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The albergue in Mansilla has been closed for quite a while for 'renovations', which did not seem to be happening back in June. I think the closure may be indefinite. Does anyone know any different?I just did the Camino Frances from Sept 2 to Oct 2, 2022. The two places
where I thought there was a notable bed crunch were Roncesvalles and
Mansilla de las Mulas. In Roncevalles they have lowered the number of
available beds by over 100, perhaps due to covid. In Mansilla, the municipal
albergue is closed and I don't know what the reason is for that. That's
72 beds not available for pilgrims. When I got to Mansilla, I was all set to take
a bus into Leon for the night, but another couple got beds in Villarente so
I called up and did the same. That was another 6 km added to a long day
but made the day into Leon really short. The good part of the story is that
the Albergue San Palayo that I stayed at in Puente Villarente was really great.
Not sure if Mansilla is going to reopen their Albergue. I would have stayed the
night there and spent my money, but it wasn't open. And I'm not sure what can
be done at Roncesvalles. I would advise everyone to book a bed there in advance.
Especially if you are an old and slow walker like myself. The walk from
Roncesvalles to Burguette was easy, so you could book over there, too.
I just did the Camino Frances from Sept 2 to Oct 2, 2022. The two places
where I thought there was a notable bed crunch were Roncesvalles and
Mansilla de las Mulas. In Roncevalles they have lowered the number of
available beds by over 100, perhaps due to covid. In Mansilla, the municipal
albergue is closed and I don't know what the reason is for that. That's
72 beds not available for pilgrims. When I got to Mansilla, I was all set to take
a bus into Leon for the night, but another couple got beds in Villarente so
I called up and did the same. That was another 6 km added to a long day
but made the day into Leon really short. The good part of the story is that
the Albergue San Palayo that I stayed at in Puente Villarente was really great.
Not sure if Mansilla is going to reopen their Albergue. I would have stayed the
night there and spent my money, but it wasn't open. And I'm not sure what can
be done at Roncesvalles. I would advise everyone to book a bed there in advance.
Especially if you are an old and slow walker like myself. The walk from
Roncesvalles to Burguette was easy, so you could book over there, too.
And this needs repeating because so many first time pilgrims are obviously unaware of the fact that the first two weeks in May and in September are the busiest periods for pilgrims in SJPP and Roncesvalles.When somebody chooses to start in SJPdP in these two busy periods (May/September) it is indeed recommended to make reservations, as in these weeks every day hundreds of pilgrims start in SJPdP. In other periods this is not really an issue.
This has been true for a while. I started my most recent Camino Frances in mid-September 2016. The train from Bayonne was so overcrowded that some passengers - myself included - were taken off before departure and sent by taxi to SJPDP at SNCF's expense. I was told later that every albergue and hotel bed in the town was taken that night. Roncesvalles was a frantic circus when I reached it the next day!And this needs repeating because so many first time pilgrims are obviously unaware of the fact that the first two weeks in May and in September are the busiest periods for pilgrims in SJPP and Roncesvalles.
And this needs repeating because so many first time pilgrims are obviously unaware of the fact that the first two weeks in May and in September are the busiest periods for pilgrims in SJPP and Roncesvalles.
I got curious and see from other posts that the OP observed that Roncesvalles "was all filled up on Friday night" - that was Friday, 2 September 2022! One could hardly pick a busier day or busier weekend than the first weekend of September to start walking in this section of the Camino Francés.
This is what I wrote about Roncesvalles on 22 April, when it took over an hour to check in:
The albergue in Roncesvalles was full last night and they were turning people away with no reservations. They checked in 300 pilgrims when they were expecting only half that. No one could explain the surge. One girl, the paid official, was the only one allowed to operate the check-in desk and she also had to answer the phone. The volunteer hospitaleros could only show people to their beds and commiserate.
