Bedbugs in Granon?

[J F Gregory]

We are on our way into Granon Amber planning on staying at the albergo at the church where they sleep on the floor. Has anybody been there recently and is there an issue with bed bugs?

 

[Volker_]

I was there in September last year and had no problems. Got bitten at several other places, though.

cu,
Volker

 

[vlebe]

We are on our way into Granon Amber planning on staying at the albergo at the church where they sleep on the floor. Has anybody been there recently and is there an issue with bed bugs?

Hi there Gregory! I`ve been two times in the Curch ALbergue in Granon without problems. ALso I have never heard anyone complaining of bedbugs overthere. But you know... Bedbugs can "walk" from place to place...

We have to wait for the inputs of someone who stayed overthere recently ...


Ultreya & Buen Camino

 

[movinmaggie]

Loved Granon....no bedbugs - just kittens.

 

[zzotte]

Leave a LARGE donation so they keep it that way

 

[Dutch]

Maybe you should put a ? at the end of the title of this thread.

 

[Deleted member 34316]

Sir, by definition, to have bedbugs, you need beds. And there ain't any

 

[MeanPhilippine]

Loved Granon....no bedbugs - just kittens.

Great! Now we have to worry about fleas from the kittens!
Permethrin it is...

 

[movinmaggie]

Great! Now we have to worry about fleas from the kittens!
Permethrin it is...

Only if one chooses to worry.....

 

[RENSHAW]

Granon - Hosvol Hospitaleros trained to treat and cope with those arriving that have been bitten and taking all precaucions possible - It is pilgrims that carry the bugs from place to place, The Pilgrim is the catalist , not the Albergue.

 

[MeanPhilippine]

Granon - Hosvol Hospitaleros trained to treat and cope with those arriving that have been bitten and taking all precaucions possible - It is pilgrims that carry the bugs from place to place, The Pilgrim is the catalist , not the Albergue.

Don't the Pilgrims get the pests from infested albergues? If the alburgue don't fumigate how is that our fault? When pilgrims leave the alburgues and did not get bitten, they automatically assume there are no bedbugs. For all they know bedbugs got into their gear, such as boots and packs. How many of you check your gear before leaving the albergue if you didn't get bitten?
If you bought food from a restaurant and took it to go and everyone in your household ate the food at home and got food poisoning, do you get blamed for that because you're the one who bought and took it home?

 

[domigee]

Don't the Pilgrims get the pests from infested albergues? If the alburgue don't fumigate how is that our fault? When pilgrims leave the alburgues and did not get bitten, they automatically assume there are no bedbugs. For all they know bedbugs got into their gear, such as boots and packs. How many of you check your gear before leaving the albergue if you didn't get bitten?
If you bought food from a restaurant and took it to go and everyone in your household ate the food at home and got food poisoning, do you get blamed for that because you're the one who bought and took it home?

Is the egg and the chicken all over again
The first time I 'caught' bedbugs, I was totally oblivious to it. Don't know in which albergue I was bitten (only that it was a few days before arriving at SdC) and sadly I think I may have brought them with me to that lovely hotel in Santiago
Only there did I realise what it was and I spent 2 awful nights battling with them. Needless to say, that cut short my walk to Finisterre!
So no, at the time, I didn't feel it was my fault....

Now though, I am well aware of the problem so yes, I think it is my responsibility to check and make sure I am not a 'carrier'.

Hence the help this forum provides is invaluable!

 

[Pingüigrino]

Hi all.
I have been hospitalero at Grañon´s church albergue last october.
Can I assure this albergue is been fumigated when needed? Yes, I can.
Can I assure this albergue is been fumigated routinely? Yes , I can.
Can I assure this albergue is been cleaned daily with very hot steam? Yes I can. ( My bag,s muscles could assure it too, if asked)
Can I assure there are not bedbugs there? No, I cant.
Can I assure if found a single one bedbug drastic actions are taken? YES I CAN.

 

[Pingüigrino]

And talking about kittens... please dont feed them. I know its hard to hear this, but they are becoming a public health problem in the village. Maybe someone could castrate, or adopt them or something, because when wintertime arrives they are hungry all day long, and many of them are starving or sick.

