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All but one Albergue I stayed in had separate Ladies and Men's showers. The one that was mixed had separated stalls with a dressing area for privacy. Sorry, no freaky deaky.......
Buen Camino
Same! Had to be very organised to maintain modesty!!! HeheI have come across albergues with mixed bathrooms and only shower curtains separating the stalls. If you feel uncomfortable you can always find another woman to "stand guard".
The spa I belong to in Biarritz, Thalmar, has a shared locker room and I have often seen members change clothing with out regard to prying eyes, while there are also changing vestibules in the women's and the men's shower area. The same activity goes on down at the beach.I have been in compartmentalized unisex toilets and showers in hostels all over Europe. I have seen naked people in Albergues changing clothing. Many Europeans don't think anything of it. I wouldn't do it but I don't take offense to others who do.
I loved that hotel/albergue in El Acebo! I even stayed two different years. The showers are nice and new. Yes, there is no changing area, but I always bring my clean clothes (and valuables) in a plastic bag in the shower with me, hung from the "S" hook I bring. Not alot of room in there, but it works. I've had other Camino shower areas with no changing rooms, too. Like a box of chocolates...you never know what you are gonna get!One uncomfortable toilet/shower/drying configuration comes to mind at the albergue in Calzadilla de la Cueza. I stayed at the new "modern" hostel in el Acebo, truly by mistake b/c I thought the pool would be open, anyway it has separate toilet facilities for men and women but the shower stall is so small there is no place to put your clothes or valuables without giving them a shower too.
I too remember a notable unisex bathroom in Calzadilla de la Cueza. Did the one you are thinking of have a line of urinals along one wall? And the tiniest toilet and shower stalls I have ever seen. Much opportunity to practice custody of the eyes. When I went through Calzadilla last year that albergue had been totally renovated. The bathroom and neighbouring dorm are now a pilgrim bar.One uncomfortable toilet/shower/drying configuration comes to mind at the albergue in Calzadilla de la Cueza. I stayed at the new "modern" hostel in el Acebo, truly by mistake b/c I thought the pool would be open, anyway it has separate toilet facilities for men and women but the shower stall is so small there is no place to put your clothes or valuables without giving them a shower too.
there is a point where you just have to trust that all will be OK and go. Right now things like the occasional unisex bathroom sound strange but when you are walking the camino it’s a whole different ball game. Things that might once have made you feel uncomfortable at home just become a normal part of the camino.
I too remember a notable unisex bathroom in Calzadilla de la Cueza. Did the one you are thinking of have a line of urinals along one wall? And the tiniest toilet and shower stalls I have ever seen. Much opportunity to practice custody of the eyes. When I went through Calzadilla last year that albergue had been totally renovated. The bathroom and neighbouring dorm are now a pilgrim bar.
Never saw this.Dear pilgrims,
I spoke with a woman I met at a workshop today who did the camino last year. She stated that she had a female friend who stayed at an albergue where everyone showered together. She made it sound like things were kind of freaky deaky.Is that the case, or are they coed showers which contain stalls that provide privacy?
Your girlfriend can rest easy as far as any uncomfortable scenarios encountered while walking the Camino. I've done multiple Caminos, stayed in a wide variety of albergues and such and never encountered an uncomfortable scenario. That's walking with literally hundreds of fellow pilgrims from all demographics, countries and ages.Well you pilgrims didn't disappoint. I knew this post was gonna see some action!I truly appreciate all who took the time to respond. I've no problem with whatever scenario should arise regarding the showers. I pride myself in being able to adapt to any situation. I ask mostly because my girlfriend- who is on the fence with regards to doing this trip with me next year- isn't as adaptable to certain scenarios as I am. I love this forum, and I gotta say that- even though I don't know any of you, I'm sure I'd enjoy sharing stories with you folks should we cross paths one day on the camino! I hope we do. Thanks again for the info!
I completely agree. Things become normal. I'm sure more than one person on the Camino saw my butt - everybody's got one, so it's not a big deal.
Cool. Good to know.Your girlfriend can rest easy as far as any uncomfortable scenarios encountered while walking the Camino. I've done multiple Caminos, stayed in a wide variety of albergues and such and never encountered an uncomfortable scenario. That's walking with literally hundreds of fellow pilgrims from all demographics, countries and ages.
I'm a middle-aged male, but no choirboy and nothing really shocks me, but I don't think I saw anything that would shock anybody. It's all cool. Really nothing that requires much adaptation.
