Changes at the Pilgrim's Office

[sillydoll]

A friend reports on the changes to the Pilgrims' Office:

Things they are a-changing! The Oficina is closed, i.e. the upstairs part via the Green Doors. The whole of the house is going to be renovated and they reckon 2 years to do it! So at present, pilgrims go in through the Patio de las Mochilas and then up the stairs to the tiny new part that was opened while I was there last year.
Down in the patio, at the very end where backpack storage is available, there is the other "solution" !!!! in what was a tiny bar last year. They have now shoved all the furniture etc from the upper floor office into this tiny space. . . . . . and this year there are more pilgrims
expected than last year. There will be sheer and unadulterated chaos. As for safety when dealing with the thousands?????

The cathedral is being restored -the tower is enclosed in scaffolding. Part of the Azabacheria facade has already been cleaned and looks lovely.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

A friend reports on the changes to the Pilgrims' Office:

Things they are a-changing! The Oficina is closed, i.e. the upstairs part via the Green Doors. The whole of the house is going to be renovated and they reckon 2 years to do it! So at present, pilgrims go in through the Patio de las Mochilas and then up the stairs to the tiny new part that was opened while I was there last year.
Down in the patio, at the very end where backpack storage is available, there is the other "solution" !!!! in what was a tiny bar last year. They have now shoved all the furniture etc from the upper floor office into this tiny space. . . . . . and this year there are more pilgrims
expected than last year. There will be sheer and unadulterated chaos. As for safety when dealing with the thousands?????

The cathedral is being restored -the tower is enclosed in scaffolding. Part of the Azabacheria facade has already been cleaned and looks lovely.

Gosh...how cynical is your 'friend'?...they must come from a colder part of the world! The Pilgrims' Office is not closed and is functioning well. The office which was entered by the green door is closed for renovation - errrr...quite a normal occurence. For the time being pilgrims enter just a few yards down and are recieved as normal. There are now toilets for pilgrims which is a vast improvement on what was available previously.

If more pilgrims are expected this year than last year in what was a Holy Year I will eat my hat, stick and rucksack...it just isn't going to happen and in fact Santiago is quite quiet at the moment.

As for "unadulterated chaos" what a sad vision. Pilgrims turn up, queue up and get their Compostelas. I did just that the other day and felt very safe in presence of the current staff of the pilgrims' office.

I hope this reassures.


John

 

[fraluchi]

If more pilgrims are expected this year than last year in what was a Holy Year I will eat my hat, stick and rucksack...it just isn't going to happen and in fact Santiago is quite quiet at the moment.

>
It is not probable that we'll meet Johnny Walker with serious indigestion later in the year!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

In April there were about 5,000 fewer pilgrims this year than in 2010. I am going with Johnnie on this one, and will get out the salt for my hat just in case.