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Sounds like the life I am currently creating, working towards.We are kicking around an idea for camino hospitality and I wonder if some of you can help me hash it out.
The Camino ethos, at least among some of us hardcore hospitaleros, is based on donativo albergues, simple shelters with minimal facilities, watched-over by volunteer hospitaleros.
Some hardy souls out in the wildlife-rich wilderness of Spain and Portugal have found a disused camino road, and are re-developing its old infrastructure of priests' houses and town-hall meeting rooms. About 40 pilgrims a year now use this 200-km. path, which connects Zamora to Verin, via Braganza. It is waymarked and GPS-tracked, but there are still a couple of gaps in the line of albergues... which makes for at least one 40km. day... but those should be filled-in within the year. The road has much to commend it. Once it's all announced, it is projected to attract about 1,400 to 3,000 pilgrims per year. Every one of the albergues will subscribe to the donativo principle!
The albergues are small, the towns are small, there's not a whole lot of pilgrim action. Whoever watches the place would need to cover his own costs for food and transportation (there are daily buses), take care of the pilgrims who show up, keep the albergue clean and maintain good relations with the town. There is little need for teams of hospis in places so small, so the volunteer would likely be there on his own. This is Deep Spain, he'd need to speak Spanish. He'd need to be reasonably healthy. And he'd need to be willing to work without monetary recompense.
It wouldn't make sense to turn over the hospis every two weeks. These are shaping-up as longer-term gigs, a month or two or three, or even an entire pilgrim season... or year-round for the truly dedicated hermit.
This would seem to be a good gig for a student working on a thesis, or an author working on a book, or a retiree looking for a low-cost living experience in a faraway world. Or a religious solitary in search of silence, but dedicated to hospitality. Or someone in love with the "my own albergue" ideal who wants to try out the full-on hospitalero life before he buys a house in Spain?
What do you think, pilgrims? Do these people exist, or are we just dreaming? Where will we find them?
We are kicking around an idea for camino hospitality and I wonder if some of you can help me hash it out.
The Camino ethos, at least among some of us hardcore hospitaleros, is based on donativo albergues, simple shelters with minimal facilities, watched-over by volunteer hospitaleros.
Some hardy souls out in the wildlife-rich wilderness of Spain and Portugal have found a disused camino road, and are re-developing its old infrastructure of priests' houses and town-hall meeting rooms. About 40 pilgrims a year now use this 200-km. path, which connects Zamora to Verin, via Braganza. It is waymarked and GPS-tracked, but there are still a couple of gaps in the line of albergues... which makes for at least one 40km. day... but those should be filled-in within the year. The road has much to commend it. Once it's all announced, it is projected to attract about 1,400 to 3,000 pilgrims per year. Every one of the albergues will subscribe to the donativo principle!
The albergues are small, the towns are small, there's not a whole lot of pilgrim action. Whoever watches the place would need to cover his own costs for food and transportation (there are daily buses), take care of the pilgrims who show up, keep the albergue clean and maintain good relations with the town. There is little need for teams of hospis in places so small, so the volunteer would likely be there on his own. This is Deep Spain, he'd need to speak Spanish. He'd need to be reasonably healthy. And he'd need to be willing to work without monetary recompense.
It wouldn't make sense to turn over the hospis every two weeks. These are shaping-up as longer-term gigs, a month or two or three, or even an entire pilgrim season... or year-round for the truly dedicated hermit.
This would seem to be a good gig for a student working on a thesis, or an author working on a book, or a retiree looking for a low-cost living experience in a faraway world. Or a religious solitary in search of silence, but dedicated to hospitality. Or someone in love with the "my own albergue" ideal who wants to try out the full-on hospitalero life before he buys a house in Spain?
What do you think, pilgrims? Do these people exist, or are we just dreaming? Where will we find them?
Sounds good. I wish! Maybe... as a good friend says: not saying no...We are kicking around an idea for camino hospitality and I wonder if some of you can help me hash it out.
The Camino ethos, at least among some of us hardcore hospitaleros, is based on donativo albergues, simple shelters with minimal facilities, watched-over by volunteer hospitaleros.