Nice variety!In my Camino, I have always stayed at municipal albergues and what I found regarding bathrooms was as follows (Camino Português), being ALL of them gender separated:
Rubiães - individual booth with walls on the side and nice curtain on the front, hooks outside;
Tui - communal shower, separated with a single wall from the rest of the bathroom and with a view to the church! - gladfully nobody else was using the bathroom, so had a very nice shower;
Redondela - individual large booth with door, hooks inside;
Pontevedra - individual booth with hooks on the facing wall, separated by walls but with minimal/very revealing curtain - showered very fast!
Caldas de Reis - the most strange shower yet, hooks outside, several booths separated by acrylic/glass walls and doors. However, there was a strip of matte style glass at chest level, leaving the rest of the separation see-through. So no boobies showing but the rest of the body, including privates, exposed! VERY weird! Also the light had a sensor and if nobody entered the bathroom, you would shower in the dark as there was no sensor near the showers, just by the door.
Padrón - there was a saloon style door that separated the showers from the rest of the bathrooms. There was a chair and some hooks and then two showers separated by a wall but exposed to the door. Showered very quickly!
Hopefully this will be some interesting insight I hope!
Cool. Thanks for sharing.I live in a spa town in Slovakia where gender separated spa procedure involve a lot of people (mostly seniors) walking around in the buff or just a sheet loosely wrapped around them and I’ve vacation years on the Adriatic coast in Croatia (au natural beaches are very common). IMO Europeans are generally far less phased by showing “more” skin in public (totally non sexual) vs North Americans. But my only “communal” shower stalls w no door/curtain was females only at the municipal Albergue in OCebreio.
I live in a spa town in Slovakia where gender separated spa procedure involve a lot of people (mostly seniors) walking around in the buff or just a sheet loosely wrapped around them and I’ve vacation years on the Adriatic coast in Croatia (au natural beaches are very common). IMO Europeans are generally far less phased by showing “more” skin in public (totally non sexual) vs North Americans. But my only “communal” shower stalls w no door/curtain was females only at the municipal Albergue in OCebreio.
I found comunal shower, only men, I don’t know about the woman’s facility, last year only once on my first comunal albergue at Zubiri, and for the rest of my Camino I never encountered this, I would like to added that I found the best shower facilities at the albergue Milpes at Ribadeo (Arzúa)Dear pilgrims,
I spoke with a woman I met at a workshop today who did the camino last year. She stated that she had a female friend who stayed at an albergue where everyone showered together. She made it sound like things were kind of freaky deaky.Is that the case, or are they coed showers which contain stalls that provide privacy?
Dear pilgrims,
I spoke with a woman I met at a workshop today who did the camino last year. She stated that she had a female friend who stayed at an albergue where everyone showered together. She made it sound like things were kind of freaky deaky.Is that the case, or are they coed showers which contain stalls that provide privacy?
If worried pay maybe 10 euros and stay in a private or church run albergue , some are fantastic some are basic but every one had walls and doors between showers on camino frances . I stayed at one municipal albergue and refused to have a shower , so dark I could not see properly but it did NOT look good at all , only really dodgy place I stayed at .Dear pilgrims,
I spoke with a woman I met at a workshop today who did the camino last year. She stated that she had a female friend who stayed at an albergue where everyone showered together. She made it sound like things were kind of freaky deaky.Is that the case, or are they coed showers which contain stalls that provide privacy?
The albergue I stayed in the day I arrived in SJPdP had a shower room that was co-ed. The two stalls were separated by a wall and had privacy curtains. All other albergues I stayed in through out the rest of my camino were separated into mens and womens room with stalls.Dear pilgrims,
I spoke with a woman I met at a workshop today who did the camino last year. She stated that she had a female friend who stayed at an albergue where everyone showered together. She made it sound like things were kind of freaky deaky.Is that the case, or are they coed showers which contain stalls that provide privacy?
Thanks for replying. Good to know.The albergue I stayed in the day I arrived in SJPdP had a shower room that was co-ed. The two stalls were separated by a wall and had privacy curtains. All other albergues I stayed in through out the rest of my camino were separated into mens and womens room with stalls.
I'm cool regardless of the situation. I was just curious because my girlfriend was a little concerned about having to shower amongst a sausage fest.If worried pay maybe 10 euros and stay in a private or church run albergue , some are fantastic some are basic but every one had walls and doors between showers on camino frances . I stayed at one municipal albergue and refused to have a shower , so dark I could not see properly but it did NOT look good at all , only really dodgy place I stayed at .
