in 2015, w/daughter). We're looking for those albergues which include or have the option for a common meal. Great pilgrim fellowship is what we're interested in!
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The meal at Granon has always been very special and as well the common meal at the Albergue Verdi in Hospital d'Orbigo.Both were superb over many visits. For my personal blog/comments re visits over the past 10 years see --Im preparing to repeat Camino Frances' with my husband this Sept (1st Camino Fr. in 2015, w/daughter). We're looking for those albergues which include or have the option for a common meal. Great pilgrim fellowship is what we're interested in!
The meal at Grañon has always been very special
One of our best nights was an impromptu dinner where we all contributed in Najera. It was wonderful. Such variet,y and great company of all ages.I've experienced some amazing communal meals at legendary establishments such as Granon, Fuenterobble, Guemes, Ave Fenix, Casa Miguel, Bodenaya etc.
But actually the best of all were the improvised DIY ones where us compadres of the Way found an albergue with a kitchen, a shop or mini mercado nearby and then invited everyone else to help assemble and cook or in some way contribute to the evening, especially the detached, shy or glum ones who mostly took up the opportunity with relish (but were of course allowed to be left alone if they really wanted!). Mostly it's worked incredibly well and sometimes it's been just the best, as per PastorCat's experiences above.
If you've been a pilgrim already and, on your first trip experienced the wonder of the communal meal laid on for you, I'd say: you don't just have to remain a receiver, you're a camino graduate now, you can pass on that amazing feeling to others that may be newbies or having a bad day, so they in turn say 'wow' and the camino magic multiplies a little.
Sabine, thank you, you have brought back the memory of a wonderful walking companion who always appeared at the right moment with a bag of fresh fruit!That unexpected meeting with a fellow pilgrim under the shade of a tree.
Sharing that one tree trunk to sit on and rest for while.
Then sharing your bag of dried apricots and his / hers chunk of chorizo.
And then talk or just sit still and watch the world go be.
Magic!
Where were these wonderful albergues where you could cook dinner for 25 ... or even everyone at the establishment? I only recall two kitchens that were remotely big enough. Or rather, two that were both big enough and actually had pots large enough to hold more than a pound of pasta.
You beat me to it!Casa Susi in Trabadelo had a wonderful meal, simple and happy.
Regards,
Paul
+1One of our favourite meals was at Albergue El Jardín de Muruzábal, an albergue located about 5kms before Puenta La Reina. I was having trouble with my leg and we stopped for a drink there, and fell in love with the proprietors, Carlos and Alicia and their children. We had sent our bags ahead to Puenta, so sadly told them we would love to stay with them, but had sent our bags ahead, so what did they do? They gave us a ride to Puenta where we picked up our bags and then stayed with them instead. As an added bonus, Carlos took us to see a 1,000 year old church on the way back. Our meal took place al fresco, on their big porch and there was about 12 nationalities represented. We had peppers, tortilla, pasta and melon with lots of red wine of course and it was amazing!! Also, they had a big swimming pool which was another added bonus!! There's
Buen Camino
Others have already mentioned most of my favourites, but another great communal meal is at Albergue En El Camino in Boadilla del Camino. The night I spent there in 2014 was one of my most memorable, and the friendships cemented there over lentil soup and roast chicken live on.Im preparing to repeat Camino Frances' with my husband this Sept (1st Camino Fr. in 2015, w/daughter). We're looking for those albergues which include or have the option for a common meal. Great pilgrim fellowship is what we're interested in!
Beilari in SJPdP is a wonderful beginning to your Camino. Later on Granon is really special.Im preparing to repeat Camino Frances' with my husband this Sept (1st Camino Fr. in 2015, w/daughter). We're looking for those albergues which include or have the option for a common meal. Great pilgrim fellowship is what we're interested in!
Im preparing to repeat Camino Frances' with my husband this Sept (1st Camino Fr. in 2015, w/daughter). We're looking for those albergues which include or have the option for a common meal. Great pilgrim fellowship is what we're interested in!
That unexpected meeting with a fellow pilgrim under the shade of a tree.
Sharing that one tree trunk to sit on and rest for while.
Then sharing your bag of dried apricots and his / hers chunk of chorizo.
And then talk or just sit still and watch the world go be.
Magic!
I too found Monte Irago to be a bit of a party place. Reboleira in Fonfria was one of my favorites. Beilari and San Nicolas are two great communal meals to start things out.I aimed for albergues with communal meals when I could ... I liked it when everyone ate together rather than in their separate little groups. Hence, my list is going to be a bit longer than others.
*** Saint Jean - Beilari is the only one I know of. You'll have to play silly games after dinner, but it does help to build camaraderie.
Roncesvalles - Communal dinner at the restaurant. Good meal, but I think they valued efficiency over fellowship. Pilgrims are ushered out quickly to make room for the 'real' diners at the hotel.
Larrasoaña - It's worth it to walk a bit longer the first day in Spain. Alb. San Nicolás has home cooked meals.
Muruzábal - Alb. Mendizabal has home cooked meals. Nice place, but I was the only one there.
Villatuerte- Casa Magica serves a good paella, every night. Reserve your bed ahead of time if you can; it is often full.
Torres del Rio - Alb. La Pata de Oca. Communal meal at the restaurant near by. Nice fellowship at the table, but I thought the place itself was rather cold and unfriendly. Avoid if you can.