 

[MeanPhilippine]

I

Hy all.
I have been hospitalero at Grañon´s church albergue last october.
Can I assure this albergue is been fumigated when needed? Yes, I can.
Can I assure this albergue is been fumigated routinely? Yes , I can.
Can I assure this albergue is been cleaned daily with very hot steam? Yes I can. ( My bag,s muscles could assure it too, if asked)
Can I assure there are not bedbugs there? No, I cant.
Can I assure if found a single one bedbug drastic actions are taken? YES I CAN.

Hats off to that albergue, unfortunately not all albergues are that, not even some of the hotels in big cities.
So, as long as there are albergues, who are not as methodical in fumigating and pilgrims who walks the Camino, there'll always be bedbugs problem.
Growing up from the province in a third world country, I'm very well acquainted with them and they will not go away, like ants. You see one, guarantee there are hundreds nearby.

 

[jmcarp]

Hy all.
I have been hospitalero at Grañon´s church albergue last october.
Can I assure this albergue is been fumigated when needed? Yes, I can.
Can I assure this albergue is been fumigated routinely? Yes , I can.
Can I assure this albergue is been cleaned daily with very hot steam? Yes I can. ( My bag,s muscles could assure it too, if asked)
Can I assure there are not bedbugs there? No, I cant.
Can I assure if found a single one bedbug drastic actions are taken? YES I CAN.

I can attest to @Pingüigrino's comments. When we stayed there a couple of years ago we had made arrangements with Cristina and Gustavo at the local farmacía -- a pair of real Camino angels -- for transport back to Santo Domingo to visit their personal dentist for some work to be done on my wife's tooth, but that's another story. So we hung around the albergue long past the normal check-out time and watched the very thorough cleaning and fumigation of the facility. And the upside of sleeping on those mats on the floor (yes, there is an upside) is that the bedbugs don't have so many nooks and crannies to hide in.

 

[MeanPhilippine]

I can attest to @Pingüigrino's comments. When we stayed there a couple of years ago we had made arrangements with Cristina and Gustavo at the local farmacía -- a pair of real Camino angels -- for transport back to Santo Domingo to visit their personal dentist for some work to be done on my wife's tooth, but that's another story. So we hung around the albergue long past the normal check-out time and watched the very thorough cleaning and fumigation of the facility. And the upside of sleeping on those mats on the floor (yes, there is an upside) is that the bedbugs don't have so many nooks and crannies to hide in.

If all albergues do this thorough cleaning, there'll be less bedbugs problems, but that's not the case. So bedbugs are here to stay.

 

[Urban Trekker]

I suggest that you read up on bedbugs and their habits on line. It's very informative and you will be suprised by what you read.

 

[MeanPhilippine]

I suggest that you read up on bedbugs and their habits on line. It's very informative and you will be suprised by what you read.

No need, I know the smell they emit, I know what they look like and I know what it's like having a bed inside your ear as a child. I know. I'm 50 years old and I still know the smell of a room infested bedbugs. I've slept with them for 13 years until we moved to the US. Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm good without reading more about bedbugs

 

[MeanPhilippine]

No need, I know the smell they emit, I know what they look like and I know what it's like having a bed inside your ear as a child. I know. I'm 50 years old and I still know the smell of a room infested bedbugs. I've slept with them for 13 years until we moved to the US. Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm good without reading more about bedbugs

Filipinos who grew up in a province know bedbugs all too well, we call them "surot".

 

[Pingüigrino]

Cristina is a lovely person, And Susana ( the bakery owner) And the lady of the Casino ( local bar), And Jesus, the priest, and... Grañon is a lovely place!

 

[MeanPhilippine]

Cristina is a lovely person, And Susana ( the bakery owner) And the lady of the Casino ( local bar), And Jesus, the priest, and... Grañon is a lovely place!

I'm sure it is and I will see it for myself on my way to Santiago de Compostela starting next week.

