New albergue in Espinosa de los Monteros

[peregrina2000]

A friend sent me this shot of the instructions about how to register for the albergue in Espinosa de los Monteros. Is this the future of albergues?

Rough translation.

1. Go to their website from your computer or phone.
2. Click on the button “Registrarse” (register)
3. Fill in the personal data requested.
4. Confirm. your email address.
5. Click on “begin session.”
6. In the menu, go to Events -Albergue de peregrinos
7. Fill in the dates you will be there and pay the fee with a credit card.
8. In the Reservations section you will see your completed reservation. On the day of your reservation, on that page, a button will appear that you can use to open the door of the albergue automatically.

WOW!!!!

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

Next - Robot cleaner's

 

[roving_rufus]

Not had any quite that technical!
But certainly a few like La Puebla de Arganzon on the Vasco which post-covid had an online registration system for a door code (though payment was a cash donation in a box in the albergue). It meant the municipal staff came only to clean and pick up donation box (which wasn't daily). It seemed they struggled to have employees responsible for it, (pre-covid a local 'volunteer' used to meet pilgrims in the town square and escort them to the albergue).
I did get into problems on the Via Francigena with a different electronic door opening set up as there had been a powercut and it didn't reset properly- and none of the 3 people who had keys were in town- eventually one returned but the locals were lovely in looking after me until a key arrive.

I can see why having such a system may be popular for less travelled routes for municipal albergues coming from the local municipal authority point of view - with staffing, lost keys, monies. Although it does require a smartphone for pilgrims for the registration, which will not work for everyone. I suspect there will be more such systems coming along for small albergues on quieter routes.

 

[VNwalking]

WOW!!!!

Whatever happened to 'just show up, and put your donationin the box?'

(Or at the most 'just phone or whatsapp with a little notice to let them know you're on your way'...)

 

[roving_rufus]

Whatever happened to 'just show up, and put your donationin the box?'

(Or at the most 'just phone or whatsapp with a little notice to let them know you're on your way'...)

Covid! Having available 'employees' to run and open up. The bar that used to hold the keys is now open just at the weekend. The elderly lady who lived next door died and no-one else wanted to have to sort keys for pilgrims. ....

But truthfully someone working in the municipality who loves technology who wanted to find a solution to open up the albergue as "simply" as possible from their point of view. They had seen similar systems working for commercial guesthouses etc particularly in response to covid when reducing contacts was all the rage there was a move to online check in and electronic locks that didn't require handing over keys.

 

[peregrina2000]

Covid! Having available 'employees' to run and open up. The bar that used to hold the keys is now open just at the weekend. The elderly lady who lived next door died and no-one else wanted to have to sort keys for pilgrims. ....

I was too flippant in my comments, and I think that @roving_rufus paints a clear picture of the many dilemmas these small communities face. Hats off and many thanks to Espinosa de los Monteros for finding a way to continue offering hospitality to us.

 

[roving_rufus]

I was too flippant in my comments, and I think that @roving_rufus paints a clear picture of the many dilemmas these small communities face. Hats off and many thanks to Espinosa de los Monteros for finding a way to continue offering hospitality to us.

I don't see anything you said as flippant. From the pilgrim's point of view the use of new technology brings new advantages but also many disadvantages.
I have very fond memories of interacting with municipal staff, local police, and locals - and in many places such arrangements will long continue! But is wonderful to see somewhere come up with a solution to keep the albergue open when other more traditional methods may not be working.

 

[WalkingInGers]

I don't see anything you said as flippant. From the pilgrim's point of view the use of new technology brings new advantages but also many disadvantages.
I have very fond memories of interacting with municipal staff, local police, and locals - and in many places such arrangements will long continue! But is wonderful to see somewhere come up with a solution to keep the albergue open when other more traditional methods may not be working.

I am reluctant to give your post the all clear. We live in a society where everything depends on the Internet, where people have fewer human contact, a robotic society where the state knows everything about you. The simple pleasures of walking a Camino away from this seemingly ungodliness society and doing it within Nature without the intrusion of Internet, credit cards and passwords may mean that in a few years, sadly, may mean that wit ill be a thing of the past.

 

[peregrina2000]

I am reluctant to give your post the all clear. We live in a society where everything depends on the Internet, where people have fewer human contact, a robotic society where the state knows everything about you. The simple pleasures of walking a Camino away from this seemingly ungodliness society and doing it within Nature without the intrusion of Internet, credit cards and passwords may mean that in a few years, sadly, may mean that wit ill be a thing of the past.

That was my initial reaction too, @WalkingInGers. So many enduring camino memories come from the spectacular hospitaleros/as along the way. They check you in, stamp your credencial, sometimes provide a meal, and really are there as a source of information, support,and human kindness.

But after thinking about @roving_rufus’ comments, I had to think about it differently. This may just be the only feasible way to keep some of these albergues going.

For example — Villavieja, about 16 km from Ponferrada on the Invierno, has a spectacular municipal albergue, but the municipal government sits kms away in Priaranza del Bierzo. They have tried two or three times to license hospitaleros to run the albergue. But it just has never worked out, and they now have some kind of automation to let pilgrims inside. The alternative, for an albergue in a hamlet with a handful of residents, seems to be no albergue at all.

Or the string of albergues built and maintained by the Amigos in Almería on the Mozárabe. Without the keypad and the WhatsApp contact, I just don’t think maintaining this system of albergues would be viable.

So yes I agree that the personal contact is far more enjoyable, but I also recognize that in some cases it is just not feasible.

 

[J Willhaus]

The world will continue to change whether we change with it or not...
I, too, cling to things I find familiar and special, but adaptation will continue. We have electronic compostela processing now so I am not surprised about electronic reservation and entry systems at albergues... Frankly, I wouldn't mind a robot cleaning helper from time to time although Phil does a pretty good job as a real person.