El Ganso Earlier Today

[Bob Howard]

Just got to Rabanal. Started May 20. It is not crowded. No traffic jams or conga lines. But I’m not here to argue about “crowd” hysteria—I’ve done that enough over the last few years and likely irritated a few veteran Forum members.

Instead, I’m just reporting on something I saw today, although maybe it has already been mentioned on the Forum.

After being closed for the last few years, the El Ganso Cowboy Bar is open with new proprietors.
No bartender smoking and questionable hygiene. The new couple there have thoroughly cleaned up the place, including the aseos. Food now consistent with other good Camino bars. Previously, I would stop at the adjacent bar (to the right) in lieu of the old Cowboy Bar which seemed rather yucky. Being from cowboy country in Colorado, I like the idea of it even though it does seem gimmicky—kind of like the Elvis bar.

 

[C clearly]

Thanks for the update!

I’ve done that enough over the last few years and likely irritated a few veteran Forum members.

That is pretty much guaranteed, since there are veteran members on all sides of every issue.

 

[trecile]

I stayed in the albergue next door two days ago and stopped into the Cowboy bar for an Aquarius.

 

[Caomhin O Fearghaill]

Glad to hear El Ganso's Meson Cowboy is open again....was that the place where they rang a bell as perigrinos approached, or am I thinking of somewhere else?. The old place was a bit scruffy but welcoming, I was always glad to stop for a coffee.....the new place looks great..an improvement.

 

[KDub]

I gave the bartender a Texas flag sticker back in 2019… guess I need to go back now

 

[rioja routard]

Is there still an albergue there by the river with a donation box?

 

[Tickbush]

Just got to Rabanal. Started May 20. It is not crowded. No traffic jams or conga lines. But I’m not here to argue about “crowd” hysteria—I’ve done that enough over the last few years and likely irritated a few veteran Forum members.

Instead, I’m just reporting on something I saw today, although maybe it has already been mentioned on the Forum.

After being closed for the last few years, the El Ganso Cowboy Bar is open with new proprietors.
No bartender smoking and questionable hygiene. The new couple there have thoroughly cleaned up the place, including the aseos. Food now consistent with other good Camino bars. Previously, I would stop at the adjacent bar (to the right) in lieu of the old Cowboy Bar which seemed rather yucky. Being from cowboy country in Colorado, I like the idea of it even though it does seem gimmicky—kind of like the Elvis bar.

I'm in El Ganso tonight. I thought I would stay in a tipi at The Indian Way, but they had to close a few days ago. The government insists that they have parking spaces inside the tipi compound. Mind you, this albergue is only for pilgrims, so they certainly don't need parking. It sounds like they were just looking for an excuse to shut them down. It's too bad, because it looked like a nice place to stay.

 

[trecile]

I'm in El Ganso tonight. I thought I would stay in a tipi at The Indian Way, but they had to close a few days ago.

I really wanted to stay there too. The day that I was in El Ganso was the first day that they were closed.

 

[Bob Howard]

Trecile, did you happen to take a photo of the reconfigured Cruz de Ferro?

I really wanted to stay there too. The day that I was in El Ganso was the first day that they were closed.

 

[Anamiri]

Trecile, did you happen to take a photo of the reconfigured Cruz de Ferro?

I have one, once I've sorted myself , I'll post one. Not many people in the shot, as a drone was flying and most people were put off by this.

 

[Gerard Griffin]

Another piece of the Camino bites the dust. I liked the cowboy bar the way it was and enjoyed having a smoke with the grumpy proprietor and complaining about the pilgrims.
As for pilgrims who sleep in tipis needing parking spaces ...

 

[Frankybaby66]

I stayed in the albergue next door two days ago and stopped into the Cowboy bar for an Aquarius.

View attachment 172413

Wow! That's an improvement!

 

[Hans-Georg Goebel]

I stayed in the albergue next door two days ago and stopped into the Cowboy bar for an Aquarius.

View attachment 172413

I stayed in the nearby Pension at the end of May and ate a small snack in the bar in the evening. Everything was fine for me.