Question regarding albergues

[crhutch]

What happens when you find all the albergues filled and you can’t find a bed? :shock: I am interested in people are doing in these situations. I plan to do the camino in 2010 and this truly worries me.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

there are many things you can do:
1) check at the local hostals and hotels
2) go to the ayuntamiento and ask them what to do. When the albergue is full they sometimes open up the sports hall, medical clinic, schoolhouse, jail, or garage for pilgrims´use.
3) go to the parish office. Sometimes they know of places you can sleep.
4) Ask a policeman.
5) Ask a bartender.
6) Ask the old folks sitting on the bench in the plaza.
7) Sleep on the church porch.
8)Sleep under the bridge.
9)Sleep in a haystack, or out in a field under the stars.
10) Keep going to the next village and try your luck there.
11) Hire a cab and ask him to take you to a place to sleep.

Some of these may get you a place to sleep on the floor. You may not be comfortable, but you´ll likely be out of the weather. I slept in a haystack one night, and a jail cell another time. Somehow I did not die. And it gave me stories to tell later!

 

[Paulus]

Hi Crhutch,

As you see in the answer of Rebekah................ plenty of possibilities. Don't want to be rude but ........ now already worrying about 2010 ??? :mrgreen:
Once you've started to walk you will notice that you can leave behind you all that you worries in advance.......... but that is a bit difficult to explain for me in good English, as a Dutchman.
But.... don't worry!

 

[sillydoll]

I think I would also be worried if I was walking in 2010 - the last Holy Year for 11 years - with estimates of over 225 000 people walking the camino!
How busy it will be could depend on the route you are walking, and perhaps to a lesser extent, the month. But I would suggest you take a bivy-bag with you. There are really nice, ultralight ones now that are like sleeping bags-cum-tents and should you have to sleep outdoors, or on a church porch, at least you'll be cosy and private.

 

[WolverineDG]

Jail cell? :shock: Did you have to get arrested first? :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:


Kelly

 

[Arn]

Jail cells are not that bad. And, except for Chicago (where I spent a night) they tend to be mostly empty and available. They have clean cots, an in room toilet and a sign-in register on the wall. You can see out in many directions..so a thief can't sneak up on you...thought he may become your roommate.

In truth, many municipalities will offer any space available to pilgrims on the Way.

I, personally, love the out doors...and given a balmy night under the stars...or a crowded room and nothing but the floor...it's twinkle, twinkle for me.

Buen hey...that's my soap Camino
Arn