Hello everyone,
I booked into The Last Stamp albergue in Santiago de Compostela on 26th an 27th April. My friend and I were staying in a 8/10 bed dorm. I took the bottom bunk and she took the top bunk. Behind me was an Indian man in his 50/60s. Around 5pm on the Sunday, my friend was sleeping and I was reading the John Brierley book. I coughed and the Indian man came straight over to me and started a conversation. He told me he was from Bangalore but was living in Brighton. He had just come back from a trip to Germany. When I asked him about the Camino, he said he had done the Camino 5 times and wasn't where to start this time, maybe O Cebreiro. He then informed me he was staying in the albergue (£18 a night) until Thursday 31st for free. The receptionist was kind enough to let him stay until he got money through to his account. I wrapped up the conversation and he left.
Later than night about 12/1am, I was in a deep sleep for about an hour when I woke to him calling my name as he was sitting crosslegged on the ground beside my bed. In my groggy state, I asked him what did he want. He asked me if I would give him some Euros in exchange for Sterling. He handed me £15 in £1 coins. I felt sorry for him so I gave him a €20 note. He then babbled on a bit about someone helping me in return on the camino I felt uneasy at this stage as he continued to sit on the floor. I told him I was going back to sleep. He told me I looked cute and then 'blessed' me, just put his hand over my head and said something. He then continued to come in and out of the room all night until settling at around 4am. God knows what he was doing. Anyway, I left the next day to go to Sarria to start the Camino.
5 days later and I am back in Santiago browsing the square in front of the cathedral and low and behold the same Indian man approached my 2 friends and I and asks if we could spare a few euros, that he was waiting for money to come in and was having some credit problems! I immediately said didn't I give you €20 already last week.. he replied no to which I said yes I did, in the albergue you woke me up and asked me for money. He said Oh yes and quickly walked away and asked others for money.
It seems he is moving from hostel to hostel asking people for euros and possibly isn't walking the camino. Just thought I would make you all aware.
I booked into The Last Stamp albergue in Santiago de Compostela on 26th an 27th April. My friend and I were staying in a 8/10 bed dorm. I took the bottom bunk and she took the top bunk. Behind me was an Indian man in his 50/60s. Around 5pm on the Sunday, my friend was sleeping and I was reading the John Brierley book. I coughed and the Indian man came straight over to me and started a conversation. He told me he was from Bangalore but was living in Brighton. He had just come back from a trip to Germany. When I asked him about the Camino, he said he had done the Camino 5 times and wasn't where to start this time, maybe O Cebreiro. He then informed me he was staying in the albergue (£18 a night) until Thursday 31st for free. The receptionist was kind enough to let him stay until he got money through to his account. I wrapped up the conversation and he left.
Later than night about 12/1am, I was in a deep sleep for about an hour when I woke to him calling my name as he was sitting crosslegged on the ground beside my bed. In my groggy state, I asked him what did he want. He asked me if I would give him some Euros in exchange for Sterling. He handed me £15 in £1 coins. I felt sorry for him so I gave him a €20 note. He then babbled on a bit about someone helping me in return on the camino I felt uneasy at this stage as he continued to sit on the floor. I told him I was going back to sleep. He told me I looked cute and then 'blessed' me, just put his hand over my head and said something. He then continued to come in and out of the room all night until settling at around 4am. God knows what he was doing. Anyway, I left the next day to go to Sarria to start the Camino.
5 days later and I am back in Santiago browsing the square in front of the cathedral and low and behold the same Indian man approached my 2 friends and I and asks if we could spare a few euros, that he was waiting for money to come in and was having some credit problems! I immediately said didn't I give you €20 already last week.. he replied no to which I said yes I did, in the albergue you woke me up and asked me for money. He said Oh yes and quickly walked away and asked others for money.
It seems he is moving from hostel to hostel asking people for euros and possibly isn't walking the camino. Just thought I would make you all aware.