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This is something that comes up (pun) regularly on the forum - not necessarily at CdlC.
I had hoped for fewer incidents as a consequence of the extra hygiene precautions following Covid. We all can do with reminders about simple things like hand washing, and keeping our distance from others.
Water and bacterial contamination of food is not always the cause - an outbreak can be caused by human transmission of a stomach virus.
I stayed there in the beautiful Nunnery and had no problems with the water. Maybe it was where you stayed rather than the whole town.We left at least 4 people behind in Carrion los Condes, too sick to walk. My partner walked but slowly, not arriving at the first albergue until 2:30. I started throwing up shortly after. These and other tales of woe from 3 different albergues.
No one knows for sure what the issue was but I would recommend caution drinking the municipal water.
I recently finished completed the Camino Francés (SJPP—Santiago) and I was disappointed yo see how many albergues lacked soap and paper towels or hand dryers that actually worked. This was also true of many “servicios” along the way. Some places have anti-bacterial products here and there but not always in or even near the washroom facilities. I ended up with a severe case of gastroenteritis the night before my final walk into Santiago. Who knows where it was from. But I do recall a couple of occasions when I wanted to properly wash and clean out my water bottle with soap and hot water but had to settle for rinsing in (usually just) cold water.This is something that comes up (pun) regularly on the forum - not necessarily at CdlC.
I had hoped for fewer incidents as a consequence of the extra hygiene precautions following Covid. We all can do with reminders about simple things like hand washing, and keeping our distance from others.
Water and bacterial contamination of food is not always the cause - an outbreak can be caused by human transmission of a stomach virus.
Not that it wouldn't be nice if things were supplied, but I think the expectation is that people bring their own toiletries.I recently finished completed the Camino Francés (SJPP—Santiago) and I was disappointed yo see how many albergues lacked soap and paper towels or hand dryers that actually worked. This was also true of many “servicios” along the way. Some places have anti-bacterial products here and there but not always in or even near the washroom facilities. I ended up with a severe case of gastroenteritis the night before my final walk into Santiago. Who knows where it was from. But I do recall a couple of occasions when I wanted to properly wash and clean out my water bottle with soap and hot water but had to settle for rinsing in (usually just) cold water.
Is this needed? I have only rinsed water bottles usually in cold water, but I do let them dry out if not intending to use next day.But I do recall a couple of occasions when I wanted to properly wash and clean out my water bottle with soap and hot water but had to settle for rinsing in (usually just) cold water.
I always wondered why I never got an expensive mint or a piece of chocolate on my pillow every night. Now it has been explained.Not that it wouldn't be nice if things were supplied, but I think the expectation is that people bring their own toiletries.
Rpcv? What country & year?Many times during a drought or dry period the well water gets down to a level that promotes growth of bacteria. I taught water and sanitation hygiene in West Africa and this was one of the issues I dealt with in my training.
I commented on a similar report in 2019, chiming in with my experience of Carrión de los Condes in August 2018 while staying at albergue Espiritú Santo, where two dorms had been quarantined off limits on arrival. I also met others during the following days who had similar symptoms while in Carrión de los Condes, although mainly from the albergue Santa Maria.We left at least 4 people behind in Carrion los Condes, too sick to walk. My partner walked but slowly, not arriving at the first albergue until 2:30. I started throwing up shortly after. These and other tales of woe from 3 different albergues.
No one knows for sure what the issue was but I would recommend caution drinking the municipal water.
Given the frequency of such reports, there does seem to be a pattern. I've stayed in Carrion twice, with no ill-effects, drinking tap water but never eating in a bar or restarant there. But that says aproximately nothing.At the risk of being shot down in flames again, I decided to chime in to this post, if nothing else to share my experience that relates to the OP.
Drying out would be a smart thing to do. I tend not to let mine dry out, as I also like to have water handy to drink at night time. Also, once in a while, on my walks, I’d add a bit of Fanta limón to the water, which really should be washed out at the end of a hot day.Is this needed? I have only rinsed water bottles usually in cold water, but I do let them dry out if not intending to use next day.
RCI 2001, evacuated during civil unrest and then Togo 2002-2005. You?Rpcv? What country & year?
Rpcv Mauritania 87-89. Still working in development in west Africa but back and forth from Chicago.RCI 2001, evacuated during civil unrest and then Togo 2002-2005. You?
