Dear Isabelle 304: or, How one should behave in an albergue

[lovingkindness]

27/11/2009

Dear Isabelle 304, from France/UK. I have just arrived at the Tabara albergue and find that the tomato sauce, the butter and other edible supplies which you generously left behind in the refrigerator have all been eaten, the four rolls of toilet paper which you kindly donated greatfully used, the hygienic mattress covers which you purchased for €2 from the church are still in place on the barren beds, and the floors which you found sparkling clean are much the same (lets not comment on what I found in the bathroom). And Isabelle, thanks for the advice which you left in the Peregrinos Libros and your thoughtfullness in adding a translation for those of us who are linguistically challenged, (Peregrinos Libros 04/11/09). Regards, Lovingkindness.

 

[isabelle304]

LovingKindness - It's great to know that the stuff I left behind was used/found useful by others. (By the way, those disposable mattress covers were not left by me but by other pilgrims - I took mine away for future use).

I thought Tabara was a great albergue - did not look like much from outside but inside it was comfortable - very clean, spacious, sufficient heating, great kitchen and even a television! I was surprised to read various negative comments in the Peregrinos Libro from earlier in the year, complaining about dirt etc... When I stayed there it was certainly spotless. I'd happily stay there again.

They do need to have a notice on the door though informing pilgrims where they can find the key. The key I eventually got, I was given by the street-sweeping lady :shock: , who happened to see me walking back from the albergue towards the centre of the town (on my way to find a hostal!). Apparently some guide books do say where the key can be found (ayuntamiento, or Tabacos shop, or church ) but I did not have that information - and the ayuntamiento was closed when I arrived.

Take care

Isabelle

 

[skilsaw]

They do need to have a notice on the door though informing pilgrims where they can find the key. The key I eventually got, I was given by the street-sweeping lady :shock: , who happened to see me walking back from the albergue towards the centre of the town (on my way to find a hostal!). Apparently some guide books do say where the key can be found (ayuntamiento, or Tabacos shop, or church ) but I did not have that information - and the ayuntamiento was closed when I arrived.

A quick question on Albergue etiquette--- Where do you leave the key in the morning after having to find the key the night before? The couple of times on the Via de la Plata that we had to get a key, we left it on the table in the Albergue and left the door unlocked.

David, Victoria, Canada.

 

[isabelle304]

A quick question on Albergue etiquette--- Where do you leave the key in the morning after having to find the key the night before? The couple of times on the Via de la Plata that we had to get a key, we left it on the table in the Albergue and left the door unlocked.

David, Victoria, Canada.

It varies - best thing to do is to ask the person giving you the key where they want you to leave it in the morning. I was often told to lock the door and then slip the key in the albergue's letterbox. In the case of those doors that auto-lock behind you, I was told to leave the key inside and just pull the door on my way out. A few times but rarely, I was asked to take the key back where I got it from (eg in Aldea del Cano: the bar; in Cernadilla: the Alcalde's house; in Laza: the Proteccion Civil office). And occasionally, I was told just to leave the door shut but unlocked, with the key in the inside lock.

Isabelle

 

[sillydoll]

We read a dreadful report about the state of the albergue in Tiebas (Aragones route) and planned to avoid it. But one short day meant that we headed for Tiebas at the end of a long day. The 'albergue' is part of the Communidad Complex - a community hall, a small room with three double bunks, open plan kitchen with a pine table and chairs, showers and toilet.
There is no hospitalero, a stamp pad on the kitcen counter and a donativo box on the wall.
When we arrived it was a bit dirty and the shower and toilet floors were flooded. We found brooms and mops, swept and mopped floors, wiped down the shower walls, shook out the blankets and mattress covers, cleaned up the kitchen, put a pretty dishcloth and some flowers in a plastic cup on the table. It looked just great! I'm sure the next lot of peregrinos were pleasantly surprised.
Treat staying in the albergues as visiting with old friends. Would you leave their home in a mess? Would you leave the shower full of hair and floors awash, or leave your old plasters, sweet papers, and other rubbish in the guest bedroom?
If everyone does their bit there needn't be untidy, dirty albergues.