I have cleared up a question I had about a problem that violinpatrick experienced on his cold and wet Camino from Lisbon to Santiago.
el-camino-portugues/topic16271.html
When he walked into Albergaria, he asked if there was a hotel in town. People told him no, and he ended up in some damp basement somewhere. I had stayed at the Pensao Casa da Alameda (tel. 234 524 242). It's right on the camino, above a restaurant/bodega kind of place. Room with private bath was 25E in 2009. I also think there was a shared bath cheaper option.
I just checked with my Portuguese friends, who confirm that "hotel" in Portuguese has a specific reference to a certain kind of private establishment. It is different from "pensao" or "residencial", so when Patrick asked about a "hotel" he was given the technically correct information.
I assume that many people seeing a wet pilgrim walking into town asking for a hotel would point him to the Casa da Alameda, but Portuguese people don't think of that place as a hotel. So use the words pensao or residencial or hostal or albergue as well.
Bom caminho to those starting out in Portugal soon. Laurie
el-camino-portugues/topic16271.html
When he walked into Albergaria, he asked if there was a hotel in town. People told him no, and he ended up in some damp basement somewhere. I had stayed at the Pensao Casa da Alameda (tel. 234 524 242). It's right on the camino, above a restaurant/bodega kind of place. Room with private bath was 25E in 2009. I also think there was a shared bath cheaper option.
I just checked with my Portuguese friends, who confirm that "hotel" in Portuguese has a specific reference to a certain kind of private establishment. It is different from "pensao" or "residencial", so when Patrick asked about a "hotel" he was given the technically correct information.
I assume that many people seeing a wet pilgrim walking into town asking for a hotel would point him to the Casa da Alameda, but Portuguese people don't think of that place as a hotel. So use the words pensao or residencial or hostal or albergue as well.
Bom caminho to those starting out in Portugal soon. Laurie