Some hardy souls out in the wildlife-rich wilderness of Spain and Portugal have found a disused camino road, and are re-developing its old infrastructure of priests' houses and town-hall meeting rooms. About 40 pilgrims a year now use this 200-km. path, which connects Zamora to Verin, via Braganza. It is waymarked and GPS-tracked, but there are still a couple of gaps in the line of albergues... which makes for at least one 40km. day... but those should be filled-in within the year. The road has much to commend it. Once it's all announced, it is projected to attract about 1,400 to 3,000 pilgrims per year. Every one of the albergues will subscribe to the donativo principle!
The albergues are small, the towns are small, there's not a whole lot of pilgrim action. Whoever watches the place would need to cover his own costs for food and transportation (there are daily buses), take care of the pilgrims who show up, keep the albergue clean and maintain good relations with the town. There is little need for teams of hospis in places so small, so the volunteer would likely be there on his own. This is Deep Spain, he'd need to speak Spanish. He'd need to be reasonably healthy. And he'd need to be willing to work without monetary recompense.
It wouldn't make sense to turn over the hospis every two weeks. These are shaping-up as longer-term gigs, a month or two or three, or even an entire pilgrim season... or year-round for the truly dedicated hermit.
This would seem to be a good gig for a student working on a thesis, or an author working on a book, or a retiree looking for a low-cost living experience in a faraway world. Or a religious solitary in search of silence, but dedicated to hospitality. Or someone in love with the "my own albergue" ideal who wants to try out the full-on hospitalero life before he buys a house in Spain?
What do you think, pilgrims? Do these people exist, or are we just dreaming? Where will we find them?
@t2andreo don't just dream....start working on the Spanish, do the training and volunteer at another albergue...by the time you've done that, someone may have sorted student visa issues and you'll be ready to go.
I think there are certainly people out there who would respond to this opportunity. Phil attended the Encuentro de Hospitaleros last year and there were many in attendance plus hundreds more who could not attend due to timing and limitations of the host facility in Javier. It sounds like a wonderful experience. Caring for pilgrims is an awesome responsibility and I know that you will chose people more carefully than just those needing a cheap place to stay or a quiet place to study while writing a thesis. When I was a hospitalera in Zamora in Dec 2017, we had a pilgrim who had come from Santiago presumably backwards down this route through a portion of Portugal to us. He described staying a lot in firestations and said the way was not well marked especially for going backwards. He did not have a phone or gps and was really an old school type pilgrim with a long beard and a staff (looked a little like Gandolf from Lord of the Rings).The albergue chain will be finished next year. We are still working out this idea. Nothing is written in stone, but I've overseen enough albergue operations with international staff to know some of the things to avoid! I am very reassured that some fine hermits are out there. I know at least one of the albergues will be large enough to accommodate a couple.
Much remains to be worked-out. We all can take our time and develop the skills and paperwork we might require.
Do think about this idea, and please come back and post your thoughts and ideas. I cannot do it without you!
We are kicking around an idea for camino hospitality and I wonder if some of you can help me hash it out.
The Camino ethos, at least among some of us hardcore hospitaleros, is based on donativo albergues, simple shelters with minimal facilities, watched-over by volunteer hospitaleros.
Some hardy souls out in the wildlife-rich wilderness of Spain and Portugal have found a disused camino road, and are re-developing its old infrastructure of priests' houses and town-hall meeting rooms. About 40 pilgrims a year now use this 200-km. path, which connects Zamora to Verin, via Braganza. It is waymarked and GPS-tracked, but there are still a couple of gaps in the line of albergues... which makes for at least one 40km. day... but those should be filled-in within the year. The road has much to commend it. Once it's all announced, it is projected to attract about 1,400 to 3,000 pilgrims per year. Every one of the albergues will subscribe to the donativo principle!
The albergues are small, the towns are small, there's not a whole lot of pilgrim action. Whoever watches the place would need to cover his own costs for food and transportation (there are daily buses), take care of the pilgrims who show up, keep the albergue clean and maintain good relations with the town. There is little need for teams of hospis in places so small, so the volunteer would likely be there on his own. This is Deep Spain, he'd need to speak Spanish. He'd need to be reasonably healthy. And he'd need to be willing to work without monetary recompense.