In front of me in the queue was a friendly Italian chef, who had worked all over the world. He suddenly remembered he had a hip flask in his backpack, which reminded me I had a tiny bottle of medicinal whiskey disguised as a vitamin drink. We were able to put up with the dire conditions (cold, wet and tired) by having a little drink, to the amusement of everybody else in the queue. Of course we were unable to share because of COVID.
Hmmm….for a number of reasons September is the best month for me - would starting wither the third week of August or the third week of September make much difference? We will stay in the off Brierly stages as much as possible.
I doubt that Brierley's guide has the direct impact that is so often assumed. Native speakers of English are still very much in the minority on the Caminos and speakers of other languages tend to use guides by other authors. Of course certain towns are a natural magnet for pilgrims because of their location or special character. Though I'm not a fan of his guides I'm not convinced that the Blessed JB is to blame for much of the congestionWe will stay in the off Brierly stages as much as possible.
Well, if they are filled up at a regular rate, shouldn't you guys be making plans for more beds? Just sayingIn Roncesvalles we certainly have not lowered the number of beds, in fact last April we have increased the number of beds from 217 to 245 beds in total. These 245 beds were all occupied every day in the first two weeks of September (as they were in the first two weeks of May).
When somebody chooses to start in SJPdP in these two busy periods (May/September) it is indeed recommended to make reservations, as in these weeks every day hundreds of pilgrims start in SJPdP. In other periods this is not really an issue.
What was the bed count before 2017?In Roncesvalles we certainly have not lowered the number of beds, in fact last April we have increased the number of beds from 217 to 245 beds in total. These 245 beds were all occupied every day in the first two weeks of September (as they were in the first two weeks of May).
When somebody chooses to start in SJPdP in these two busy periods (May/September) it is indeed recommended to make reservations, as in these weeks every day hundreds of pilgrims start in SJPdP. In other periods this is not really an issue.
Easier said than done. The number of beds was reduced because the old overflow accommodation didn't meet modern legally-required standards. Not the choice of the Colegiata. Who is going to pay for more accommodation to be built to approved standards which will only be required for short periods at peak demand?Well, if they are filled up at a regular rate, shouldn't you guys be making plans for more beds? Just saying
Well, if they are filled up at a regular rate, shouldn't you guys be making plans for more beds? Just saying
The sense of entitlement which some people bring to the Caminos is astounding. In autumn 2016 I stayed in the recently refitted municipal albergue in Burgos. Brand new bunks, mattresses, showers, toilets and wash basins. A lift to the upper floors. The price for a bed was €5. And one young man startled the entire dorm by yelling loudly and angrily "This place is f*****g s**t!"from his upper bunk. The problem? He couldn't get a strong enough WiFi connection for real-time video chat with a friend across the Atlantic.Some hospitaleros drop out now due to the attitude of those 'pilgrims' but I realise this is quite off topic ....
You can't be "slow" if you did the Frances in 30 days!I just did the Camino Frances from Sept 2 to Oct 2, 2022. The two places
where I thought there was a notable bed crunch were Roncesvalles and
Mansilla de las Mulas. In Roncevalles they have lowered the number of
available beds by over 100, perhaps due to covid. In Mansilla, the municipal
albergue is closed and I don't know what the reason is for that. That's
72 beds not available for pilgrims. When I got to Mansilla, I was all set to take
a bus into Leon for the night, but another couple got beds in Villarente so
I called up and did the same. That was another 6 km added to a long day
but made the day into Leon really short. The good part of the story is that
the Albergue San Palayo that I stayed at in Puente Villarente was really great.
Not sure if Mansilla is going to reopen their Albergue. I would have stayed the
night there and spent my money, but it wasn't open. And I'm not sure what can
be done at Roncesvalles. I would advise everyone to book a bed there in advance.
Especially if you are an old and slow walker like myself. The walk from
Roncesvalles to Burguette was easy, so you could book over there, too.
