Thomas1962
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2010/2011/2012/2013: Madrid -Salvador -Primitivo 2014: EPW 2015: Amsterdam - SdC
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I would also add that at the municipal in Burgos, we got beds, but at seven p.m. that night I was at the desk area and heard two women, probably in their forties, being turned away. They asked about other accommodations and were told that they would just have to go to the other places to ask. They were tired and asked, nicely I might add, if the hospitaleros could call to see if there were any beds available. The actual words said to them were, "we don't make calls." They finally turned away and left. One of the two was limping. I can't vouch for the other dorm areas, but no one was sleeping on a mattress on the floor in ours. To assume a municipal will squeeze you in is naïve. To assume that the hospitaleros will help you find other accommodation is naïve. I, at first, had the same assumption, that the hospitaleros would either offer to help find other accommodation, or would if asked directly. It became clear that one shouldn't assume that they will help, clairescamino is right, some will, some won't. I was always especially grateful for all the help offered, but we did alter the hours that we walked. We were not in a position to find ourselves shelter-less, so we made sure we had beds before we got into trouble by overextending ourselves. Stopping earlier in the day also gave us time to explore the town we were staying in. It also gave us time to get to know some of our hosts, and the other pilgrims on the Camino. We stayed in municipals a couple of times, but more often than not we were in private alburges, a few hostals, casa rurals, and one full on hotel. This September when we were on the Camino ALL of them were experiencing full houses.
Ditto??There is much written about the shortage of beds on this forum; bed race, early leavers etc etc. Also, many people tell story's about having heard or seen other people having a problem with finding a bed. But...actually I did not hear from anyone here or IRL that (s)he really didn't find a bed him/herself and had to sleep outside. Two times I've asked on this forum about OWN experience, no one reacted...
I've done different camino's but not the frances, never experienced a real problem myself. A friend who walked the frances different times of the year sometimes found a full albergue but never really had a problem either. She does even challenge this bed race with walking till late afternoon, not wanting to worry about this.
So, I'm really wondering about this bed situation and would like to know if it is just a fictional problem on which we can project our fear or if it is a real problem...
So please, if you had a real problem yourselves (not just a full albergue but hardly being able to find a bed and not heard from other people) I would like to read your experience. Also if you did not care about finding a bed and always found one too, I would like to know.
I hope we all together can bring this issue to the right size.
Just to clarify, with regard to the municipal in Burgos, I was describing an incident that I witnessed. My husband and I had beds there. I described that incident to point out to the people saying that the "bed race" is a myth, that it most certainly was not a myth while I was on the Camino this September. Perpetuating the idea, particularly to new pilgrims, that you won't have trouble finding a bed, that the hospitaleros will find you a bed if they don't have one, that you can walk as late as you want and it will all be okay, is not realistic. My husband and I quickly realized that these things were not true, that there was a bed race going on and we altered the way we walked, resorted to making reservations, and certainly did not expect hospitaleros to help in finding accommodations.Arriving at the municipal albergue at 1900? Do you honestly expect beds to be available that late during a busy time of year?
The Spanish can be indifferent at times, either way, they get paid the same. It would have been nice of them to help you find alternate accommodations, but that is where a guidebook comes in handy, it's your own responsibility to find a bed.
If it starts getting late, stop at the first available albergue, it certainly doesn't get easier to find a bed later in the afternoon.
It is a myth, far as I can tell, promulgated by those who must have the first/best/cheapest/most secure everything. Their perceived needs trump even their own comforts, and overrun all else. Others see them fleeing in pursuit of their object, and are infected with the same fear -- someone else will get there before me, someone else will get something better/cheaper/prettier/cleaner/more meaningful. And so the "race" begins, a race without any real end, a race without a winner.
It´s a delusion. Don´t buy into it.
However, on the other hand, it always makes me sad that so many judge others, and their criticism is usually based on assumptions. Having said that, I gather that some may “race” for beds. But does that really matter? Is it really our concern as individuals walking our own Camino? To which end, the best advice this forum has to offer, is the phrase “Walk your own Camino”!