 

[RENSHAW]

Well lets put it this way , If one is bitten by a bed bug in the San Juan Bautista albergue in Granon ....then one is not safe anywhere , no hotel , hostal , whatever.
Just to add , discarding the bed bug 'horror' , San Juan is a FANTASTIC experience as is Tosantos but as the chap who was hospitalero at Tosantos said to some pilgrims who wanted to look first before booking in ..........
'Este , el Hospital ........no tourisma - El Hospital refugio .....so what if I slept on a mat ......what a place.

 

[Pingüigrino]

Well lets put it this way , If one is bitten by a bed bug in the San Juan Bautista albergue in Granon ....then one is not safe anywhere , no hotel , hostal , whatever.
Just to add , discarding the bed bug 'horror' , San Juan is a FANTASTIC experience as is Tosantos but as the chap who was hospitalero at Tosantos said to some pilgrims who wanted to look first before booking in ..........
'Este , el Hospital ........no tourisma - El Hospital refugio .....so what if I slept on a mat ......what a place.

Well, RENSHAW, about Jose Luis, the main hospitalero at Tosantos... he´s all a character. He lives the true catholic spirit of Pilgrimage. But the older he is, the tired of "tourist- grinos" he is becoming. He told me, some time ago about the "old good times" when there was not yellow arrows on the Camino, and pilgrims slept in a church. in an haystack, or in the middle of nowhere. So, he told me " By God sake. nowadays there are pilgrims asking for search for bedbugs... here, in my house! Go to sleep in a stable and youll see" He is a hard figther of bedbugs and feel insulted by those maners. Tosantos... A very special site to stay. With a special magic, too.

 

[MeanPhilippine]

Well, RENSHAW, about Jose Luis, the main hospitalero at Tosantos... he´s all a character. He lives the true catholic spirit of Pilgrimage. But the older he is, the tired of "tourist- grinos" he is becoming. He told me, some time ago about the "old good times" when there was not yellow arrows on the Camino, and pilgrims slept in a church. in an haystack, or in the middle of nowhere. So, he told me " By God sake. nowadays there are pilgrims asking for search for bedbugs... here, in my house! Go to sleep in a stable and youll see" He is a hard figther of bedbugs and feel insulted by those maners. Tosantos... A very special site to stay. With a special magic, too.

It sounds like Jose needs to pass on the torch of being a hospitalero, if he is tired dealing with tourists. Unfortunately, you can't bring back how things used to be, it's called "old times" for a reason.
I understand why he's offended by tourists asking to check for bedbugs, but can you really blame "tourist-grinos"? "Modern Pilgrims" would be more approptiate and more respectful than being called "tourist-grinos". Maybe we need to make it known to every "tourist-grinos", as disrespectfully labeled, not to patronize this immaculate place; that we need to go somewhere else more welcoming and not as tired of toutist-grinos as Jose.
I wouldn't have known that he is methodical in keeping bedbugs at a minimum (by the way, unless you fumigate with industrial grade chemical, you will not get rid of it and even then you won't get rid of them 100%. Industrial grade chemicals are not safe for humans) if it wasn't mentioned in this thread.

 

[Urban Trekker]

Filipinos who grew up in a province know bedbugs all too well, we call them "surot".

Been all over Asia in my Navy days. I liked the Philippines the best. Never had problems with bedbugs among the crew. Believe my I would have heard about it because I was ships Corpsman. Buen Camino Meanphillippine

 

[MeanPhilippine]

Been all over Asia in my Navy days. I liked the Philippines the best. Never had problems with bedbugs among the crew. Believe my I would have heard about it because I was ships Corpsman. Buen Camino Meanphillippine

Thank you for serving.
You really have to go to the province and in very poor area to experience them. Also some of my fellow Marines who thought were bitten by mosquitoes were actually bedbug bites. They stayed in those motels when Subic was bustling.

