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Did the Camino Frances from SJPP from 11 th June to Santiago 10 th July.
Lot's of different experiences, impact of it all hasn't really hit me yet.
On reading some of the blogs on some excellent albergues,I agree that everyone has a different experience. However I would like to just mention a few that let us down on the basics if it is of any help to anyone.
The worst experience I had was at Barbadello.We were very tired and had just passed the little village of Vilei.We passed a lovely albergues on the hill called O Pombal but decided to walk up the hill about 15 minutes to the XH albergues.It was a bit grim looking but we went in and were met by the door by the hospitalerio sitting sternly begind a desk. She never once smiled,and when asked about food we were pointed up the hill to casa del Carmen,dinner only.she said no shop,no restaurant. She didn't point out that the albergues 15 min away we just passed,had a bar menus,shop etc.
We stayed anyway, the kitchen had absolutely no cutlery or utensils of any kind.Neither guide book advised of this.So google any new hostels not in the guide book .in most areas there were a lot more even if the books said just one or two. There was a washing machinethat she shouted at me about detergent being already in the programme but could only hang clothes at the back wall outside where there was no sun.the hospitalerio followed me in when I was using washing machine and if I had wanted just to sit at one of the tables made me feel unwelcome.so I just sat outside where there was nothing, not even a cold drink machine.
The bunk beds were standard,bathroom clean and we were the only ones there.my partner asked for a blanket for night time,she said in Spanish, none,too hot. However in the kitchen there were boxes of stuff packed up.
When we were there sitting outside she put 4 other pilgrims off staying there with her manner and they walked away. That evening we walked back to the nice albergue we had seen and got some food.there we met the four girls she had put off staying. So it wasn't just us.my advice stay at OPombal.
As previous blogs here state,San Fenix was not clean,it was however friendly and kind in every way this woman at Barbadello was not.Despite appearances and a few insect bites there it was fine.
Finally Legidos,El Palomar,just avoid.Cold water,unfriendly, bad beds in rooms,springs sticking out,rooms cold,and staff cold.
Like everything in life there is always an exception and these albergues were an exception to what we experienced on the Camino.Even the most basic hostel is bearable if whoever runs it is just a little kind& courteous, after all mist pilgrims are kind and courteous regardless.
Hope this helps some of you.
All the best,
Buen Camino.
The worst experience I had was at Barbadello.
Carmen owns the place, and is always there. Many pilgrims report that she is an excellent hospitalera, so the experience may be variable. If ham-fisted pilgrims caused more repairs to a washer than the cost of the washer (and the meager 4E for hot water and soap), anyone could become protective of their equipment. It behooves each of us to view things from others' perspective. Seemingly high handed actions may have some real logic behind them. Gaucelmo in Rabanal won't let pilgrims operate the centrifugal dryer because they over burden it. The hospitaleros are very friendly in using it, but keep pilgrims away.but I don’t think it’s fair to write up a bad report about the albergue itself when it was the hospitalera you had the bad experience with
Carmen owns the place, and is always there.
@Anna1972
I am a little confused about your comments on O Pombal, where I stayed in Barbadelo last fall. I found it very comfortable and with a full kitchen, but there was no shop and no menu or restaurant of any sort. I am certain of this, because I went back into the village looking for food and found that the only shop was closed. Eventually, I had dinner at Casa de Carmen with the pilgrims who stayed in the Xunta albergue that you found so unpleasant. At that time (November) there was nowhere else. There were a couple of other albergues in the village, but both were closed for the season. Perhaps you are thinking of one of those. I agree that the atmosphere at the Xunta albergues where I stayed was not generally as helpful as at other albergues on the camino. Workers are paid staff and sometimes seem to do the least possible. There is never any kitchenware (pots, dishes etc,) or blankets at Xunta albergues.
If those few insect bites which you mention at San Fenix were from bed bugs, you might be in more trouble than you know. I hope that you haven't brought them home with you.
I hope that your experiences on the camino were favourable as a whole and that the good memories predominate. Thanks for trying to be helpful to future pilgrims.
Just in the Forum (there is praise on the Spanish camino websites, too):
Casa Carmen just beyond Barbadelo is very nice with spacious grounds to relax in (or throw a stick for the dogs!). They do a good dinner and breakfast.I stayed there in April.
I was in the albergue Casa Carmen, in Barbadelo, and the menu was excellent! Host are warm and friendly. I recommend it!!
*Barbadelo, Casa Carmen - skip Sarria and walk a further 4km to this wonderful private albergue.
Buen Camino!
It is possible to have a bad experience anywhere. There is a post about Granon where the volunteer hospitaleros lost control of the kitchen, and ruined the experience for that pilgrim. It is useful to post personal experience and the facts of that experience, but readers should always keep a perspective! There can be a lot of factors to consider, and we almost never get the other side of the story.
I parsed the punctuation again, and I think you are right! Still, I will leave the praise for Casa Carmen!! Nothing surprises me about xunta albergues. One has to keep expectations low, then everything is fine...I thought the OP meant the Xunta in Barbadelo not Casa Carmen where she ate?
I parsed the punctuation again, and I think you are right! Still, I will leave the praise for Casa Carmen!! Nothing surprises me about xunta albergues. One has to keep expectations low, then everything is fine...
Hi Albertagirl,
I stayed at O'Pombal last year, the owner did have a little shop in a shed he opened up for us and we cooked a lovely meal there. There was no restaurant or cafe but he did sell beer and wine also though. Later when walking back from Santiago I stayed at Casa Carmen and ate there.
Davey
Carmen owns the place, and is always there.
Does she own Casa de Carmen as well, the albergue about 200m further up the lane? That’s a great place, and a completely different experience! Casa de Carmen was closed when I first went through Barbadelo, which perhaps explains why the old man was caretaker at the time. Jill
Spaces, format, and punctuation can be helpful.I read it as being that the Xunta Albergue was the place to avoid - not Pombal!
Even for a native English speaker, punctuation & grammar can be difficult enough. But when you add in the difficulties of computer keyboards; tablets - with touch keypads - and it becomes too much. So lets just be a bit forgiving - especially in this week of St James Day??!!Spaces, format, and punctuation can be helpful.
I agree with this and thought this was clear in my post, where I said:(# Albertagirl - I read it as being that the Xunta Albergue was the place to avoid - not Pombal!)
,It was a great place to stay and I would recommend it to anyone.
We used to get a pilgrim to SIT on the spin dryer - only way to stop it falling over!Carmen owns the place, and is always there. Many pilgrims report that she is an excellent hospitalera, so the experience may be variable. If ham-fisted pilgrims caused more repairs to a washer than the cost of the washer (and the meager 4E for hot water and soap), anyone could become protective of their equipment. It behooves each of us to view things from others' perspective. Seemingly high handed actions may have some real logic behind them. Gaucelmo in Rabanal won't let pilgrims operate the centrifugal dryer because they over burden it. The hospitaleros are very friendly in using it, but keep pilgrims away.
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