I love this forum, and find it to be invaluable for the most part. However, on the other hand, it always makes me sad that so many judge others, and their criticism is usually based on assumptions. Having said that, I gather that some may “race” for beds. But does that really matter? Is it really our concern as individuals walking our own Camino? To which end, the best advice this forum has to offer, is the phrase “Walk your own Camino”!
As an example, I’m that pilgrim who undoubtedly falls into a bucket-load of pre-conceived categories. I rise (quietly) and depart by 6:00 (or 6:30/7am) daily, and without a doubt walk quicker than most…. I’m also a bit of a recluse, although always friendly and never bite!
But you see, I spent a life helping others and usually at a personal cost. I wake early, because I always have, and I rarely sleep well. I walk at a speed, which is comfortable for me, but always willing to slow to chat with others.
Nevertheless, and contrary to what others may think, as many I have passed have said – he must be in a raceMake no mistake – I am in no race, nor have I a specific agenda or timeframe to be anywhere for any purpose while on the Camino. Because I walk quicker than others do, simply means, that you walk your own pace, which happens to be slower than mine, and nothing else. Therefore, I suggest that any preconceived notion that one has on those who rise early or quickly walk past you, is solely of one’s own making. Perhaps ones time, would be better spent focusing on their own journey.
Additionally, I heard people comment, that because I walk quickly, that I am missing so much. I can assure you, that I don’t miss very much, and in fact, believe I capture much more of my surroundings than others. I’m the guy, who you’ll find staring off into the distance (envisioning the history around me), and touching all the churches and walls and Roman roads and bridges. I firmly believe in breathing in my surroundings and one must physically touch history to understand it, to connect with it.
As noted, I don’t race for a bed, as it has little importance to me. However, I do arrive earlier than most at a destination, because I need as much time as I can garner in a day to see, touch, and feel my surroundings. An added bonus for me is to walk in silence in the early mornings; it allows one to appreciate the peace and quiet of the day and absorb my surroundings in greater depth.
Which reminds me, as I have politely said hello and chatted with “groups” along the days path, to only have them say to me, “you’re missing the experience”, slow down and join us and embrace the spirit of the Camino. Which I briefly did, and they had a great time as they chatted about everything and anything and meandered along in their social group. Well, I marched off into my quiet self-peace and reverie, with a smile and goodbye, as my Camino is mine and not theirs, and vice-versa.
And It’s that simple.
P.S. Sorry for the rant
"When you travel alone you travel fast, when you travel with people, you travel far."
I LOVE this! Thank you for sharing. Perhaps we are the same. Totally makes sense to me. This will be my thought for the week.
How much do those weigh? Ounces? Pounds? Tons?This is when you put on your Pilg Pants and get resourceful.
south african "dos"?I am an early starter on summer / autumn Camino's. Not because I want to be sure of a bed, but because I love the peace and tranquillity of walking in the cool of the dawn light. Many times I have left at dawn and arrived at sunset, not because I am a particularly slow walker, but because I have done things like had a leisurely lunch, chatted to pilgrim friends, stopped and sung in a church, or even just rested under a tree and watched the clouds go by! I have almost always found a bed, though not necessarily in an albergue. The only times I have had difficulty have been in France, once in a "tourist" town (Troyes) and so only hotels available - which were closed because it was Sunday! That night my son and I shared a pizza box and his sleeping mat and slept in a ditch. The other night was in a "surfing" town, st Jean-de-Luz, at the end of the season when there was not a hotel room to be had anywhere! I waited till it got dark, walked up the hill until I found a tree that threw a dark shadow and slept there, listening to the loud party music wafting up from the town below. Walking past the cemetery I had thought I would dos down there as French cemeteries are generally well kept, but this one wasn't and so I abandoned tha idea! Janet
("Doss" is apparently a British term for sleeping rough.)south african "dos"?
Sorry - I didn't give it a thought that "dos" / "doss" was a slang word. It is also used in my country - Australia. Same meaning - sleeping rough, but also making do with whatever is available eg sleeping on the floor, under a verandah etc.south african "dos"?
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