"Couchsurfing" for pilgrims only

[Emia]

Hola amigas y amigos!

Maybe this is just another one of my very bad, useless and impractical ideas. But sometimes you win and sometimes you loose, so I'll give it a try anyway.

This is such an adorable and lovely community with english speaking members from all over the world.

I have this dream

To open our hearts AND our private homes for fellow pilgrims. I haven't really thought about the logistics, the rules, the agreements etc. yet. I can only speak for myself, but I would be delighted to host one or two fellow pilgrims for a couple of days. I live in a very small village in Germany, but there is a trainstation and you can walk for days on end through the woods.

The pilgrims buy their own tickets (bus, train, plane), but the host pays for bed, bath and bread. Maybe Wolfstein/Germany isn't really the place to be but I would love to welcome some fellow pilgrims.

Any reactions/ideas/feedback?

 

[peregrina2000]

There was a forum discussion about this a while back. Miraculously, I was able to find it! https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-bnb-probably-a-crazy-idea.42628/#post-438378

 

[HeidiL]

That's a great idea. I have been thinking about doing something similar for pilgrims who are setting out on the path to Nidaros/Trondheim here in Oslo, but most of them walk in the summer, when I am so often away on holidays...

Good luck to you and your guests!

 

[Rebekah Scott]

It's going on all over the world, all the time. Quietly, sweetly, hospitality continues. It's when you "go public" and splash it everywhere that the rot sets in...

 

[SabsP]

Like Rebekah says; the moment when you make such an initiative " formal " all kind of issues emerge.
Friends of friends know they can call me when they need a couch here. And I accidentally met a pilgrim on my local road some years ago and I stopped her and she stayed the night in our house.
So my advice is : just go with the flow...
Don't forget that local confraternities of St James already have local chapters where ex pilgrims open their houses for long distance pilgrims. This is the case already in Holland and here in Belgium. Also France and I guess many other countries too.

 

[mspath]

Here in France there is a often a Chain of Local ( donativo ) Hospitality offered for passing pilgrims. See more in French here.
Those who offer such hospitality do so for the pleasure of meeting/greeting pilgrims as well as helping them find their way.

For example my husband and I live in a small Champagne village, facing the Marne river.
We have a b & b but now also provided simple family hosting for passing pilgrims. My first pilgrim shell hangs at our door marking the path.

Check to see if such a Chain of Local Hospitality/ l'Accueil pèlerins à domicile exists where you might wish to travel in France.

Good luck, Bon chemin and Buen camino!

 

[Emia]

It's going on all over the world, all the time. Quietly, sweetly, hospitality continues. It's when you "go public" and splash it everywhere that the rot sets in...

Okay, I get your point

 

[SYates]

@Emia For German pilgrims see http://www.caminosantiago.eu/pilgerforum/threads/pilger-beherbergen-pilger.178 and for others - you are always welcome at my place in Santiago, see signature ;-) Buen Camino de la Vida, SY

 

[A Sime]

I also did couchsurfing in Lillehammer and Trondheim in 2015 for a total of 5 nights. It was my first true couchsurfing experience and the experience turned me into a welcoming host at my end of the world. Though it was through the Couch surfing app, it was with other pilgrims who also needed a place to stay and both hosts welcomed us, learned about the pilgrimage, and shared around the dining table. I remember those nights fondly.

 

[mcopeland]

Hola amigas y amigos!

Maybe this is just another one of my very bad, useless and impractical ideas. But sometimes you win and sometimes you loose, so I'll give it a try anyway.
Maybe Wolfstein/Germany isn't really the place to be but I would love to welcome some fellow pilgrims.
Any reactions/ideas/feedback?

I'm thinking you mean outside of camino walking. I think it's a great idea! Maybe Ivar could set up a place where folks could offer or look for a place. We have been couchsurfers and hosted, and any from this Forum would be welcome to stay at our country place in Central Texas. We will be walking the Portuguese mid October through November, with a couple of weeks afterwards for visiting Madrid, Lourdes and Paris. It would be great to meet fellow pilgrims in these places. Too bad we're not coming to Germany (this time!).

 

[KinkyOne]

It has been discussed here on the forum almost a year ago:
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...obal-pilgrim-bnb-probably-a-crazy-idea.42628/

 

[mcopeland]

It has been discussed here on the forum almost a year ago:
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...obal-pilgrim-bnb-probably-a-crazy-idea.42628/

So did anything come of this? Was there a folder created for it?

 

[Sailor]

Okay, I get your point

Thank you for opening your door to your fellow pilgrims, you have a good heart. Here is a short sea story for you. About four decades ago I showed up to register for a full marathon and had no place to sleep [the race was the next morning], a total stranger [good Samaritan] did offer me a ride and a place to stay for the night at his home, very early the next morning he gave me a ride to the starting line. We ran the 42km marathon. That good Samaritan finished in first place overall. The Lord helps those with a good heart. Good luck y que la luz de Dios alumbre su camino.

 

[KinkyOne]

So did anything come of this? Was there a folder created for it?

Not that I know of. It just ended like this. As I remember there were few doubts about that and all was left for our own initiative to connect in private conversations on offer a bed etc.

 

[tpmchugh]

Hola amigas y amigos!

Maybe this is just another one of my very bad, useless and impractical ideas. But sometimes you win and sometimes you loose, so I'll give it a try anyway.

This is such an adorable and lovely community with english speaking members from all over the world.

I have this dream

To open our hearts AND our private homes for fellow pilgrims. I haven't really thought about the logistics, the rules, the agreements etc. yet. I can only speak for myself, but I would be delighted to host one or two fellow pilgrims for a couple of days. I live in a very small village in Germany, but there is a trainstation and you can walk for days on end through the woods.

The pilgrims buy their own tickets (bus, train, plane), but the host pays for bed, bath and bread. Maybe Wolfstein/Germany isn't really the place to be but I would love to welcome some fellow pilgrims.

Any reactions/ideas/feedback?

Great idea but personally would have to pass. My wife is very tolerant of me going back to the camino but she might get a bit upset if I told her I was off again to Germany. Would love to though