I’ll reiterate my concerns relating to overcrowding on the CF and pose the question as to whether it might come down to the fact that at some point in the not-too-distant future there will come into effect some sort of reservation/lottery system in order to limit the numbers of pilgrims walking (especially during certain times of the year). Any thoughts on this matter would be interesting to hear.And this needs repeating because so many first time pilgrims are obviously unaware of the fact that the first two weeks in May and in September are the busiest periods for pilgrims in SJPP and Roncesvalles.
I got curious and see from other posts that the OP observed that Roncesvalles "was all filled up on Friday night" - that was Friday, 2 September 2022! One could hardly pick a busier day or busier weekend than the first weekend of September to start walking in this section of the Camino Francés.
When I walked my second Camino Frances in 2002 I was astonished at the huge number of pilgrims - more than 10x the number on my first Camino in 1990 - and I thought that the route must be reaching saturation then. I think there were about 70,000 Compostelas issued in that year. So far this year the total is more than 400,000. I have given up speculating on how things will develop from here on...I’ll reiterate my concerns relating to overcrowding on the CF and pose the question as to whether it might come down to the fact that at some point in the not-too-distant future there will come into effect some sort of reservation/lottery system in order to limit the numbers of pilgrims walking (especially during certain times of the year). Any thoughts on this matter would be interesting to hear.
Since there is no overall organization in charge of the Camino and accommodations in all regions I don't see how this is possible.I’ll reiterate my concerns relating to overcrowding on the CF and pose the question as to whether it might come down to the fact that at some point in the not-too-distant future there will come into effect some sort of reservation/lottery system in order to limit the numbers of pilgrims walking (especially during certain times of the year). Any thoughts on this matter would be interesting to hear.
Yes and no. In the years since my first Camino I have seen the whole business of walking the Camino becoming increasingly regimented and controlled. The introduction of a minimum distance rule. The demand for an approved credencial. The "two sellos per day" rule. The expectation now that pilgrims will pre-register online before visiting the pilgrim office. And now the insistence that pilgrims must walk one of a limited selection of approved routes if they wish to receive a Compostela. As far as the pilgrim office is concerned regimentation is absolutely part of the spirit of the Camino. Of course you are free to disregard all that if you do not wish to receive a Compostela at the end of your journey.My opinion is that it is absolutely uncontrollable - and rather regimented which absolutely goes against the grain of the spiritp of the Camino
Don't confuse persistence with being fast. Yes, I was slow. I had to hike two hours longer to get to the same place other people did when we started out together in the Morning. That's slowYou can't be "slow" if you did the Frances in 30 days!
what was wrong so it wouldn't meet the standards?Easier said than done. The number of beds was reduced because the old overflow accommodation didn't meet modern legally-required standards. Not the choice of the Colegiata. Who is going to pay for more accommodation to be built to approved standards which will only be required for short periods at peak demand?
I understand that it wasn't up to fire codes.what was wrong so it wouldn't meet the standards?
I think @Ianinam was a volunteer in Roncesvalles at the time of the closure and might have an answer. I don't recall that specific details of the problems were made public at the time.what was wrong so it wouldn't meet the standards?
I was a first time pilgrim in 2016 and I have wondered the same myself.I wonder what percentage of pilgrims during these massive overflow days are first-time pilgrims.
IMHO, a huge number of those pilgrim beds are occupied by people who keep coming back over and over again, wondering why so many people are on the Camino these days.
For me it was COVID, originally plannedI wonder what percentage of pilgrims during these massive overflow days are first-time pilgrims.
IMHO, a huge number of those pilgrim beds are occupied by people who keep coming back over and over again, wondering why so many people are on the Camino these days.
I had a look at old threads. The current wing that houses the pilgrim albergue was inaugurated in 2011 and there's still a news article available.There are advanced plans to renovate another wing of the building, making up another 100 comfortable beds. But in this old part of the building there are still some old Spanish people living, and they have the legal right to live there till they die. A renovation like that will take a few years, so in the near future we will have to do it with what it is.
