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How did you know about it? What sparked my curiosity was the fact that I recently read (or tried to read as it is in Spanish) a report by two young students from Madrid who walked from Roncesvalles to Santiago in the summer of 1976. A bit similar to your experience, upon arrival they had to answer some questions by a priest from the Santiago Cathedral and it was he who told them that they were entitled (orig: teníamos derecho) to eat and have dinner (comer y cenar) at the Parador during three days. 1976 was a Holy Year. They also write that he told them about their right to stay for three nights in a Franciscan convent but it's not clear to me whether this is in addition to three nights at the Parador or not.I was wondering the same about the date of the experience @Healthful describes. At the end of my first Camino in 1990 I was one of those who had the opportunity to take up the offer at the time of 3 meals per day for 3 days for up to 10 pilgrims each day.
Not sure how I first heard about it. I think it was mentioned in the UK's Confraternity of St James guide to the Camino Frances - a fairly small pamphlet which was essentially a supplement to the Valina guidebook listing places with refugios and a few other bits of useful information. Unfortunately I lost my copy of it sometime ago so I cannot check that out.How did you know about it?
@Healthful, just curious: In what year did you have a free breakfast at the Santiago Parador? I’m asking because what they offer for free, how you qualify for that offer and where they serve free meals in particular has considerably changed over the years. And by “over the years” I mean the years from 1970 onwards.
In our opinion, we feel that you should be grateful and give thanks. Ian and Helen.My story is that a friend and I had the free breakfast at the Parador. We were shown into a kind of back room and given the very basic breakfast, and no staff ever returned. My reaction was not one of annoyance or dissatisfaction. On the contrary, I felt like it was a very respectful, humbling, time-honored thing. I can't say the mood was somber--but it was kind of sobering in that it felt very much like a feeling of history. My companion and I did not speak much. I think it was all sinking in--the end of the walk, a last meal together and a free one at that, and again the history or time-honored tradition of this free meal in a little spartan room near the kitchen.
I didn't think we were being ignored or treated wrongly. On the contrary, they simply served us and trusted us enough to eat the free meal and take our leave.
P.s. Sorry for referring to a past thread. I just wanted to share a nice Camino experience. Thanks.
It would be a pity if this thread were to be closed, too. I'm quite interested in hearing about the traditions of the Camino de Santiago. I take it that you, @Ian and Helen Miller, could also enjoy this tradition of the Santiago Parador? Was it recently or some time in the past? Were there many other pilgrims with you or were you just a few or on your own?In our opinion, we feel that you should be grateful and give thanks. Ian and Helen.
It would be a pity if this thread were to be closed, too. I'm quite interested in hearing about the traditions of the Camino de Santiago. I take it that you, @Ian and Helen Miller, could also enjoy this tradition of the Santiago Parador? Was it recently or some time in the past? Were there many other pilgrims with you or were you just a few or on your own?
When I was a theology student I lived in a postgraduate residence which included a 12th century barrel vaulted cellar as the dining room. A long refectory table. Very atmospheric setting and a fascinating collection of fellow students from a wide range of disciplines and nationalities. Which made eating there a pleasure. Over the course of an academic year I put on more than 20 pounds in weightBut being from the USA, I was constantly enamored on the CF with all things "old" or traditional or historic, including this experience.
I dug up a newspaper photo of the free meal at the Parador in 2003. Only 7 pilgrims turned up on the day of the report. In those days, pilgrims used to get their food on a tray which you see in the photo. I understand it was the same food that the hotel staff had. The room was somewhere in the "bowels" of the Parador. The article says that the whole thing is based on an agreement between the hotel and the Pilgrims Office and signed by a cardinal of the Cathedral.
As far as I know, these days the pilgrims chosen for the day have their free meal in one of the hotel restaurants. Is that right?
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According to Rick Steve's Spain Travel Book 2019, the tradition stills continues but in a dining room near the kitchen.I dug up a newspaper photo of the free meal at the Parador in 2003. Only 7 pilgrims turned up on the day of the report. In those days, pilgrims used to get their food on a tray which you see in the photo. I understand it was the same food that the hotel staff had. The room was somewhere in the "bowels" of the Parador. The article says that the whole thing is based on an agreement between the hotel and the Pilgrims Office and signed by a cardinal of the Cathedral.
As far as I know, these days the pilgrims chosen for the day have their free meal in one of the hotel restaurants. Is that right?
View attachment 64578
Never heard that ... and I must admit it doesn't actually make much sense to me ...According to Rick Steve's Spain Travel Book 2019, the tradition stills continues but in a dining room near the kitchen.
