Dear Forum friends,
Many, many thanks for your (financial) support during 2020. Your contributions - from some members multiple times! - helped me weather the lockdown and difficult year with few pilgrims. For this I will forever be grateful. We have all experienced a trying time, and continue to feel the enormous impact this year.
As many of you know, I took over Albergue Villares de Orbigo on March 13, 2020 and was forced to close two days later. It was only in July that I reopened after a long, severe lockdown in Spain. During the following months until I closed in October, I welcomed 133 pilgrims. That’s it! Many questioned why I “bothered” to open, as many private and municipal albergues decided to remain closed throughout the year. My answer was simple: “Because this is what I came to Spain to do”. The 2020 pilgrim season was like no other I had experienced over the past 10 years walking Caminos and volunteering. Distancing, masks and health regulations governing albergue owners changed the Camino as I knew it. Offering communal meals on a donation basis was put to the test and due to the guidelines was often impossible. Still, I am glad that I could welcome all those who entered our doors. It remains to be seen how season 2021 will unfold. We can only hope that by this summer or fall we will be able to move about more freely and enjoy one another's company without too many restrictions.
Uncertain times and family circumstances sometimes calls for a major overhaul. And so, this will be my last post as the hospitalera of Villares de Orbigo. Today Martin and Merel, a couple from The Netherlands, will be taking over the albergue and its Facebook page. They too are pilgrims so I trust that they will keep the Camino spirit alive.
No worries, I am healthy and in The Netherlands awaiting the birth of our first grandchild. I will return to Spain, there is no doubt about that but next time it will be with my backpack!
I personally thanked all of you who contributed. In most cases you did not want a Buff, a night at the albergue or anything else I offered but please know that my offer still stands (except for the night at the albergue). My belongings are now in storage but I would be more than pleased to send you a Camino souvenir once I move. And, the next café con leche or vino tinto is on me!
Ultreia!
Many, many thanks for your (financial) support during 2020. Your contributions - from some members multiple times! - helped me weather the lockdown and difficult year with few pilgrims. For this I will forever be grateful. We have all experienced a trying time, and continue to feel the enormous impact this year.
As many of you know, I took over Albergue Villares de Orbigo on March 13, 2020 and was forced to close two days later. It was only in July that I reopened after a long, severe lockdown in Spain. During the following months until I closed in October, I welcomed 133 pilgrims. That’s it! Many questioned why I “bothered” to open, as many private and municipal albergues decided to remain closed throughout the year. My answer was simple: “Because this is what I came to Spain to do”. The 2020 pilgrim season was like no other I had experienced over the past 10 years walking Caminos and volunteering. Distancing, masks and health regulations governing albergue owners changed the Camino as I knew it. Offering communal meals on a donation basis was put to the test and due to the guidelines was often impossible. Still, I am glad that I could welcome all those who entered our doors. It remains to be seen how season 2021 will unfold. We can only hope that by this summer or fall we will be able to move about more freely and enjoy one another's company without too many restrictions.
Uncertain times and family circumstances sometimes calls for a major overhaul. And so, this will be my last post as the hospitalera of Villares de Orbigo. Today Martin and Merel, a couple from The Netherlands, will be taking over the albergue and its Facebook page. They too are pilgrims so I trust that they will keep the Camino spirit alive.
No worries, I am healthy and in The Netherlands awaiting the birth of our first grandchild. I will return to Spain, there is no doubt about that but next time it will be with my backpack!
I personally thanked all of you who contributed. In most cases you did not want a Buff, a night at the albergue or anything else I offered but please know that my offer still stands (except for the night at the albergue). My belongings are now in storage but I would be more than pleased to send you a Camino souvenir once I move. And, the next café con leche or vino tinto is on me!
Ultreia!