 

[Pingüigrino]

It sounds like Jose needs to pass on the torch of being a hospitalero, if he is tired dealing with tourists. Unfortunately, you can't bring back how things used to be, it's called "old times" for a reason.
I understand why he's offended by tourists asking to check for bedbugs, but can you really blame "tourist-grinos"? "Modern Pilgrims" would be more approptiate and more respectful than being called "tourist-grinos". Maybe we need to make it known to every "tourist-grinos", as disrespectfully labeled, not to patronize this immaculate place; that we need to go somewhere else more welcoming and not as tired of toutist-grinos as Jose.
I wouldn't have known that he is methodical in keeping bedbugs at a minimum (by the way, unless you fumigate with industrial grade chemical, you will not get rid of it and even then you won't get rid of them 100%. Industrial grade chemicals are not safe for humans) if it wasn't mentioned in this thread.

Hello MeanPhilipine. The Parish albergue of Tosantos is a donativo one. If you arrive there, you will be recibed with a smile, a welcome and a question : Would you have diner with us? Later you will be invited to join the hospitalero and others pilgrims for a pray into the chappel. It could be a very moving moment, but nobody try to force you. Nobody will ask you for money. If you can afford it, do it. You can be sure that a big part of your donation will be used for cleaning and fumingation if needed. If you cant affort any money, you will be wellcome anyway. This is not a site for tourists, or "modern pilgrims" as you call them. Pilgrim thanks for what they recibed. Tourist demand.
If someone wants to walk the "Camino a Santiago" like a tourist, its very wellcome. If someone choose to be a pilgrim to Santiago, is very welcome too. But it could be a good idea to avoid those special sites for pilgrims if you are not one of them. And, yes , it could be a good idea not to patronice this sites if you dont feel like a pilgrim. You could find lots of good private albergues, more confortable, with good beds, good showers, good facilities, like washing machines, dryers, etc which could be very happy to recibe tourists for a small input. This is the reason I call "Tourist grinos" to certain people whom can´t differentiate between being pilgrims and being tourist. But I´m not trying of being disrespectfull. My english is not good enough and it is very dificult to me to express complex ideas, in all the nuances. But would be my pleasure to meet you in the camino and talk friendly about this idea. If you can be at Samos during the last 15 days of april, you could find me in the Monasterio´s albergue. There, we can share a bit of talk, a glass of beer, or a cup of coffe. I´ll pay for the first one. Buen Camino.

 

[Urban Trekker]

Thank you for serving.
You really have to go to the province and in very poor area to experience them. Also some of my fellow Marines who thought were bitten by mosquitoes were actually bedbug bites. They stayed in those motels when Subic was bustling.

I would get a room in Bagio or Subic City. Olongapo was too noise and busy for me. Semper Fi. Doc Rice

 

[MeanPhilippine]

I would get a room in Bagio or Subic City. Olongapo was too noise and busy for me. Semper Fi. Doc Rice

Semper Fi doc

 

[palmah]

We are on our way into Granon Amber planning on staying at the albergo at the church where they sleep on the floor. Has anybody been there recently and is there an issue with bed bugs?

How about a follow-up to your stay?

 

[palmah]

I have been Hospitalera for the last 2 weeks here at the albergue in Grañón. We do a lot of preventive cleaning/observing and so far so good. Be sure to stop here for the tradition of this albergue to welcome, care, and refresh all pilgrims interested in becoming part of the history of this amazing place.

 

[Pingüigrino]

I have been Hospitalera for the last 2 weeks here at the albergue in Grañón. We do a lot of preventive cleaning/observing and so far so good. Be sure to stop here for the tradition of this albergue to welcome, care, and refresh all pilgrims interested in becoming part of the history of this amazing place.

Hi palmah. In two weeks I´ll be hospitalero at Albergue de Samos. But alredy jealous on you. The experience at Grañon is very special both like pilgrim and hospitalero. Buen Camino.

 

[palmah]

Hi palmah. In two weeks I´ll be hospitalero at Albergue de Samos. But alredy jealous on you. The experience at Grañon is very special both like pilgrim and hospitalero. Buen Camino.

Perhaps we will see you in Samos as we will start our Camino from Grañón in a few days. The experience as hospitaleros in Grañón exceeds any expectations we may have had. I love the village, the priest, the baker, Bar Teo and of corse all the pilgrims who have stayed here these last couple of weeks. I hope I will have the opportunity to do this again!

