Ickgj,
Please do us a favor and do what xm asks you to do. We'd be grateful if you could 'validate' the stuff we have been hearing about Rabe de las Calzadas. Not that we don't believe the pilgrims who reported the event, but let's give the 'hospitalera from hell' a chance to redeem herself.
The albergue in Bercianos del Real Camino looks like it's about to fall apart but the experience is wonderful. First of all, there's a free welcome drink. It's donativo but you all have to pitch in for dinner. I was made to buy a kilo of tomatoes. Some pilgrims cooked, some prepared the tables, and we all ate together with the nuns who were running the place for a fortnight. Some of us went to mass in the village chapel, and afterwards had a special pilgrims 'thank you' service in the albergue's chapel, and ended the day watching the sunset. Some of us sang O Sole Mio at the top of our voices.
Mark