It wouldn't make sense to turn over the hospis every two weeks. These are shaping-up as longer-term gigs, a month or two or three, or even an entire pilgrim season... or year-round for the truly dedicated hermit.
This would seem to be a good gig for a student working on a thesis, or an author working on a book, or a retiree looking for a low-cost living experience in a faraway world. Or a religious solitary in search of silence, but dedicated to hospitality. Or someone in love with the "my own albergue" ideal who wants to try out the full-on hospitalero life before he buys a house in Spain?
What do you think, pilgrims? Do these people exist, or are we just dreaming? Where will we find them?
We are kicking around an idea for camino hospitality and I wonder if some of you can help me hash it out.
The Camino ethos, at least among some of us hardcore hospitaleros, is based on donativo albergues, simple shelters with minimal facilities, watched-over by volunteer hospitaleros.
Some hardy souls out in the wildlife-rich wilderness of Spain and Portugal have found a disused camino road, and are re-developing its old infrastructure of priests' houses and town-hall meeting rooms. About 40 pilgrims a year now use this 200-km. path, which connects Zamora to Verin, via Braganza. It is waymarked and GPS-tracked, but there are still a couple of gaps in the line of albergues... which makes for at least one 40km. day... but those should be filled-in within the year. The road has much to commend it. Once it's all announced, it is projected to attract about 1,400 to 3,000 pilgrims per year. Every one of the albergues will subscribe to the donativo principle!
The albergues are small, the towns are small, there's not a whole lot of pilgrim action. Whoever watches the place would need to cover his own costs for food and transportation (there are daily buses), take care of the pilgrims who show up, keep the albergue clean and maintain good relations with the town. There is little need for teams of hospis in places so small, so the volunteer would likely be there on his own. This is Deep Spain, he'd need to speak Spanish. He'd need to be reasonably healthy. And he'd need to be willing to work without monetary recompense.
It wouldn't make sense to turn over the hospis every two weeks. These are shaping-up as longer-term gigs, a month or two or three, or even an entire pilgrim season... or year-round for the truly dedicated hermit.
This would seem to be a good gig for a student working on a thesis, or an author working on a book, or a retiree looking for a low-cost living experience in a faraway world. Or a religious solitary in search of silence, but dedicated to hospitality. Or someone in love with the "my own albergue" ideal who wants to try out the full-on hospitalero life before he buys a house in Spain?
What do you think, pilgrims? Do these people exist, or are we just dreaming? Where will we find them?
Do you have a list yet of where the albergues are likely to be? I'd be interested in looking at the different town/village locations...
Many thanks Raggy, very interesting and informativeMap of route:
https://www.soutochao.com/camino-de-santiago/
Videos:
I have been looking at the existing accommodation possibilities since I am hoping to walk this route in September 2019:
STAGE 1
Zamora to Muelas del Pan 37.3km
(Casa Rural El Vedal)
[No accommodation before Muelas - Some people camp midway near Almendra]
** There is an effort to convert a disused building in Almendra to an albergue. You can find articles in La Opinion about it.
STAGE 2
Muelas del Pan to Fonfría 22.4km
(Albergue Municip. Fonfria)
STAGE 3
Fonfría to Alcañices 20.8km
(Albergue Municip. Alcañices)
STAGE 4
Alcañices to Quintanilha 25.5km
(Albergue Quintanilha)
STAGE 5
Quintanilha to Bragança 26.0km
(Room at Fire Station or Hotels in Bragança)
STAGE 6
Bragança to Vinhais 28.3km
(Room at Fire Station or cabins at an eco-resort Parque biológico Vinhais)
STAGE 7
Vinhais to Edral 18.3km
(Roof and floor at a day centre for the aged Casa De Dia Edral)
STAGE 8.1
Edral to Vilarvdevós 22.9km
(Hostal - Meson Muxia)
STAGE 8.2
Vilardevós to Verin 13.5km
(Albergue Xunta Verin)
After Verin - Can walk 17km to Laza and join Sanabres or continue on the path less travelled via Vlla del Rei, Xinzo de Lima, Sandias, and Allariz (which all have albergues of some description), to Ourense.