As one of those repeat offenders on my last Camino Frances in 2016 I was aware that I was just as much a part of the overcrowding problem as anyone else. Didn't stop me complaining about it though! But are you arguing that no one should ever repeat a Camino? That seems a bit severe. Should there be some statute of limitations which allows old timers some prospect of returning one day?IMHO, a huge number of those pilgrim beds are occupied by people who keep coming back over and over again, wondering why so many people are on the Camino these days.
Starting out on Sept 2, I met a lot of people. The vast majority of them were first timers. There was Emmon an Irishman who did it before and was guiding two newcomers. Then there was Tim from Chicago who did it before. The 50 or 60 other people that it was brought up with, all were first timers. Personally, if I do the Frances a second time it would be like Emmon, helping some friends. Otherwise, I would be doing a different Camino if I'm doing a second trip.I wonder what percentage of pilgrims during these massive overflow days are first-time pilgrims.
IMHO, a huge number of those pilgrim beds are occupied by people who keep coming back over and over again, wondering why so many people are on the Camino these days.
There are advanced plans to renovate another wing of the building, making up another 100 comfortable beds. But in this old part of the building there are still some old Spanish people living, and they have the legal right to live there till they die.
A renovation like that will take a few years, so in the near future we will have to do it with what it is.
And I am afraid that - as soon as this wing is ready and we have much more beds than we have now - it will be very difficult to have enough volunteers every year to manage this all. We are with a group of 130-140 volunteers now, most of us are 70+, some even 80+ and in the near future a certain amount of them will have to stop being a hospitalero because of medical problems. Getting 18 groups filled with 8-9 hospitaleros, working there two weeks, is becoming a problem already, so more beds bring more problems.
Not in the least because certain pilgrims are getting more and more demanding .... Thinking they are in a 5* hotel, requiring of us full service, leaving behind a lot of rubbish that we have to clean up in the morning, while we are just volunteers, and certainly not professional hotel personnel. Some hospitaleros drop out now due to the attitude of those 'pilgrims' but I realise this is quite off topic ....
Mystery solved, I wondered why only one person was doing the check in.On April 22nd we had 243 pilgrims.
Unfortunately the albergue in Roncesvalles has only one check-in desk, with only one scanner for the passports. The hospitaleros have asked many times for a second check-in desk, where a hospitalero can check-in also, but up till now this is not yet realised.
There were many beds in temporary buildings, placed in an area where it turned out not to be allowed. This area is an overflow area of the river so in times of heavy rain or snow it can be flooded. The government of Navarra ordered the Colegiata to close it and the buildings are removed now.what was wrong so it wouldn't meet the standards?
My first two stays in Roncesvalles in 1990 and 2002 were both in midsummer and I don't recall the temperature being anything out of the ordinary. On both those occasions I found the reception I received warm and friendly. Particularly in comparison with the frosty encounter I had the previous day with Madame Debril in SJPDP on the first occasion. I wonder what might have changed between 2002 and 2004 to give the place a reputation for coldness?the pilgrim albergue of Roncesvalles was described as cold - cold both the room temperature and cold the welcome by the monks or clerical staff who ran it;
It is just how I remember the description. But it sure is a lasting memoryI wonder what might have changed between 2002 and 2004 to give the place a reputation for coldness?
So as I understand it, starting in early or mid June would not be a problem for getting a bed in Roncesvalles? Thanks.In Roncesvalles we certainly have not lowered the number of beds, in fact last April we have increased the number of beds from 217 to 245 beds in total. These 245 beds were all occupied every day in the first two weeks of September (as they were in the first two weeks of May).
When somebody chooses to start in SJPdP in these two busy periods (May/September) it is indeed recommended to make reservations, as in these weeks every day hundreds of pilgrims start in SJPdP. In other periods this is not really an issue.
I would say that if you’re planning to walk from May THROUGH September finding a bed will be a problem. Therefore, reservations are strongly recommended.So as I understand it, starting in early or mid June would not be a problem for getting a bed in Roncesvalles? Thanks.