What load of rubbish I am a 71 year old lady who has completed two thirds of the camino and plan to complete this March. What was meant I am sure was there are times when you share the same shower area but there are doors or pull over covers , so you need to plan your shower eg taking your clothe and towels into the shower area in a plastic bag. A bit of planning and common sense is needed, unfortunately i have never come across the opportunity to have a shower with lovely young man, but maybe there is time yet, I am sure he would get the biggest fright. p.s. I am Scottish a prude nation but I have been in Norway and Denmark where people do enjoy saunas together, but alas not on the Camino.
I really don't think that there's anything more "authentic" about municipals vs private albergues. And you can encounter unisex or separate facilities in either. Also private albergues aren't necessarily nicer than municipals or parochials. I stayed in a few rather "rustic" private albergues.I'm cool regardless of the situation. I was just curious because my girlfriend was a little concerned about having to shower amongst a sausage fest.Occasionally, will do a private albergues, but I wan't to keep it as authentic as possible and stay at municipal site. Thanks for replying.
Agreed. An albergue is an albergue. One is no more authentic than another. Maybe more expensive than another, but not more authentic.I really don't think that there's anything more "authentic" about municipals vs private albergues. And you can encounter unisex or separate facilities in either. Also private albergues aren't necessarily nicer than municipals or parochials. I stayed in a few rather "rustic" private albergues.
So true, the only really bad one we stayed in was a private one - the dormitories were so crowded and cramped, it was mouldy, the light-bulbs weren't working and it was really dark and dingy, there were bars on the window - a real fire trap. They made everyone wait outside in the pouring rain while they processed everyone - even though there was room for them to come inside.The glass shower door fell off the rails onto my head and nearly knocked me out. Had an egg on my forehead for a couple of days. Plus my friend was bitten by bedbugs. The municipal one next door was new, clean, spacious and really nice, and had a fabulous bar and cafe. But it makes for a great story.I really don't think that there's anything more "authentic" about municipals vs private albergues. And you can encounter unisex or separate facilities in either. Also private albergues aren't necessarily nicer than municipals or parochials. I stayed in a few rather "rustic" private albergues.
Good to know. Yes, I've heard that some pilgrims have experienced private albergues that weren't up to snuff. Thanks for replying.I really don't think that there's anything more "authentic" about municipals vs private albergues. And you can encounter unisex or separate facilities in either. Also private albergues aren't necessarily nicer than municipals or parochials. I stayed in a few rather "rustic" private albergues.
That is arguable, as it depends on what snuff you are measuringI've heard that some pilgrims have experienced private albergues that weren't up to snuff.
I am still laughing.. good response...Castro Dozen has separate gender showers but 4 spouts in each room. Fastest shower I have ever had.
But my only “communal” shower stalls w no door/curtain was females only at the municipal Albergue in OCebreio.
The municipal refugio in Palas de Rei had open shower cubicles with no curtains the last time I stayed there (some time ago) and a Norteamericana had thumb tacked Hombres and Mujeres signs on the co-ed toilets at each end of the dormitory which were promptly ignored by the Europeans.
Thanks for sharing!Palas de Rei was another town where my sister and I went to the bar rather than shower (we seem to have frequented a lot of bars). There were a lot of European men at the municipal albergue, and we had no chance of trying to stop any one of them coming in while the other one showered. There were definitely no shower doors when we stayed there in 2013 and I have had no desire to ever stay there again, so don’t know if it’s still the same. At the next place, Ribadeo, we asked if we could see the ablutions before we checked in (as we hadn’t washed for 2 days), and the lovely hospitalera not only agreed (separate mens and womens) but suggested we take the 2 bunk-bed room off the big main dorm. As the big dorm filled up we spread our stuff around and shut the door so it looked as though all 4 beds were taken. Baaaaaad pilgrims . But the place was nowhere near full as it was mid-Nov. It was the last night the only bar ( at that time) was open before it closed for the winter, so we not only showered but partied with the locals that evening.
Jill
I would also just generally caution against getting caught up on what is and what is not an "authentic" Camino experience. Authenticity becomes really hard to pin down because everybody will have his or her own definition. Just go and see how it all plays out.
Thanks for the humorous reply and not taking this whole thread so serious as some have.Thats why I have been walking all of these Caminos.... those co ed showers and the good beer.
Will do.I would also just generally caution against getting caught up on what is and what is not an "authentic" Camino experience. Authenticity becomes really hard to pin down because everybody will have his or her own definition. Just go and see how it all plays out.
Thank heavens I never came across this scenario!!!!Dear pilgrims,
I spoke with a woman I met at a workshop today who did the camino last year. She stated that she had a female friend who stayed at an albergue where everyone showered together. She made it sound like things were kind of freaky deaky.Is that the case, or are they coed showers which contain stalls that provide privacy?
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