Raggy, I've just watched the videos and they're beautiful, very evocative of the Via which I walked a couple of years ago. I hope you have a great time on your Camino.Map of route:
https://www.soutochao.com/camino-de-santiago/
Videos:
I have been looking at the existing accommodation possibilities since I am hoping to walk this route in September 2019:
STAGE 1
Zamora to Muelas del Pan 37.3km
(Casa Rural El Vedal)
[No accommodation before Muelas - Some people camp midway near Almendra]
** There is an effort to convert a disused building in Almendra to an albergue. You can find articles in La Opinion about it.
STAGE 2
Muelas del Pan to Fonfría 22.4km
(Albergue Municip. Fonfria)
STAGE 3
Fonfría to Alcañices 20.8km
(Albergue Municip. Alcañices)
STAGE 4
Alcañices to Quintanilha 25.5km
(Albergue Quintanilha)
STAGE 5
Quintanilha to Bragança 26.0km
(Room at Fire Station or Hotels in Bragança)
STAGE 6
Bragança to Vinhais 28.3km
(Room at Fire Station or cabins at an eco-resort Parque biológico Vinhais)
STAGE 7
Vinhais to Edral 18.3km
(Roof and floor at a day centre for the aged Casa De Dia Edral)
STAGE 8.1
Edral to Vilarvdevós 22.9km
(Hostal - Meson Muxia)
STAGE 8.2
Vilardevós to Verin 13.5km
(Albergue Xunta Verin)
After Verin - Can walk 17km to Laza and join Sanabres or continue on the path less travelled via Vlla del Rei, Xinzo de Lima, Sandias, and Allariz (which all have albergues of some description), to Ourense.
Credit for the first video goes to Bjørg Tvetene SæterThese videos are gorgeous. And they're enhanced by beautiful music. @Raggy are they yours or the fruits of your research? I'm so glad I watched them, they make me wish I were there right now.
I am absolutely no help because I have none of those things...but am yelling heartfelt encouragement from the sidelines, Reb. This looks so fantastic.A few things are coming clear already: the need for solid pilgrimage and hospitalero experience, good Spanish, and ability to stay legally in the country.
OK, Hermits to be! Your moment has arrived! The little hermitage at Ricobayo is ready to open at the end of May, and it needs a hospitalero who can stay some weeks or months, even.
It is in a unique structure, a rebuilt dovecote! There are six pilgrim beds and a bunkbed pair for the hospitalero, a single bathroom/shower, a little kitchen.
Ricobayo is a little town on the edge of a big reservoir and a huge nature reserve; it is part of the Muelas de Pan municipality. There's a beach, two bars, a hotel, and a pension in town, and daily bus service to Zamora. You can get a good look at it via Google Maps. I will post some photos of the albergue if there's any real interest.
If you are serious about taking this up, please let me know ASAP and I will put you in touch with the guy in charge.
... This is Deep Spain, he'd need to speak Spanish. He'd need to be reasonably healthy. And he'd need to be willing to work without monetary recompense.
...
I shall arrive there in a few days. Just out of curiosity: what’s the hostal’s name and how much did it cost? I understand I’m arriving too early to appreciate the albergue?Hi all, I stayed in Ricobayo earlier this week in the Hostal next door to the albergue. I hope all is still on schedule for the opening of this municipal. Ricobayo is a lovely village indeed and an ideal stop on this Camino.
Would be great if you can take a photo to show us. When it opens, I imagine that it will probably be donativo, like the albergue in Alcañices. This article refers to it simply as El Palomar (the dovecote).I shall arrive there in a few days. Just out of curiosity: what’s the hostal’s name and how much did it cost? I understand I’m arriving too early to appreciate the albergue?
I shall arrive there in a few days. Just out of curiosity: what’s the hostal’s name and how much did it cost? I understand I’m arriving too early to appreciate the albergue?
[/QUOTE]Would be great if you can take a photo to show us. When it opens, I imagine that it will probably be donativo, like the albergue in Alcañices. This article refers to it simply as El Palomar (the dovecote).
Ricobayo transformará el Palomar en albergue del Camino Portugués
El proyecto, promovido por el Ayuntamiento de Muelas, tiene un coste de 12.000 euros que cofinanciarán la Consejería de Cultura y Adatawww.laopiniondezamora.es
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