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@Juanma is the new owner of Albergue Maralotx in Cirauqui

peregrina2000

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Just wanted to let forum members know that @Juanma (formerly of Ponte Ferreira on the Primitivo) has moved out of Galicia and has just re-opened the Albergue Maralotx in Cirauqui (between Puente la Reina and Estella). Communal dinner continues in the new place and there are private rooms too. Wishing him and his family much success in this new venture. Juanma is a good friend of mine, of the forum, and of the camino!

Pictures look lovely but I can’t figure out how to post them, sorry.

Hope things are going well for peregrinos on the Francés.

Buen camino, Laurie
 
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Buena suerte Juanma.
A mi entender tienes una gran responsabilidad en mantener el espíritu del Maralotx, pero no tengo duda que lo superarás.
 
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Thank you for posting about this in the forum @peregrina2000 . I wanted to do it but have been sooo busy over the last few weeks with preparations for the opening that I couldn't do it.

And thank you to all those who have wished us luck as well!

We know that Maralotx has always had a good name in this forum and among pilgrims in general, with mostly quite good reviews, so we feel it a great responsability to keep up to that. But we'll try hard! So far, after these first three days, we can say that pilgrims do enjoy our dinner (different menu than was until now, and also different than what we did when in Ponte Ferreira), and love the house.

BTW, here are some pics of the albergue right now; no major changes, just a few pieces of furniture moved from one place to another and some decorative details that we've added or slightly changed:

Outside not much has changed for now, although for next year or so we plan to repaint and maybe add the name of the albergue to the front wall not just painted but some other way, ...we'll see:




Reception area:





(we offer two stamps to choose for your credential)





First floor and terrace:






Dormitories:









(...more pics in next post)
 
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(...last pictures):

Private, double rooms with bathroom:
















Bar and wine cellar (where communal dinner is served):









The albergue has changed its name slightly: it is now ALBERGUE CIRAUQUI CASA MARALOTX.

The website will soon be online, and will be in www.alberguecirauqui.com.


Thank you all for reading, and please be welcome if you decide to come to Cirauqui, this beautiful little medieval village on the Camino Frances in Navarra.
 
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Just one more last post for some pics of Cirauqui, its places, landscapes and atmosphere:


















Panoramic view of the albergue in the square where it's situated, just in front of the XIII century Church of San Roman:




Finally, my favourite: panoramic view of the Camino as it enters Cirauqui at dusk, taken on the day before our opening (last April 14th, 2019); I hope you like it!:

 
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My husband and I stayed at Maralotx in 2013. Seeing these photos brought tears to my eyes. Such a good memory. We remember the lovely owner saying she was getting a little burned out. Does anyone know when she left and what she went on to do?
 
For what I know, the former hospitalero (the man) now runs a bar somewhere in the Vasc Country (not Camino related); I have no news from the woman, though I'm guessing she is not going to be related to the Camino in the near future either. But they are both well and healthy!
 
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wynrich said:
We had that room, too. View of the church, right? But dinner was worth being away from awhile.
Click to expand...
Nope, the view from the double bed room not the matrimony bed room. Post no.9.
 
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@Juanma, we wish you and Paloma all the best at Maralotx, it is a beautiful place indeed, one of my favourites.
 
Brilliant news! Really glad this beautiful albergue has new hospitaleros
 
Thank you so much for this recommendation. This is exactly where my friends and I had decided we wanted to stay even before reading your post.
 
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One of my very favorite villages and stops. A beautiful place with special memories from my first Camino in 08.
Much success to you sir!
 
This is great news. Maralotx is a great albergue. I’m so glad they’re holding the communal dinner.
 
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@Juanma , I have always wondered, and you may be in a place to to know the answer.
On the way into town up on the left there is a cemetery, with a big menhir - it's in your photo. Do you know its story?
Look forward to next time I come to Cirauqui - not to pass right through this time, but to stay at Casa Martalox!
 
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Hello @VNwalking. To be honest, I live in the area just very recently, so I don't know exactly the story behind the big rocks in front of the cemetery. But maybe this photo helps, where you can see what is actually written on them (on the side opposite to the Camino):






The inscription says:

LA MUERTE A NADIE PERDONA
CON TODOS PROCEDE IGUAL
DESDE EL MONARCA AL VASALLO
AQUÍ VENDRÁN A PARAR

Translation would be:

DEATH FORGIVES NO ONE
TREATS EVERYONE EQUALLY
FROM THE KING TO THE SERVANT
ALL WILL FINALLY END UP HERE


I hope that helps!
 
Thank you all for your wishes and comments. Looking forward to see all of you soon in Maralotx!
 
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