jefferyonthecamino
http://www.barrerabooks.com/ - Guidebooks
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2021
Between Triacastela and Sarria there are two routes, I personally find the one through San Xil nicer; but you would miss Samos.
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I wouldn't regret it if I were you! I took the monastery tour last year and, although it was extremely interesting, it was freezing cold in there - and this was in mid-May, and the weather was gorgeous. The tour was conducted in Spanish but we were fortunate in that we were with a Spanish woman who also spoke English and she gave us a quick translation of what the guide was saying. My recollection is that there is no heat in the rooms, no matter what. As to whether there is hot water, I don't recall hearing about that. The warmth of the sun was never more welcome than it was that day when I emerged from the monastery.......kind of regret not staying the night at the monastery.
I walked the San Xil route last September and my son walked the Samos route the year before. Going on his recommendation I think I will be walking the Samos route next year. Sorry but thats the best I can offer. Btw, how do you pronounce San XilBetween Triacastela and Sarria there are two routes, I personally find the one through San Xil nicer; but you would miss Samos.
I wouldn't regret it if I were you! I took the monastery tour last year and, although it was extremely interesting, it was freezing cold in there - and this was in mid-May, and the weather was gorgeous. The tour was conducted in Spanish but we were fortunate in that we were with a Spanish woman who also spoke English and she gave us a quick translation of what the guide was saying. My recollection is that there is no heat in the rooms, no matter what. As to whether there is hot water, I don't recall hearing about that. The warmth of the sun was never more welcome than it was that day when I emerged from the monastery.
From the monastery museum - a picture of a medieval credential.
I walked the San Xil route last September and my son walked the Samos route the year before. Going on his recommendation I think I will be walking the Samos route next year. Sorry but thats the best I can offer. Btw, how do you pronounce San Xil
Well Stuart, you get top marks from me if you are willing to endure that cold, and I'm sorry you had that less than pleasant experience in Sarria. However, if I had had to spend that night in that freezing monastery (if I would have been permitted, that is) I would have been some sorry soul.That's kind of why I regretted not doing it. I'd like to have had that monastic experience, I'd heard the same thing about the conditions. I'm not a fan of unnecessary discomfort for its own sake but I think as a means of appreciating monastic life it would have been interesting. Instead I ended up in a dump of a hotel in Sarria that was full of drunks. I got about 2hrs sleep so a freezing monastery doesn't sound too bad.
Well Stuart, you get top marks from me if you are willing to endure that cold, and I'm sorry you had that less than pleasant experience in Sarria. However, if I had had to spend that night in that freezing monastery (if I would have been permitted, that is) I would have been some sorry soul.
We stayed in the monastary albergueThat's kind of why I regretted not doing it. I'd like to have had that monastic experience, I'd heard the same thing about the conditions. I'm not a fan of unnecessary discomfort for its own sake but I think as a means of appreciating monastic life it would have been interesting. Instead I ended up in a dump of a hotel in Sarria that was full of drunks. I got about 2hrs sleep so a freezing monastery doesn't sound too bad.
That is typical of most monastery accommodations. The cloistered and semi-cloistered residents willingly extend hospitality, but the pilgrim is not invited to be part of the religious order. I don't think they view themselves as tourist attractions. They do not look for members among the pilgrims, and are not "quaint" for the purpose of entertaining outsiders. In a convent in Figeac, men had a section set aside off the kitchen. Women were invited to vespers, but that was all. I asked the nun who was doing the job of reception that day if she could recommend a good restaurant in Figeac. Her reply: I cannot. I have never eaten outside the convent.Two weeks ago and it is important to know that it is not a monastic experience
We saw a monk, even chatted with him. He was outside whittling a pilgrim staff when we emerged from the monastery tour. Our chat quickly became a one-sided conversation as neither my cousin nor I speaks much Spanish. The monk was very chatty; actually I think he was intrigued by my cousin, whose paternal ancestors hail from northern Spain, and she looks like she could have been a local. The monk continued whittling all the while, even trying out my Opinel knife and pronouncing it very adequate to the task....... and except at mass, you probably will not see a monk.
Falcon:That is typical of most monastery accommodations. The cloistered and semi-cloistered residents willingly extend hospitality, but the pilgrim is not invited to be part of the religious order. I don't think they view themselves as tourist attractions. They do not look for members among the pilgrims, and are not "quaint" for the purpose of entertaining outsiders.