Hospitalera now in Ponferrada

[LTfit]

After spending a few days and New Year's Eve in Santiago I am now in Ponferrada for two weeks.

I will not be writing a running commentary about my hospitalera work here but would love to meet any Forum members should you be on the Francés now.

There have been between 3 and 27 pilgrims staying here over the last two weeks so you will not have a problem getting a bed!

 

[Former member 49149]

Hope it all goes well for you and your pilgrim arrivals..

 

[nycwalking]

I was a hospie there back in 2002 for two weeks, and for one day in 2014: loved it. I hope you do as well.

Enjoy!

 

[LTfit]

I was a hospie there back in 2002 for two weeks, and for one day in 2014: loved it. I hope you do as well.

Enjoy!

Thanks! The albergue is quite familiar to me. I was hospi here during Semana Santa 2015 and must have slept here already 5x.

It has been very quiet over the first 2 days with only 7 pilgrims each day (down from around 20 around Christmas time). This makes cleaning a dream!

No snow up in the surrounding mountains which is surprising but temperatures in the morning have been below freezing.

 

[LTfit]

Thought I would post an update from Ponferrada.

The weather has been quite cold with temperatures in the morning of -4/5c. Luckily the sun is forever present and blue skies abound!

Although we open at 13.00 the first pilgrims from Rabanal or Foncebadón only arrive around 15.00 and many come in only after 17.00 or 18.00. One lonely Korean woman arrived last evening at 20.00 saying that it took her 12 hours to get from Foncebadón to Ponferrada! She was a brave one to descend in the dark.

It continues to be quiet with an average of 7 pilgrims a night. I'm here for another week so we will see if the numbers change.

Here some pictures of Ponferrada and the albergue.

 

[caminka]

I like the roaring fire!

 

[Leibniz]

Lovely photos!
I have to say the hospitaleros at San Nicola de Flue were wonderful when I stayed there. Really made a difference. Looking forward to staying there again.

 

[Samarkand]

That looks awesome! That's San Nicolas de Flue, right? I should be in Ponferrada about this time next month.

 

[LTfit]

That looks awesome! That's San Nicolas de Flue, right? I should be in Ponferrada about this time next month.

Yes indeed!

The fire is lovely and adds to the atmosphere. Unfortunately we gave run out of leña and need to take a trip to the mountains surrounding Ponferrada.

 

[LTfit]

For those who may wonder what a day of a hospitalera in winter may look like.

Highlights of hospitalera life in Ponferrada:

Open up at 6:30
Send off last pilgrims at 8:15
Clean albergue till about 9:15
Yoga practice till 10:30-11:00
Shower and off to feed the goats and lambs from down the road
Walk to Molinaseca and back, to Otero or just around town
Open albergue at 13.00
Lunch at 14.00 with Javier (local in charge), Jaime (retired priest) and Miguel Angel (priest responsible for albergue)
Until 22.30 tend to pilgrims and close up.
Repeat.