I was an older PCV, enlisted at the age of 58. I too was involved in a long term project in Togo started by a volunteer in 2003. It is still going strong providing health services to women and children in the poorly served northern regions. It began as a SIDA project in Kara and grew exponentially to 18 rural clinics.Rpcv Mauritania 87-89. Still working in development in west Africa but back and forth from Chicago.
Very true.Not that it wouldn't be nice if things were supplied, but I think the expectation is that people bring their own toiletries.
This has been a reported problem for several years. I was ill here 2017 and a friend back in May this year. Have read of several people getting ill here and have read warnings going back last 10 years!We left at least 4 people behind in Carrion los Condes, too sick to walk. My partner walked but slowly, not arriving at the first albergue until 2:30. I started throwing up shortly after. These and other tales of woe from 3 different albergues.
No one knows for sure what the issue was but I would recommend caution drinking the municipal water.
It might be one common denomiator, but none of us really are going to be able to tell if it is the only one, nor can we determine if it is the relevant one. So far we have had some speculation about what the pathogen might have been, which has led to some reminders about maintaining good hygiene practices, but no closer to knowing what was the cause here. Moreover, we are quick to look at what we ate or drank the previous day, but not the several days beforehand where we might have picked up a slower acting pathogen.The common denominator in all these reported incidents is that the effected were communal living.
Been there, done that in 2014, 3 days flat on my back-ugh!We left at least 4 people behind in Carrion los Condes, too sick to walk. My partner walked but slowly, not arriving at the first albergue until 2:30. I started throwing up shortly after. These and other tales of woe from 3 different albergues.
No one knows for sure what the issue was but I would recommend caution drinking the municipal water.
This is OP. Because of my continuing symptoms I'm ending my Camino at Leon. I have switched to private room because my nighttime coughing was so bad.
Because to this I think there is an equal chance the illnesses were contracted in Burgos and only manifested in Carrion.
Still a layman's opinion, I wish John Snow was still around.
I second this!If you have stomach problems as well as a cough, maybe a Covid test might be a good idea.
I got so very sick after leaving Carrion los Condes 6 years ago. It almost took me out. The intestinal sick was so bad.We left at least 4 people behind in Carrion los Condes, too sick to walk. My partner walked but slowly, not arriving at the first albergue until 2:30. I started throwing up shortly after. These and other tales of woe from 3 different albergues.
No one knows for sure what the issue was but I would recommend caution drinking the municipal water.
That was exactly what I did on my latest camino in may this year. On two occasions actually. Heard excessive coughing and just backed out.There is an upswing of covid in progress (BBC newsite.) Two sub variants of omicron are infected those who have previously had covid and those who have been vaccinated.
I recall walking into a municipal albergue in Castrojerez, years ago, hearing the volume of coughing in progress, and backing out swiftly.
Hygiene, hygiene, hygiene. Wash your hands, don’t just stick them under the tap for a second. I am reminded of a report from decades ago, where they tested the contents of one of those candy dishes that used to sit beside the cash registers in restaurants. The primary ‘ingrediant’ besides the sugar, was urine.
I hope our OP gets well soon.
Don't forget to wait 30 minutes before drinking the water.Many times during a drought or dry period the well water gets down to a level that promotes growth of bacteria. I taught water and sanitation hygiene in West Africa and this was one of the issues I dealt with in my training.
Edit
Additional note: You can carry an eye dropper full of chlorine (wrapped tightly in a zip lock bag to protect the contents of you backpack) and use one drop of chlorine per one litrer of water which normally will kill most bacteria.
... and the remarks I made then are just as appropriate today. Blaming any form of gastro-intestinal upset on a particular establishment because it was the last place you ate is completely inappropriate. For those who want to read it, and the rationale others had then for objecting to blaming a specific establishment, the thread @Margaret Butterworth is referring is here. The thinking is just as valid today as it was then.My very first post to this forum, back in 2014, was about this very issue: gastric problems in Carrion de los Condes. I had eaten in a well-known restaurant there and was throwing up all night long. Next morning, another person in the albergue told me that exactly the same had occurred to him the previous year after visiting that same restaurant. I felt that I should warn other pilgrims about the problem. I was immediately shot down by at least two others (who are still regular contributors to the forum). They said I could prove nothing so it was wrong to blame this particular restaurant.
