albergue Santo Tomás de Canterbury in Leon

[mspath]

Mundicamino , announced today that in Leon, a new private albergue, Santo Tomás de Canterbury, will open on the avenida La Lastra at the end of this month. Initially it will have 60 places for pilgrims.

MM

 

[scruffy1]

Indeed good news, my experience at Santa Maria de Carbajalas was horrid-people packed one on the other like sardines-many homeless there to pick pockets and "harvest" the daily new crop of pilgrims, similar stories and heartbreak from the municipal hostel plus inadequate facilitities have caused me to seek expensive lodging elsewhere. Thanks Margaret

 

[Deleted member 3000]

It is pretty far from the center of town. If it includes a pillow and blanket, though, it may be worth it.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The city closed one two years ago, which was also used as a homeless shelter, and private enterprise opens one this month. Who has the accurate business model?

http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/municipal-albergue-in-leon-is-closing.13378/

 

[Felipe]

Yes, this new albergue is in the suburbs. That's why, I suppose, they offer bycicles to visit the city.
I was at Carbajalas, too. Quite packed, yes, and lacking proper ventilation; in summer I guess it could be quite stuffy. On the other side, the pilgrim´s mass, with the good sisters, was worth it.
I see there is another albergue, Fundacion Ademar (it is an adapted college dorm), Av Alcalde Miguel Castaño, 4, 24005. More or less 1 km from cathedral. Seems good, has positive reviews.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I actually have enjoyed staying at Carbajalas several times.
We are all so different…

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I´ve served with the Carbajales in Leon, if only a couple of days at a time. Yes, the dorm is stuffy and crowded in high season. Please remember you are staying there for less than the cost of the average breakfast. The price is kept low so low-income people can afford to make the pilgrimage. If you are not a low-income person, if you expect better, maybe you should seek a higher class of accommodation.

No one without a proper pilgrim credential is allowed to stay at Las Carbajales. When homeless people arrive they are referred to the municipal services.

Most importantly: Homeless people are not necessarily thieves.
Yes, there are some scruffy, homeless pilgrims, and I would rather have ten of them in my house than a single high-maintenance, demanding, complaining "tourigrino" in search of "the best value for money."

The tourist demands. The pilgrim is thankful.