I had not known about Maribel Roncal Albergue --- what a treasure

[Deleted member 39850]

I knew that somewhere out there was a bandaging, blister, and boot-lacing saint.

Spouse needed an albergue in Cizur Menor, and I somewhat blindly, on the kind recommendation from a few people here sent him to Maribel de Roncal... and she tended to all the feet (sent someone home because the massive infections from the ridiculous "thread trick" -- please, please, don't thread your blisters!!!) and taught the boot lacing.

Spouse learned not to ignore the itty bitty stone that gets into your sock at the achilles... and has his boots all adjusted for just his foot type...

And he feels so much better today.

I don't have the opportunity to enjoy this wisdom first hand on this go, but I am grateful anyway. My beloved has been cared for and I will see him somewhere on the meseta in a few weeks.

Thanks everyone for the recommendation.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Wise words and warning about the thread in the blister nonsense, Morgan.

 

[Deleted member 39850]

Wise words and warning about the thread in the blister nonsense, Morgan.

That threaded blister stuff drives me to distraction. I saw *BLACKENED* feet from infections last time out because of it.
Just... WHY??????
Do people think it makes them more like elite athletes? Is that the attraction? It's a super-highway for infection. But nobody would listen to me (I'm merely a medical anthropologist, not a clinician). And then when we ran into the first nurse, I asked her opinion and she confirmed it, but because she was quite young, she was discounted too!
Honestly, at that point I gave up and figured that people so stubbornly committed to the thread nonsense deserved what they got.
This is why I will never have the patience to be a Camino Saint. At a certain point, I l just lose patience.
But here I am, letting people know *that* is where the nurse is! Because I'm hoping to help ward off those problems with access to some expert care.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

That threaded blister stuff drives me to distraction. I saw *BLACKENED* feet from infections last time out because of it.
Just... WHY??????
Do people think it makes them more like elite athletes? Is that the attraction? It's a super-highway for infection. But nobody would listen to me (I'm merely a medical anthropologist, not a clinician). And then when we ran into the first nurse, I asked her opinion and she confirmed it, but because she was quite young, she was discounted too!
Honestly, at that point I gave up and figured that people so stubbornly committed to the thread nonsense deserved what they got.
This is why I will never have the patience to be a Camino Saint. At a certain point, I l just lose patience.
But here I am, letting people know *that* is where the nurse is! Because I'm hoping to help ward off those problems with access to some expert care.

The risky technique likely developed to overcome a failure of a common method to drain a blister's fluid, the use of a needle. The small hole a needle produces will initially drain the fluid, but it is common for that teeny puncture to reseal and then the blister refills. The thread supposedly keeps the puncture from resealing and wicks the fluid as it is produced. As we have both seen, this is nothing but a bacteria superhighway. And the fact that folks have escaped infection when using that technique gives voice to the notion that threading a blister is OK to do.

I just keep informing folks to create a bit of a slit to the base of the blister to drain the fluid. That slit doesn't reseal, and is far more effective and efficient than threading is, even if tossing aside from the issue of infection.

Old and risky ways of doing things are just hard to kill when they have become ingrained as part of lore.

 

[alhartman]

Mme Roncal is one of the legendary Camino hospitaliera(o)s!! Always a warm welcome and great advice--sometimes with a bit of an edge.

 

[trecile]

Fortunately, my feet didn’t need to be tended to when I stayed there, but I agree that Maribel Roncal is a very special place.

 

[nycwalking]

I've stayed there twice.

Second time I arrived early 10am after walking out of Pamplona. I had just sprained my ankle and women's stuff was quite, quite messy that day.

She opened up her place. Allowed me to rest. Just a wonderful person.

Happy for your hubby.

 

[VNwalking]

Spouse needed an albergue in Cizur Menor, and I somewhat blindly, on the kind recommendation from a few people here sent him to Maribel de Roncal... and she tended to all the feet (sent someone home because the massive infections from the ridiculous "thread trick" -- please, please, don't thread your blisters!!!) and taught the boot lacing.

Thank you for the update, Morgan.
After your post I was wondering if he ended up there, and am glad he did!

That threaded blister stuff drives me to distraction. I saw *BLACKENED* feet from infections last time out because of it.
Just... WHY??????

Good question. Really good question.
I'd never heard of threading blisters until walking the Camino - and this after decades of backpacking and hiking.
I guess we just need to keep speaking out about the dangers of it.
Over and over and over and over and.......

 

[trecile]

Thank you for the update, Morgan.
After your post I was wondering if he ended up there, and am glad he did!


Good question. Really good question.
I'd never heard of threading blisters until walking the Camino - and this after decades of backpacking and hiking.
I guess we just need to keep speaking out about the dangers of it.
Over and over and over and over and.......

And just in the last few days someone recommended this method

 

[Oregon's Mark]

And just in the last few days someone recommended this method

You're up late....

 

[chinacat]

We stayed with Maribel de Roncal in 2009.
It was wonderful then ... happy to hear she’s still going strong

 

[trecile]

You're up late....

Not late. I'm still in. Spain.

 

[tpmchugh]

I knew that somewhere out there was a bandaging, blister, and boot-lacing saint.

Spouse needed an albergue in Cizur Menor, and I somewhat blindly, on the kind recommendation from a few people here sent him to Maribel de Roncal... and she tended to all the feet (sent someone home because the massive infections from the ridiculous "thread trick" -- please, please, don't thread your blisters!!!) and taught the boot lacing.

Spouse learned not to ignore the itty bitty stone that gets into your sock at the achilles... and has his boots all adjusted for just his foot type...

And he feels so much better today.

I don't have the opportunity to enjoy this wisdom first hand on this go, but I am grateful anyway. My beloved has been cared for and I will see him somewhere on the meseta in a few weeks.

Thanks everyone for the recommendation.

An amazing lady in a great albergue

 

[Thomas@Albany]

I plan to stay at the Maribel Roncal the night of October 8. Is it necessary to reserve that time of the year?

 

[trecile]

I plan to stay at the Maribel Roncal the night of October 8. Is it necessary to reserve that time of the year?

I doubt it. I made reservations because we were there during San Fermin in Pamplona in July.

 

[KinkyOne]

And just in the last few days someone recommended this method

It might work for some but better soak the thread with iodine if using this method. I wouldn't suggest it though anyway.