Closures in Foncebadon

MightyFree · Aug 16, 2023

The end of a long day here in Foncebadon and experienced the first “bed rush” of the Camino. Both Monte Irago and Posada inexplicably closed with no explanation (locals have no idea either) while Convento and Cruz de Ferro fully booked. Restaurants all closed as well (including Pizzeria which sadly is always closed Wednesdays). Tienda and restaurant Trasgu closed early as well. Literally nothing to eat in the entire town and some of us are very grumpy bunnies!

Needless to say, plan ahead for Foncebadon and don’t come hungry on a Wednesday!

Bradypus · Aug 16, 2023

It might not be a Wednesday issue. Today is the feast day of San Roque. Quite a big event for many Spanish people. Perhaps that is part of the problem

Bala · Aug 17, 2023

Bradypus said:
It might not be a Wednesday issue. Today is the feast day of San Roque. Quite a big event for many Spanish people. Perhaps that is part of the problem

The 15th was also the Feast of the Assumption, a special Holy Day in the Catholic Church and several other Christian denominations. I would suspect that, along with San Roque, would be the reason for the restaurants and businesses closing, although I wouldn't think albergues would close. I'm surprised the locals wouldn't be aware of these feast days, though.

MightyFree · Aug 17, 2023

Bradypus said:
It might not be a Wednesday issue. Today is the feast day of San Roque. Quite a big event for many Spanish people. Perhaps that is part of the

Bala said:
The 15th was also the Feast of the Assumption, a special Holy Day in the Catholic Church and several other Christian denominations. I would suspect that, along with San Roque, would be the reason for the restaurants and businesses closing, although I wouldn't think albergues would close. I'm surprised the locals wouldn't be aware of these feast days, though.

The entire town showed up at Restaurante convento for dinner (they close at 8) and there wasn’t enough to go around.

Most of these albergues are open all summer or “todo el año” so closing for 5 days seems a bit more than an observance of assumption but who knows. Turns out one albergue, Monte Irago, had emergency repairs that needed attending to.

Take away is don’t assume things will be open in Foncebadon even if there are 5 albergues. It’s a very inconvenient place to get caught out!

Kathar1na · Aug 17, 2023

The 15th of August was a national public holiday in Spain, like in numerous other European countries,

It will be a public holiday again next year.

JohnLloyd · Aug 17, 2023

MightyFree said:
The entire town showed up at Restaurante convento for dinner (they close at 8) and there wasn’t enough to go around.

Most of these albergues are open all summer or “todo el año” so closing for 5 days seems a bit more than an observance of assumption but who knows. Turns out one albergue, Monte Irago, had emergency repairs that needed attending to.

Take away is don’t assume things will be open in Foncebadon even if there are 5 albergues. It’s a very inconvenient place to get caught out!

I remember the state we were in when we finally made it to Foncebadon, and where I discovered the delights of Pineapple Soleros (I had three in an hour).

And then there were the epic Pilgrim burgers from La Taberna de Gaia that night.

If it weren't for those treats, the morning ascent to Cruz de Ferro would have been very different.

FourSeasons · Aug 17, 2023

JohnLloyd said:
I remember the state we were in when we finally made it to Foncebadon, and where I discovered the delights of Pineapple Soleros (I had three in an hour).

And then there were the epic Pilgrim burgers from La Taberna de Gaia that night.

If it weren't for those treats, the morning ascent to Cruz de Ferro would have been very different.

View attachment 154791

Buen Camino indeed.

Bala · Aug 17, 2023

JohnLloyd said:
I remember the state we were in when we finally made it to Foncebadon, and where I discovered the delights of Pineapple Soleros (I had three in an hour).

And then there were the epic Pilgrim burgers from La Taberna de Gaia that night.

If it weren't for those treats, the morning ascent to Cruz de Ferro would have been very different.

View attachment 154791

Those are quite the burgers!!

Susan Peacock · Aug 17, 2023

This isn’t a Foncebadon problem, it’s a holiday issue. I have been in other towns during big holidays and couldn’t find food. I suggest pilgrims know the holidays and plan accordingly.

JohnLloyd · Aug 17, 2023

Bala said:
Those are quite the burgers!!

It’s what the pilgrims traditionally ate, or so we were led to believe

MYork · Aug 17, 2023

Will there be similar closures for October 12 (National Day of Spain) and November 1 (All Saint’s Day)?

Susan Peacock · Aug 17, 2023

MYork said:
Will there be similar closures for October 12 (National Day of Spain) and November 1 (All Saint’s Day)?

I was there on Oct 12, 2021 and the town and restaurants were filled with tourist during the day. There were closed places, but I actually thought they weren't open post-COVID. I may have been mistaken.

MightyFree · Aug 19, 2023

Susan Peacock said:
This isn’t a Foncebadon problem, it’s a holiday issue. I have been in other towns during big holidays and couldn’t find food. I suggest pilgrims know the holidays and plan accordingly.

It was a Wednesday problem, the local holidays are pretty hard to know in advance without exhaustive research.
Everything was closed the following day in Molinaseca due to a local event, but nobody more than 10k away had any idea.

MightyFree · Aug 19, 2023

MYork said:
Will there be similar closures for October 12 (National Day of Spain) and November 1 (All Saint’s Day)?

Kathar1na said:
The 15th of August was a national public holiday in Spain, like in numerous other European countries,

It will be a public holiday again next year.

it was the 16th

donalomahony · Aug 19, 2023

Saint Roch - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The 16th August is the feast of San Roque and celebrated in some parts of Spain.

Each of Spains 17 autonomous communities will have their own regional variations, and within each community even more local ones! I generally enjoy the local fiestas!

Thornley · Aug 20, 2023

To All Oldies;
65 plus ;
Astorga ...........21km plus up hill at the end............please stop @ Rabanal
Great little town
Rabanal ..........25km to Molinaseca .......down hill except for the lovely early 6km walk into Foncababon .
Stop for late lunch
Now continue a not so nice or the new more enjoyable path to Ponferrada .
Book into The Parador
1/ You deserve it as the walk into Molinaseca from Acebo is not as easy as people make out.
2/ There's no pockets in the shroud
3/ Within 3 days when you are climbing O'Cebreiro you'll wish you had
4/ Within 5 days when you get the crowd @ Sarria you definitely wish you had.

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Closures in Foncebadon

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