So as I understand it, starting in early or mid June would not be a problem for getting a bed in Roncesvalles? Thanks.
Absolutely same here for me! I’m very slow but so it in 26 days! Just very long days!Don't confuse persistence with being fast. Yes, I was slow. I had to hike two hours longer to get to the same place other people did when we started out together in the Morning. That's slow
When worried about availability, I would call ahead to 2 or 3 places to make sure that they had a place, what the situation was going to be like for that area so I can plan around that, make a reservation or, if I did not, then I would have a back up plan of more than one potential site to choose from. Of course, the time of year will impact the availability and the number of places open.I just did the Camino Frances from Sept 2 to Oct 2, 2022. The two places
where I thought there was a notable bed crunch were Roncesvalles and
Mansilla de las Mulas. In Roncevalles they have lowered the number of
available beds by over 100, perhaps due to covid. In Mansilla, the municipal
albergue is closed and I don't know what the reason is for that. That's
72 beds not available for pilgrims. When I got to Mansilla, I was all set to take
a bus into Leon for the night, but another couple got beds in Villarente so
I called up and did the same. That was another 6 km added to a long day
but made the day into Leon really short. The good part of the story is that
the Albergue San Palayo that I stayed at in Puente Villarente was really great.
Not sure if Mansilla is going to reopen their Albergue. I would have stayed the
night there and spent my money, but it wasn't open. And I'm not sure what can
be done at Roncesvalles. I would advise everyone to book a bed there in advance.
Especially if you are an old and slow walker like myself. The walk from
Roncesvalles to Burguette was easy, so you could book over there, too.
@Margaret Butterworth ,This is what I wrote about Roncesvalles on 22 April, when it took over an hour to check in:
The albergue in Roncesvalles was full last night and they were turning people away with no reservations. They checked in 300 pilgrims when they were expecting only half that. No one could explain the surge. One girl, the paid official, was the only one allowed to operate the check-in desk and she also had to answer the phone. The volunteer hospitaleros could only show people to their beds and commiserate.
In front of me in the queue was a friendly Italian chef, who had worked all over the world. He suddenly remembered he had a hip flask in his backpack, which reminded me I had a tiny bottle of medicinal whiskey disguised as a vitamin drink. We were able to put up with the dire conditions (cold, wet and tired) by having a little drink, to the amusement of everybody else in the queue. Of course we were unable to share because of COVID.
@Ianinam ,@Jagdev D. I just told some of my colleague hospitaleros about your post in this forum and one of them remembers you!
I’m jumping into this thread because I am in the midst of planning my first Camino solo in March-April of 23. I may start in SJPP (I’ve read the info on the mountain crossing) or May start in Roncesvalles or Pamplona. Even with the idea of a drop in pilgrims in Roncesvalle, I see a number posts talking about reserving beds “months in advance.” My plan was to figure out my first couple nights, make reservations for them, and then try to stay a night or 2 ahead With reservation. I will be on the Camino over the Easter weekend and would definitely make reservations a few days ahead for that. Do I need to rethink my overall plan and make reservations now for the bulk of my Camino? FYI I am between the extremes of “let the Camino provide” and knowing I have a place to sleep. Thanks for your help!So as I understand it, starting in early or mid June would not be a problem for getting a bed in Roncesvalles? Thanks.
No. Your plan is a good one. If you book most of your Camino ahead you lock yourself in to distances that you may not want too walk (either too long or too short). You also would need to change a lot of reservations if you need to slow down or take a day off due to injury or illness.Do I need to rethink my overall plan and make reservations now for the bulk of my Camino?
Can't speak to CF (as my first time will be April 2023) but limited booking for the West Coast Trail in Canada certainly preserves the experience, wilderness and crowds in the evenings. I support this kind of lottery and would gladly participate.I’ll reiterate my concerns relating to overcrowding on the CF and pose the question as to whether it might come down to the fact that at some point in the not-too-distant future there will come into effect some sort of reservation/lottery system in order to limit the numbers of pilgrims walking (especially during certain times of the year). Any thoughts on this matter would be interesting to hear.