 

[Pingüigrino]

It would be my pleasure to find a fellow "Hospi" at Samos. I´ll be there from 15th to 30 th April. Please say hi in my name to Susana the baker, Cristina at the farmacia, priest Jesus and Marina, if you can. Say them I was hospitalero there last Halloween. For sure Susana and Cristina will remember me.

 

[J F Gregory]

We went to the Albergue in Granon and had the best experience on this walk. Fabulous hospitality good food, about 17 pilgrims and a wonderful time there. And no bed bugs.

 

[Pingüigrino]

We went to the Albergue in Granon and had the best experience on this walk. Fabulous hospitality good food, about 17 pilgrims and a wonderful time there. And no bed bugs.

You was a fortunate man. I had have sixty pilgrims there. And near of one hundred, last september. Only three WC, two showers and this tiny kitchen. Happy pilgrims laughting everywhere. People sleeping inside the church, eating on the stairs... glorious moments, for sure.

 

[Almost_there]

We are on our way into Granon Amber planning on staying at the albergo at the church where they sleep on the floor. Has anybody been there recently and is there an issue with bed bugs?

Stayed in San Juan Bautista albergue in Granon 3 nights ago. No sign of bed bugs there. Just the warmest welcome and most memorable experience of my camino so far.
Peter

 

[ezbeer]

Sir, by definition, to have bedbugs, you need beds. And there ain't any

The pic is not from Grenon

 

[Pingüigrino]

Hi ezbeer. yes, it is. There are three diferent "bedrooms" in this albergue. If you had attended at the reflection moment at the church, you passed by this room. The door to the chorus is just at the left of the screem, on the stone wall. The door with the yellow poster, is one of the hospitalero´s bedrooms.

 

[Victoria_Peregrina]

Leave a LARGE donation so they keep it that way

Is bribing bedbugs allowed?

 

[Victoria_Peregrina]

Later you will be invited to join the hospitalero and others pilgrims for a pray into the chappel.

Grañon and Tosantos were two of my best nights on the Camino. I chatted with the Grañon hospitallieros before leaving and forgot a bag with my toiletries on top of the forte piano. I found it out only when I have arrived to Tosantos and was distraught. There was a friend visiting Tosantos called Pepe. He offered to give me a ride back to Grañon to pick up the bag. It was a huge favor. I missed the chapel but the rest of my stay was wonderful.

Thank you for your service!

 

[Victoria_Peregrina]

If you can be at Samos during the last 15 days of april, you could find me in the Monasterio´s albergue. There, we can share a bit of talk, a glass of beer, or a cup of coffe. I´ll pay for the first one. Buen Camino.

I will be deciding whether to take a detour to Samos in mid-May. If you were still there, it would be a good reason to walk an extra mile for a bit of talk.

Buen Camino.

 

[Victoria_Peregrina]

I have been Hospitalera for the last 2 weeks here at the albergue in Grañón.

palmah,

Thank you for your service!

 

[Victoria_Peregrina]

You was a fortunate man. I had have sixty pilgrims there. And near of one hundred, last september. Only three WC, two showers and this tiny kitchen. Happy pilgrims laughting everywhere. People sleeping inside the church, eating on the stairs... glorious moments, for sure.

Such good memories!

When I was there we had a professional chef from The Netherlands. He organized a crew of four guys who have prepared a wonderful dinner, tasty and beautifully presented.

 

[Pingüigrino]

Hi, Victoria_Peregrina. Sadly I will be there only for de last 15 days of April. But I higly suggest you to visit Samos. From Triacastella to Sarria, you can take two ways, to San Xil or to Samos. The way to Samos is 7 km longer than San Xil´s way, but its wonderful. Walking near the river, you can feel that elves, dwafts, and fairies are waiting to play hide and seek with you. Buen Camino

 

[Victoria_Peregrina]

But I higly suggest you to visit Samos. From Triacastella to Sarria, you can take two ways, to San Xil or to Samos. The way to Samos is 7 km longer than San Xil´s way, but its wonderful.