*** Grañón - Alb. parroquial San Juan Bautista. As others have mentioned!
*** Villambístia - Alb. San Roque. Albergue is above a bar; the patronne makes a special meal for pilgrims each night. This seemed to be off-stage; there were very few pilgrims there.
*** Población de Campos - La Finca. Excellent communal meal in the restaurant. Might be good to reserve a bed the day before.
Santa Catalina de Somoza - Alb. Hospedería San Blas. Communal meal in the bar. Gets some negative reviews on Gronze. I'm not sure why; I thought it was fine.
*** Foncebadón - Alburgue Monte Irago. Fun communal meal. This was kind of a party place, with the wine flowing until late in the night - though that might have just been the night I was there.
*** Fonfría - Alb. A Reboleira. Great and filling communal meal in one of those Celtic-style houses.
The starred places were the ones that really stood out for me, but so much depends on who happens to be there that night, yeah?
Sabine, I'm not sure if you meant 'watch the world go by', but I truly loved what you wrote -- watch the world go be!
That sums up a pilgrimage so very well.
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I had not planned to stop in Grañon, as I had spent the night at the prior town. But a fellow pilgrim saw me as I stopped for coffee. She was laid up for a few days to heal and very much needed a familiar face. So I stayed. But I was the one who benefited from the experience. The communal sleeping mats, the communal meal, the special service after supper (not-required) became part of my favorite memories. Highly recommend. Here's a picture of the wonderful stained glass window in the hidden room upstairs.
Where were these wonderful albergues where you could cook dinner for 25 ... or even everyone at the establishment? I only recall two kitchens that were remotely big enough. Or rather, two that were both big enough and actually had pots large enough to hold more than a pound of pasta.
When in September? My husband and I will be departing St. Jean on September 7. I walked in 2015 and he walked in 2016. And Casa Magica is one we plan to stop (on husband’s recommendation from his previous stay).Im preparing to repeat Camino Frances' with my husband this Sept (1st Camino Fr. in 2015, w/daughter). We're looking for those albergues which include or have the option for a common meal. Great pilgrim fellowship is what we're interested in!
Im preparing to repeat Camino Frances' with my husband this Sept (1st Camino Fr. in 2015, w/daughter). We're looking for those albergues which include or have the option for a common meal. Great pilgrim fellowship is what we're interested in!
The people make it unique, and Granon is a best meal! My three meals in Granon all were lentils, so it is not gourmet! Because the people make the experience throughout a camino, there is no "best" communal meal. Or maybe they all are "best."I have stayed in Grañon several times and always enjoyed the experience. Last September, I was very lucky to be a hospitalera there, which meant enjoying two weeks of wonderful communal meals with a different group of pilgrims each night. It is a unique albergue!
A YURT! How cool was THAT?!I really enjoyed the common meal at Alburge Roboleira in Fonfría. They have a...yurt with long tables and the vibe at the dinner I attended was very nice...
I was just checking this topic and came across your post. Thanks for these suggestions. I never stayed at either one of these places because one of my pals abandoned me to walk with his new friends. Maybe I will stay at one of them this winter. Whoops just checked both are closed. But on a more serious note when I checked Santa Brigida I recognized it as Max and I stopped there and took some photos and had lunch there. I remember well because of the benches and the Muni is across the street. Santa Brigida looks great wish I could stay there. Too bad my friend left me. Don't you agree??????????Albergue Santa Brigida in Hontanas and Albergue O Abrigadoiro in San Xulian also have great communal meals.
Whoops just checked both are closed.
Santa Brigida looks great wish I could stay there. Too bad my friend left me. Don't you agree??????????
I’m that friend and Lyle never passes up a chance to give me grief!@It56ny Check Juan de Yepes in Hontonas. Same owners, same excellent communal meal, really nice albergue. They may have merged Santa Brigada into Juan de Yepes, or maybe just use one during the quiet season.
I stayed there in April 2018. I had reserved Santa Brigada that morning and received what looked like a personal confirmation. But when I arrived in the village the albergue was closed, with a note to go up the road to San Juan. When I did and started to explain, the hospitalero said, yes, that's us, and found my reservation in the book. Well, whatever! The food was excellent, cooked by his mom and sister that afternoon, the commaradie great, and the albergue very clean, well-designed and well run. I hope it's open when you pass through. Good luck.
And, yes, it is too bad your friend left you!!
I’d second that! Lovely food, great local wine and genuine hospitalityCasa Susi in Trabadelo had a wonderful meal, simple and happy.
Regards,
Paul
Casa Susi in Trabadelo had a wonderful meal, simple and happy.
Regards,
Paul
Thanks for the suggestion I really do appreciate it. I think it may be better to make a private joke in a private message don't you think??? My friend Tom is a wonderful pilgrim and even a better friend!!!@It56ny Check Juan de Yepes in Hontonas. Same owners, same excellent communal meal, really nice albergue. They may have merged Santa Brigada into Juan de Yepes, or maybe just use one during the quiet season.
I stayed there in April 2018. I had reserved Santa Brigada that morning and received what looked like a personal confirmation. But when I arrived in the village the albergue was closed, with a note to go up the road to San Juan. When I did and started to explain, the hospitalero said, yes, that's us, and found my reservation in the book. Well, whatever! The food was excellent, cooked by his mom and sister that afternoon, the commaradie great, and the albergue very clean, well-designed and well run. I hope it's open when you pass through. Good luck.
And, yes, it is too bad your friend left you!!