I agree that a lottery system works well for wilderness trails. But it simply wouldn't be feasible for 800 km on an interconnecting system of mixed paths and roads across Spain, through villages, towns and cities, mixing with people who are going about their daily lives.I support this kind of lottery and would gladly participate
Wonderful place! Have stayed there twice and can recommend it to all without hesitation.Holy Saturday back in April, I stayed at Albergueria del Camino in Mansilla. Great place with a restaurant attached. My son met me the day before and this place turned out very good.
Please do not miss the experience of walking over the Pyrenees. I have just done it and it was a highlight, if not favourite day, of my Camino.I’m jumping into this thread because I am in the midst of planning my first Camino solo in March-April of 23. I may start in SJPP (I’ve read the info on the mountain crossing) or May start in Roncesvalles or Pamplona. Even with the idea of a drop in pilgrims in Roncesvalle, I see a number posts talking about reserving beds “months in advance.” My plan was to figure out my first couple nights, make reservations for them, and then try to stay a night or 2 ahead With reservation. I will be on the Camino over the Easter weekend and would definitely make reservations a few days ahead for that. Do I need to rethink my overall plan and make reservations now for the bulk of my Camino? FYI I am between the extremes of “let the Camino provide” and knowing I have a place to sleep. Thanks for your help!
Ooh, I hope not. The Route Napoleon has been closed since 1 November. Unless of course you walked via Valcarlos and crossed those same Pyrenean foothillsI have just done it
Answering an old post, and maybe you know all this already, but just in case:I’m jumping into this thread because I am in the midst of planning my first Camino solo in March-April of 23.
We have also found a crunch between Astorga and Molinaseca; Trabadelo and Triacastela. We are older and going shorter distances. Good luck out there and Buen Camino!I just did the Camino Frances from Sept 2 to Oct 2, 2022. The two places
where I thought there was a notable bed crunch were Roncesvalles and
Mansilla de las Mulas. In Roncevalles they have lowered the number of
available beds by over 100, perhaps due to covid. In Mansilla, the municipal
albergue is closed and I don't know what the reason is for that. That's
72 beds not available for pilgrims. When I got to Mansilla, I was all set to take
a bus into Leon for the night, but another couple got beds in Villarente so
I called up and did the same. That was another 6 km added to a long day
but made the day into Leon really short. The good part of the story is that
the Albergue San Palayo that I stayed at in Puente Villarente was really great.
Not sure if Mansilla is going to reopen their Albergue. I would have stayed the
night there and spent my money, but it wasn't open. And I'm not sure what can
be done at Roncesvalles. I would advise everyone to book a bed there in advance.
Especially if you are an old and slow walker like myself. The walk from
Roncesvalles to Burguette was easy, so you could book over there, too.
The Napoleon route is closed between November 1st and April 1st, plus days before and after when the weather makes the route dangerous.The route Napoleon, which is the higher elevation route ( as opposed to the Valcarlos route) is closed in March until about April 15, as I understand it ( someone correct me if I’m wrong).
I took no chances, I started Sep 2 and planned arrival in Santiago Oct. 20th. I booked SJPP, Orisson, Espinal, Zubiri, Burgos, Leon, Astorga & Santiago way back in May. On arrival at SJPP, I was surprised at the amount of people arriving without reservations and the bottleneck continued even past Pamplona, I still had issues in Villava and Cacabelos. The solution? At 5 pm, start calling for the following day.I just did the Camino Frances from Sept 2 to Oct 2, 2022. The two places
where I thought there was a notable bed crunch were Roncesvalles and
Mansilla de las Mulas. In Roncevalles they have lowered the number of
available beds by over 100, perhaps due to covid. In Mansilla, the municipal
albergue is closed and I don't know what the reason is for that. That's
72 beds not available for pilgrims. When I got to Mansilla, I was all set to take
a bus into Leon for the night, but another couple got beds in Villarente so
I called up and did the same. That was another 6 km added to a long day
but made the day into Leon really short. The good part of the story is that
the Albergue San Palayo that I stayed at in Puente Villarente was really great.