Thank you, Pingüigrino,

Last year I took the San Xil route, and so I really should go to Samos this year.

 

[Pingüigrino]

You will be delighted, for sure.

 

[Deleted member 34316]

I will be deciding whether to take a detour to Samos in mid-May. If you were still there, it would be a good reason to walk an extra mile for a bit of talk.

This discussion is going a bit off topic, but I just wanted to say that you don't need an excuse to add a few extra kilometers to go to Samos, because this place is magical! And the Camino from Samos following the river Sarria is so beautiful! For me it is the last enchanting stage of the Camino before the crowds join in Sarria. I am glad that Pingüigrino will soon take over the duties of hospitalero, because 2 weeks ago it was the gas station assistant who both filled up the car tanks and registered the pilgrims. But he took us to the secret chamber in the Monastery, where we could listen to gregorian chants of the monks. Unforgettable experience!

 

[Victoria_Peregrina]

This discussion is going a bit off topic, but I just wanted to say that you don't need an excuse to add a few extra kilometers to go to Samos, because this place is magical! And the Camino from Samos following the river Sarria is so beautiful! For me it is the last enchanting stage of the Camino before the crowds join in Sarria. I am glad that Pingüigrino will soon take over the duties of hospitalero, because 2 weeks ago it was the gas station assistant who both filled up the car tanks and registered the pilgrims. But he took us to the secret chamber in the Monastery, where we could listen to gregorian chants of the monks. Unforgettable experience!

I am very sorry for taking this discussion off topic, but I was so excited that a hospitalliero from my favorite place was posting here.

Now, I got a bonus, a motivation to go to Samos.

Thank you so much! And apologies for a scenic detour away from bed bugs.

 

[Pingüigrino]

Hi arthur 1218. I was sleeping there two weeks ago, No hospitalero there, only the girl of the Tourist Office. This nigth only 5 pilgrims slept there. What a pity! But the Easter´s orde was waiting for us at Sarria, with their cleaned clothes and white trainers. Sadly two days later we had a strong stormy day. Buen Camino.

 

[Deleted member 34316]

Hi arthur 1218. I was sleeping there two weeks ago, No hospitalero there, only the girl of the Tourist Office. This nigth only 5 pilgrims slept there. What a pity! But the Easter´s orde was waiting for us at Sarria, with their cleaned clothes and white trainers. Sadly two days later we had a strong stormy day. Buen Camino.

Hi Pingüigrino, I was there on Sunday March 20th, so we almost met!
To bring the discussion back to the topic, for those heading from Grañón towards Samos, I can assure that there are no bedbugs in Samos either - there is no single insect that can survive those freezing temperatures in the Monastery albergue - just the pilgrims can handle that

 

[Pingüigrino]

Yeah, you are rigth. My wife needed four extra blankets that nigth. I think she was near to die by flattening. Bed bugs there would be a great help. They could warm the albergue.

 

[zzotte]

Is bribing bedbugs allowed?

Victoria, if you bribe the bedbugs they never leave (easy money) and worst they bring "friends" because now they got you! Oh no say kill and kill then all hahaha so leave a even larger donation and also at Tosantos even if don't stay there those are the two best places on the camino

zzotte

 

[palmah]

palmah,

Thank you for your service!

It was my pleasure, really!

 

[palmah]

Hi palmah. In two weeks I´ll be hospitalero at Albergue de Samos. But alredy jealous on you. The experience at Grañon is very special both like pilgrim and hospitalero. Buen Camino.

Hola Ping! It was so good to meet you yesterday in Samos. I am sorry we didn't get to see you before we left - we were on our way at 7:00! Thank you for your hospitality! Abrazos!

 

[Pingüigrino]

Hola Ping! It was so good to meet you yesterday in Samos. I am sorry we didn't get to see you before we left - we were on our way at 7:00! Thank you for your hospitality! Abrazos!

It was my pleasure. You make me a happy hospitalero. That damm alarm clock didnt work, this morning. I was inside the albergue at 7:08. Buen Camino!