Originally, the Pilgrim was given a cloak to mask their odor. When that didn't work, the Pilgrims were moved to a lower dining room near the staff kitchen. Perhaps this picture is the same one.
I especially welcome the holier-than-thou reminder.Threads will never be closed if people adhere to the rules, respect each others opinions even if they don't agree with them and try not to be holier than thou.
I walked the CP my first camino May 2018.David Gitlitz reports that he and his students were housed and fed for free for three days in 1974 at the Parador, according to "tradition and Fernando and Isabel's charter". They were put in a dormitory-like room with bunk beds and "encouraged not to lounge with the paying guests". He continues to say in his book that "with the rebirth of the mass pilgrimage, these traditions are no longer possible to uphold".
For anyone joining this thread: these days, the Pilgrims Office offers tickets for one meal to the first ten pilgrims arriving each day to collect their Compostela.
I'm keen to hear of the experience of others. And I hope we can agree to abstain from mere opinions on who should eat there under the present arrangements and who shouldn't.
I'llDavid Gitlitz reports that he and his students were housed and fed for free for three days in 1974 at the Parador, according to "tradition and Fernando and Isabel's charter". They were put in a dormitory-like room with bunk beds and "encouraged not to lounge with the paying guests". He continues to say in his book that "with the rebirth of the mass pilgrimage, these traditions are no longer possible to uphold".David Gitlitz reports that he and his students were housed and fed for free for three days in 1974 at the Parador, according to "tradition and Fernando and Isabel's charter". They were put in a dormitory-like room with bunk beds and "encouraged not to lounge with the paying guests". He continues to say in his book that "with the rebirth of the mass pilgrimage, these traditions are no longer possible to uphold".
For anyone joining this thread: these days, the Pilgrims Office offers tickets for one meal to the first ten pilgrims arriving each day to collect their Compostela.
I'm keen to hear of the experience of others. And I hope we can agree to abstain from mere opinions on who should eat there under the present arrangements and who shouldn't.
For anyone joining this thread: these days, the Pilgrims Office offers tickets for one meal to the first ten pilgrims arriving each day to collect their Compostela.
I'm keen to hear of the experience of others. And I hope we can agree to abstain from mere opinions on who should eat there under the present arrangements and who shouldn't.
David Gitlitz reports that he and his students were housed and fed for free for three days in 1974 at the Parador, according to "tradition and Fernando and Isabel's charter". They were put in a dormitory-like room with bunk beds and "encouraged not to lounge with the paying guests". He continues to say in his book that "with the rebirth of the mass pilgrimage, these traditions are no longer possible to uphold".
For anyone joining this thread: these days, the Pilgrims Office offers tickets for one meal to the first ten pilgrims arriving each day to collect their Compostela.
I'm keen to hear of the experience of others. And I hope we can agree to abstain from mere opinions on who should eat there under the present arrangements and who shouldn't.
David Gitlitz reports that he and his students were housed and fed for free for three days in 1974 at the Parador, according to "tradition and Fernando and Isabel's charter". They were put in a dormitory-like room with bunk beds and "encouraged not to lounge with the paying guests". He continues to say in his book that "with the rebirth of the mass pilgrimage, these traditions are no longer possible to uphold".
For anyone joining this thread: these days, the Pilgrims Office offers tickets for one meal to the first ten pilgrims arriving each day to collect their Compostela.
I'm keen to hear of the experience of others. And I hope we can agree to abstain from mere opinions on who should eat there under the present arrangements and who shouldn't.
David Gitlitz reports that he and his students were housed and fed for free for three days in 1974 at the Parador, according to "tradition and Fernando and Isabel's charter". They were put in a dormitory-like room with bunk beds and "encouraged not to lounge with the paying guests". He continues to say in his book that "with the rebirth of the mass pilgrimage, these traditions are no longer possible to uphold".
For anyone joining this thread: these days, the Pilgrims Office offers tickets for one meal to the first ten pilgrims arriving each day to collect their Compostela.
I'm keen to hear of the experience of others. And I hope we can agree to abstain from mere opinions on who should eat there under the present arrangements and who shouldn't.
The reason I said this, and I now wonder whether everyone is even aware of it, is this: the Santiago Parador was not always a luxury hotel or even a hotel. It was built to serve as: a pilgrims albergue; an orphanage for foundlings; a hospital. I had a quick look at the original layout.The pilgrim quarters were on the ground floor, immediately to the left when you enter through the main entrance. There was a purpose built refectory (dining room) next to their quarters (where they could stay for three days).Never heard that ... and I must admit it doesn't actually make much sense to me .... I would love to know the primary source for that.
Great. I'd like to do this tour next time I'm in Santiago. I know I could have waited to find out then but it's just good to know in advance. ☺Both Spanish and English
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