Not sure if Mansilla is going to reopen their Albergue. I would have stayed the
night there and spent my money, but it wasn't open. And I'm not sure what can
be done at Roncesvalles. I would advise everyone to book a bed there in advance.
Especially if you are an old and slow walker like myself. The walk from
Roncesvalles to Burguette was easy, so you could book over there, too.
Not so sure the route is closed, but I do know Orisson is closed for renovations.The Napoleon route is closed between November 1st and April 1st, plus days before and after when the weather makes the route dangerous.
The route is absolutely closed November through March.Not so sure the route is closed, but I do know Orisson is closed for renovations.
Try Reliegos instead ...And the El Jardín del Camino Albergue is being rebuilt from the ground up, so that only 1 in 3 Albergues here in Mansilla de las Mulas is open, the Gaia one - - where the Hospitaleros look completely exhausted.
It was full last night, and some pilgrims were turned away. Bed race in November !!
Yes, during that timeframe makes senseThe route is absolutely closed November through March.
We only stayed in Roncesvalles once and herself rolled off the upper bunk and cracked her heel ( camino was over). After that we always walked on to Burguette and love the place. Beds are comfortable, cafe/bar is quiet and the food is excellent.I just did the Camino Frances from Sept 2 to Oct 2, 2022. The two places
where I thought there was a notable bed crunch were Roncesvalles and
Mansilla de las Mulas. In Roncevalles they have lowered the number of
available beds by over 100, perhaps due to covid. In Mansilla, the municipal
albergue is closed and I don't know what the reason is for that. That's
72 beds not available for pilgrims. When I got to Mansilla, I was all set to take
a bus into Leon for the night, but another couple got beds in Villarente so
I called up and did the same. That was another 6 km added to a long day
but made the day into Leon really short. The good part of the story is that
the Albergue San Palayo that I stayed at in Puente Villarente was really great.
Not sure if Mansilla is going to reopen their Albergue. I would have stayed the
night there and spent my money, but it wasn't open. And I'm not sure what can
be done at Roncesvalles. I would advise everyone to book a bed there in advance.
Especially if you are an old and slow walker like myself. The walk from
Roncesvalles to Burguette was easy, so you could book over there, too.
I slept in Mansilla last night, and I am in bed in Reliegos right now.Try Reliegos instead ...
@JabbaPapa ,And the El Jardín del Camino Albergue is being rebuilt from the ground up, so that only 1 in 3 Albergues here in Mansilla de las Mulas is open, the Gaia one - - where the Hospitaleros look completely exhausted.
It was full last night, and some pilgrims were turned away. Bed race in November !!
In Cacabelos -- most just blow through it, I suspect, but its really a charming town! -- I can recommend the Hostal Siglo XIX to all without reservation. Stayed there in 2021, and my "Single Room with Terrace' was spectacular! ,,, In pic below taken outside the Siglo XIX entrance, the lady on the right is the retired Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, NZ!I still had issues in Villava and Cacabelos. The solution? At 5 pm, start calling for the following day.
That's great because otherwise the town will be missing out on a lot of money. I believeI have it on pretty good authority that the municipal in Mansilla is reopening in the spring.
I agree with you, but let's not forget that many of those businesses are paying on a mortgage, they pay taxes, utilities and also upkeep/maintenance on their properties.That's great because otherwise the town will be missing out on a lot of money.
That's great because otherwise the town will be missing out on a lot of money.
Assuming that the population of Mansilla is about 2000, that is a whopping 15 Euros/month/person, and it does not take into account any of the costs that must be expended to bring in that gross revenue.That's 30,000 euros a month the town businesses and over 200,000 euros a season the businesses in town are not
getting.
