Albergue Tomas in Manjarin

[ezbeer]

Hello my Camino friends,
I well into planning my 3rd Camino Franses at April 2018. I am considering staying in Manjarin.
Can you please share your experience from staying in the albergue in Manjarin?
I know that the place has no running water, no showers, no sinks, but I am not worry about comfort, I am looking more for the camino spirit.
Buen Camino!

 

[RENSHAW]

Hi there Ez,
Tomas had some major health problems a while back so I'm not sure if he is still active at Manjarin.
What I can tell you about was my experience in 2003 ........ Absolutely THE box to tick - I still think about his spartan Albergue to this day. It was a foot deep in snow and really cold at night but that was no problem as I was given 5 thick blankets. Tomas and his hospitaleroes fed 6 of us well with wine on the table where he sat as the head.
As far as Camino spirit is concerned , you don't get better than Manjarin - you will savour the experience for a lifetime!

 

[SYates]

I stayed two times in Manjarin and enjoyed it ;-) Buen Camino, SY

 

[ELHS220]

QUOTE="RENSHAW, post: 538849, member: 9936"]Hi there Ez,
Tomas had some major health problems a while back so I'm not sure if he is still active at Manjarin.
What I cam tell you was my experience in 2003 ........ Absolutely THE box to tick - I still think about his spartan Albergue to this day. It was a foot deep in snow and really cold at night but that was no problem as I was given 5 thick blankets. Tomas and his hospitaleroes fed 6 of us well with wine on the table where he sat as the head.
As far as Camino spirit is concerned , you don't get better than Manjarin - you will savour the experience for a lifetime![/QUOTE]

Hello my Camino friends,
I well into planning my 3rd Camino Franses at April 2018. I am considering staying in Manjarin.
Can you please share your experience from staying in the albergue in Manjarin?
I know that the place has no running water, no showers, no sinks, but I am not worry about comfort, I am looking more for the camino spirit.
Buen Camino!

Here is Tomás on June 24 of this year:

 

[ELHS220]

Manjarín on June 24, 2017:

 

[Nicprinsloo]

You won't regret staying there! The facilities are sparse but the experience with Tomas is very special and you will remember that forever!

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Recommended for everyone except Women of a Certain Age, who are not seen, greeted, spoken-to, or acknowledged by anyone there. Men, yes. Young women, certainly. But otherwise? No. You're invisible.

 

[Icacos]

Recommended for everyone except Women of a Certain Age, who are not seen, greeted, spoken-to, or acknowledged by anyone there. Men, yes. Young women, certainly. But otherwise? No. You're invisible.

That's funny. When we walked by there in 2013, a Woman of a Certain Age emerged from the structure with the comment, "That is not the kind of place at which I need to stop." We continued on our way too.

 

[peaco]

yes, i have stayed there once a few years ago, before Tomas got ill, it was in november i was the only pilgrim,good food and was well treated. i had promised myself that one year i must stay at this place,it reminds us of what alberques were like, in the years of long before. yes its a must to stay here, you won't be dissapointed, but the memory will be engrained for ever.patrick brennan

 

[C clearly]

I've stopped by there a couple of times and found it somewhat interesting but I never had the sense of being super welcome. (I am of a certain age.) The first time was my first camino... I wasn't wearing enough layers, it was getting colder and sleet had started. I was so glad to find the shelter where I could re-layer my clothes and drink some hot tea, that I didn't care in the slightest what they thought of me! They were polite and provided what I needed. After warming up a bit, even though it was getting close to dusk, I also concluded that it was "not the kind of place at which I need to stop (for the night)." However, it was interesting and I enjoy the eccentricities of the camino.

 

[SYates]

Recommended for everyone except Women of a Certain Age, who are not seen, greeted, spoken-to, or acknowledged by anyone there. Men, yes. Young women, certainly. But otherwise? No. You're invisible.

Not my experience, I was always made very welcome, no matter if I stayed or walked on. And yes, that is over the ~20 years I know that place and Tomas. BC SY

 

[Anniesantiago]

It was one of the highlights of my first Camino!

 

[Dawn of a new Day]

I am a woman of a certain age and I loved this place. It is a not the amenities but the view and companionship. Thomas made a paella for about 6 of us sitting at the outdoor table. A highlight on my Camino in 2006.

 

[PEI_Heather]

I as well am 'a woman of a certain age' (a phrase that I dislike immensely, truth be told--no one ever says 'a man of a certain age'.... but I digress....)

I stopped into Tomas's place last late fall and had a chat with his assistant, who was a lovely man and happy to chat.

Tomas came into the shelter(?), and I asked him how he was. I took his hand, held it and looked directly into his eyes while I asked his question. And continued to hold his hand between my two hands while he talked to me. I couldn't understand 100% of what he said, but he was very happy and animated when he talked. It was about 15-20 minutes, I think.

His assistant told me later that people come in, maybe grab food, maybe leave a donativo, look around, leave. He said I had stopped and given my time to Tomas, didn't rush away, didn't give the impression of needing to get away/leave. And he (the assistant) really appreciated that. He said that Tomas did as well. The fellow told me that what Tomas was talking about, telling me, was that he was 'reading' me as I was standing in front of him, holding his hand between my two hands. He (Tomas) said I had a yellow light all around me and that meant I was a healer. (I hadn't told him that I am a healthcare professional.)

It was one of the moments of this walk along the Camino that I remember with great fondness.

I didn't stay at Manjarin, but another time maybe.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

My main memory of Tomas is from 2002 when he descended on Refugio Gaucelmo in Rabanal trying to drum up support to burn down the Municipal Refugio - and he wasn't joking!
A young student from Cadiz had died there of meningitis and Tomas thought the only way to cleanse the place was arson.

 

[Kanga]

Which is ironic as the local authorities for years tried to shut down Tomás because his place failed to meet health standards.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Which is ironic as the local authorities for years tried to shut down Tomás because his place failed to meet health standards.

I know, pots and kettles etc. But we were concerned enough for Maria and her brother down at Pilar's to keep an eye open in case he came back with a can of petrol (gas) - but he meant well (I think!)

 

[AJ]

I as well am 'a woman of a certain age' (a phrase that I dislike immensely, truth be told--no one ever says 'a man of a certain age'.... but I digress....)

I thought the phrase was "a woman of uncertain age" which would apply to lots of women who look much younger than they are.

 

[tpmchugh]

Hello my Camino friends,
I well into planning my 3rd Camino Franses at April 2018. I am considering staying in Manjarin.
Can you please share your experience from staying in the albergue in Manjarin?
I know that the place has no running water, no showers, no sinks, but I am not worry about comfort, I am looking more for the camino spirit.
Buen Camino!

I would have said no way. I did not like the look of the place so walked on. Having read some of the positive reports on here, I will change from no way to, will try that next year if Tomas is still there

 

[PEI_Heather]

I thought the phrase was "a woman of uncertain age" which would apply to lots of women who look much younger than they are.

Unfortunately, AJ, it is 'of certain age'.