I volunteered at Nájera, after walking the Portuguese from Lisbon, in November 2021. It was such a valuable experience serving the pilgrims, sharing Camino stories and doing what I could to help them on their Camino.
This year I will be serving at San Nicolas del Flüe albergue in Ponferrada...
I am a walker, I've walked several Caminos. When I go into the nearby National Park to spend time on the trails or the hills I'm a hiker. I've had this discussion with myself many times on Camino.
"Walking is the only exercise you don't have to be good at to enjoy." - Mark Twain
I stopped shaving on my first Camino in 2016 and haven't taken up the habit since.
I get a short haircut and beard trim before a Camino, got one 2 days ago. I'm waiting for my lift to the airport for my flight to Madrid.
I served there last November(2021). One of the biggest concerns among the peregrinos and the hospiteleros was the lack of WiFi connectivity, I hope the ayuntamiento saw fit to include a WiFi connection in the improvements.
Hi Tom, I was having a coffee near the COVID test center at Madrid airport yesterday, while waiting for my results, when a vaguely familiar pilgrim walked over to my table. He said “Hello Tom.” It was Neil from New York. He had stayed with us the night before he stayed in Grañon. I never thought...
I took the hospitalero training just over 2 years ago in Sebastopol California through APOC. When I thought I would be able to travel in Sept 2021 I contacted Rebeca Scott, who coordinates the volunteers for several Albergues in Spain, for a placement during the time I would be available.
I...
Great photos, thanks for posting them!
The albergue must have been remodeled since then as the entrance is now near the other end on the south side. The arched entrance is no more. I wasn’t aware there had been one at the end of the building. We now have red sheets on all the bunks, even though...
I asked about the other bunks, the guide books say 90 beds, I was told that the missing bunks had been in the center of the dormitory.
I don’t remember doing any interviews. I’m sure I’d remember.
I met several hospitaleros who had served at Canfranc while volunteering at the Pilgrim House in Santiago. I just started at the municipal albergue in Nájera two days ago. This is my first time as hospitalero. We had 27 peregrinos my first night then 13 last night. We have 54 bunks but now have...
I will be starting from Lisbon 25 September, knock on wood. Then two weeks later somewhere near Porto I will celebrate my 73 birthday by walking towards Santiago.
Buen Camino
I have taken some of my brother's ashes to Europe four times since he died in 2016. I never take very much 3-4oz, in a small plastic bag in the bag with my soap, toothpaste and such. It has never been questioned. I've left his ashes on Croagh Patrick in Ireland, at the Cruz de Ferro and at the...
While planning for my first Camino I decided that I would frame my credencial and Compostela. After puzzling over the dilemma of framing the two sided credential and consulting with several peregrinos I found a solution. There wasn't any rule that said that one could not take two, or more...
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