Upon arriving on Thursday, 9/1/2022, I had a very warm and welcoming reception from the volunteer at the monastery in Roncesvalles. My group was delayed due to a gentleman who had experienced heart issues in the Pyrenees. The volunteer escorted me to my bed/showers and then assured me that she would make certain that a late dinner would be provided. Very likely that one cannot make broad generalizations or judgements based on isolated experiences in regards to dates, individuals or locations of albergues .My first two stays in Roncesvalles in 1990 and 2002 were both in midsummer and I don't recall the temperature being anything out of the ordinary. On both those occasions I found the reception I received warm and friendly. Particularly in comparison with the frosty encounter I had the previous day with Madame Debril in SJPDP on the first occasion. I wonder what might have changed between 2002 and 2004 to give the place a reputation for coldness?
From Western Canada, cheers to you from a pilgrim that just finished CF in Oct. 20th. Buen Camino@JabbaPapa ,
I stayed at Albergue GAIA in MANSILLIA de las MULLAS in May this year. ( 2022) and it was full and crowded , still it was good place to stay for the night.
Cheers to all.
You have to question the motivation of some people for walking. Hopefully, he learnt something from the experience.The sense of entitlement which some people bring to the Caminos is astounding. In autumn 2016 I stayed in the recently refitted municipal albergue in Burgos. Brand new bunks, mattresses, showers, toilets and wash basins. A lift to the upper floors. The price for a bed was €5. And one young man startled the entire dorm by yelling loudly and angrily "This place is f*****g s**t!"from his upper bunk. The problem? He couldn't get a strong enough WiFi connection for real-time video chat with a friend across the Atlantic.
@AidaYYC ,From Western Canada, cheers to you from a pilgrim that just finished CF in Oct. 20th. Buen Camino
This year 2022 in Roncesvalles:
week 33 (15-21 August) 1170 pilgrims
week 34 (22-28 August) 1326 pilgrims
week 35 (29 August - 4 Sept.) 1581 pilgrims
week 36 (5-11 Sept.) 1687 pilgrims
week 37 (12-18 Sept.) 1675 pilgrims
week 38 (19-25 sept.) 1499 pilgrims
Starting third week of August would be the best option I think, though next year can be different of course. I would certainly make a reservation in order to have a bed in Aterpea, the renovated building. This is so much more comfortable than sleeping in the Dependecia (the winter-albergue) and in the sótano (the basement).
her name is Laura. Please correct me if I am wrongNot all the locals look at it that way.
As it is now, several local private albergues are making a decent living during the high season. Most of these are run by big families with lots of local ties. In a town the size of Mansilla (or Fromista, or Villfranca Montes de Oca) these can amount to a small mafia of interconnecting loyalties; get a few of the boys on the town council and voila!
Albergues like the old one at Mansilla were for many years the only option in town, operated by local confraternities, and sometimes staffed by volunteers sent by HosVol. For many years Mansilla was run by a charismatic German fellow named Wolf, and/or another very charismatic lady whose name I cannot recall now. The municipality owned the property and did the infrastructure works. It was a scruffy old place that "pilgrims" nowadays would look down upon as crowded and darksome and under-plumbed, but it served its purpose for decades.
The old hospis are gone to their rewards. The albergue closed down when Covid hit, and has not reopened since. Two ladies in the street outside last Fall told me the Confraternity that ran it is aging out of existence, and there weren't any more people like Wolf around willing to take it on... and maintaining the albergue costs the taxpayers money. And the taxpayers are almost all related to the private albergue owners! Ergo...
I am not sure who's behind its reopening. I hope the news is true, the place is an oasis, and an important piece of camino history.
Why does it matter? If it's not compliant, it's not compliant. Unless you're considering carrying out the work to make it compliant?Not up to fire codes. That could be a bunch of stuff. Could you be more specific
People die in fires, that's why it mattersWhy does it matter? If it's not compliant, it's not compliant. Unless you're considering carrying out the work to make it compliant?
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