On my last visit to Carrion, I stayed at the Hotel San Zoilo, as I wished to take no more chances. I ate all my meals there too. This was an up-market solution, but I felt that it paid off. If sickness broke out in San Zoilo, then it would soon find itself on Trip Advisor - that was my reasoning! There have been so many incidents in Carrion, there must be a problem there. My original restaurant meal was trout - which must have been swimming in the local water.
I must lead a boring life! Mind you, I avoided ice-cream for most of the Caminho do Tejo/Camino Portuguese this year, and preferred to get my pastel de nata in the morning rather than one that had been sitting in a display case all day.All night long I suffered from bouts of diarrhoea, and next day too on the Camino. I finally went into a pharmacy and got a remedy.
Be careful, you might get shot down in flames for suggesting there could be something dodgy about the municipal water supply. I got roasted here when I made such aspersions in 2019.We left at least 4 people behind in Carrion los Condes, too sick to walk. My partner walked but slowly, not arriving at the first albergue until 2:30. I started throwing up shortly after. These and other tales of woe from 3 different albergues.
No one knows for sure what the issue was but I would recommend caution drinking the municipal water.
Yes, and be aware that hostals, albergues and "camino families" are effectively "communal living" (ie: illness incubators).Back in late May, I had stopped in Triacastela. After checking into the albergue, 2 individuals started to toss their cookies. They said it was the "bad lentil soup" they had earlier in the day. By the time I fell asleep, several others who had travelled with the soup eaters took ill.
Several days later, I came across a few of the Triacastela crowd and they informed me that there were more among them that took ill the following day or so.
I'm no scientist but I would venture to say that it wasn't the soup, it wasn't the water and it wasn't the kitchen in the restaurant that they ate at. I would vote for the viral infection. So the lesson is to keep those hands washed often.
This seems quite reasonable on the face of it, but I am also aware of the history of unsupported claims made on this forum about water and food quality. There is a pretty clear tendency to go beyond the simple observation that people have become ill, and to identify a cause or attribute blame.Why on earth would anyone drink water from local fountains etc if there is any question about the quality or safety of same when bottled water is so cheap in Spain, that's just asking for trouble IMO.
Not shot down in flames, but more like your theory wasn't based on fact. Just speculation.Be careful, you might get shot down in flames for suggesting there could be something dodgy about the municipal water supply. I got roasted here when I made such aspersions in 2019.
Because there's no real doubt or question about the quality or safety of the water from local fountains. Any fears or doubts are based on rumour.Why on earth would anyone drink water from local fountains etc if there is any question about the quality or safety of same when bottled water is so cheap in Spain, that's just asking for trouble IMO.
The next time I walk one of the St Olavs Ways, I will be looking for a lightweight berry picking scoop to take advantage of the plethora of wild berries along the path. Last time, I handpicked when I could, but that is such a laborious process to get anywhere near a reasonable feed that the effort of carrying a scoop will be more than rewarded.I’m not sure about whether it was completely wise for me to snarf down 3 white figs from an abandoned lot beside a freshly slurries corn field on my recent primitivo… But I seem to have gotten away with it, and the figs were absolutely grand!
It's water we're talking about not champagne and please don't tell me after flying half way round the world that you can't afford €0.50 on a bottle of waterBecause there's no real doubt or question about the quality or safety of the water from local fountains. Any fears or doubts are based on rumour.
Also bottled water is exposed to toxins in the plastic and is also an environmental disaster. Billions of those bottles discarded after just one use. Floating in oceans or filling garbage dumps. Never actually decompose. Oh yeah, and the cost factor, too. Not all pilgrims have champagne budgets.
Just back from Australia, a real shining light in environmental standards. Biggest message I took back was the environmental cost of bottled water.It's water we're talking about not champagne and please don't tell me after flying half way round the world that you can't afford €0.50 on a bottle of water
Who said I flew half way around the world? I fly budget airlines like Ryanair and Iberia express, and no I don't want to spend any money on tap water in a plastic bottle made from toxins.It's water we're talking about not champagne and please don't tell me after flying half way round the world that you can't afford €0.50 on a bottle of water
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