In search of: Adorable albergue stage before Santander

[TheBigMan]

Dear all,

I heard there must be an adorable albergue near El Astillero, one stage before entering Santander. This albergue should be very special. My aunt told me about it, but she doens’t know anymore where it exactly was located or how the Albergue was named.

Does somebody know which Albergue she might be refering to?

 

[lettinggo]

Hola

It may be in Güemes, she means.
Ernesto has an incredible albergue there, which I found to be one of the most interesting places I have visited on my caminos.

Buen Camino
Lettinggo

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, TheBigMan, welcome to the forum.

Astillero is actually not on the usual route followed by pilgrims into Santander. The day before entering Santander, the standard option is the albergue at Güemes http://alberguedeguemes.com/index.html Most people would describe it as special, there is a communal dinner, it´s run by a priest (?) with other charitable ventures that he likes to explain to pilgrims at a group meeting upstairs.

For people who don´t want to go through Santander, you can take the variant that goes south of the city through Astillero. There is an albergue there, but I don´t have any first hand knowledge of it. http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/albergue-de-peregrinos-nuestra-senora-de-muslera

I think I remember that a few forum members have been in the albergue in Astillero, like mike and lovingkindness, so maybe they will weigh in. But my guess is that your aunt is referring to the albergue in Güemes, which is always mentioned by pilgrims as one of the special stops.

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[TheBigMan]

Hi Lettinggo and Laurie,

Thanks for the warm welcome and the helpful answers.

Buen Camino!

 

[jprogers]

Ll,

 

[MKalcolm M]

There is also an alberge 10 kms west of Santander called "La Santa Cruz" at Santa Cruz de Benzana which is run by a Spanish woman and her husband which is a fantastic place to spend the night. Very clean, comfortable, and superb food, it was probably the best place I stayed on the whole trip. Undoubtedly your aunt is talking about the hostel at Guemes run by Father Earnesto. If you don't want to spend the night in Santander, it is possible to walk from Guemes, through Santander and onto Santa Cruz de Benzana in one day.

 

[lettinggo]

Once you are off the boat in Santander, do give yourself some time to get your bearing.
I rushed of and spend a couple of hours lost in industrial/suburban area.
The yellow arrows are sparse and very few could point me at the direction of the camino.

Lettinggo