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Queued inside the green doors at 12 pm as per instructions to get a free lunch at the Parador at Santiago. I'd earned it...believe me!
Followed instructions posted on the internet and on the wall outside the green doors.
Waited with half dozen other lovely folk of various nationalities. Noon passed. It got to 12:30 pm with nothing happening and one of the Spanish speakers found out there was no free lunch today because noone had ordered it.
Apparently the rules have changed. Tickets now have to be ordered for the free breakfast, lunch or dinner at the Parador from the Pilgrim Office. I'm guessing that's because the Pilgrim Office isn't busy enough?
IMO telefono a el Rey!!!
PS I make no apologies for my Spanish.
What I should have said is that a lot of people have sense of entitlement.I don't think it's literally for the penniless pilgrim. It is because when the Parador was set up in the old Pilgrim Hospital, they kept a fraction of the tradition going as a nod to history. If it was for the poor, then surely homeless local people should be first in line.
I think that's a bit harsh. Likely, the OP just wanted to experience what there was to be experienced, and hadn't thought it all through - something like my not appreciating, when I went on camino for the first time, that donativo meant 'give what you can afford.'What I should have said is that a lot of people have sense of entitlement.
Oh, did I ever get slapped on the wrist when voicing that opinion here a few months ago! I frankly would prefer to be asked to contribute to a meal in Santiago for those who may need the helping hand.Hmmm. Not sure I would feel that comfortable queuing up for a free lunch.
I presume the original intention was to feed Pilgrims who could not afford to buy a meal.
Maybe I'm over thinking it
Where can one get such a breakfast for 5$?The all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet is only $5 and should hold a person until dinner.
If it was for the poor, then surely homeless local people should be first in line.
If it was for the poor, then surely homeless local people should be first in line.
Queued inside the green doors at 12 pm as per instructions to get a free lunch at the Parador at Santiago. I'd earned it...believe me!
...
Perhaps my info is WAY out of date but when I completed my walk in 2013, it was my understanding that the Pilgrim meals (either Breakfast, lunch or evening meal) were for the first 10 (or maybe it was 12), people who were lined up, outside the side door of the Parador, plus the requirement of having to show your Compostela and this Compostela had to have that day's date on it......perhaps this has now changed though?Queued inside the green doors at 12 pm as per instructions to get a free lunch at the Parador at Santiago. I'd earned it...believe me!
Followed instructions posted on the internet and on the wall outside the green doors.
Waited with half dozen other lovely folk of various nationalities. Noon passed. It got to 12:30 pm with nothing happening and one of the Spanish speakers found out there was no free lunch today because noone had ordered it.
Apparently the rules have changed. Tickets now have to be ordered for the free breakfast, lunch or dinner at the Parador from the Pilgrim Office. I'm guessing that's because the Pilgrim Office isn't busy enough?
IMO telefono a el Rey!!!
PS I make no apologies for my Spanish.
I don't think it's literally for the penniless pilgrim. It is because when the Parador was set up in the old Pilgrim Hospital, they kept a fraction of the tradition going as a nod to history. If it was for the poor, then surely homeless local people should be first in line.
Yes it was a Pilgrim Hospital in the Middle Ages but before being a Parador (1954) it was the Santiago Hospital. My mother was operated there of goiter 70 years ago and maybe she had some free lunches.
... Sometimes these things are fun. But obviously not on this forum.
Oh OK and oh dear because I thought my thread was in fun. It was not my intention to take food from the mouths of the poor and needy and I would never have done that. If there were more than 10 queuing and looking needy I would have walked away. My niece walked the Frances last year on a shoe string and she ate twice at the Parador with very few other pilgrims and she walked in September in peak time. Can I say that all those queuing with me did not in any way look poor or needy. It was just meant to be an experience and an entitlement decreed by the King and Queen of Spain. Hey? Sometimes these things are fun. But obviously not on this forum.
And I will have you know that it took me 51 days to walk every step from SJPdP to Santiago. Plus I carried my backpack the entire way every day. There's no such thing as a free lunch.
PS All OK didn't realise that not everyone knew about the Parador meals.
I had the free meal twice when I was in Santiago in 2007. I got the impression it was a charming tradition, a kind of re-enactment thing, and had nothing to do with charity. If it was charity, they would do more meals and not serve wines. It was always a faff to get in, they did that on purpose so only really interested people would bother.
LOL no, but back then you had to hand in a copy of your documents, so I did make it my business to 'happen by' a copy shop! People used to have to queue up at the parking garage entrance and most of them didn't know about the photocopies. I got the feeling it was deliberately rather obscure and bureaucratic and sounds like it still is. But that doesn't mean people should feel bad for making the effort to do it.Rumour has it that you queued for 2 days,that true ??
..., the same way donativo beds should be left for those who cannot afford the full price of a bed day in and day out as they walk....
Why not? It's nothing fancy.Plus, we have neither the clothing or shoes that would get us into the "real" dining room.
..., we have neither the clothing or shoes that would get us into the "real" dining room. ...
I got the impression it was a charming tradition, a kind of re-enactment thing, and had nothing to do with charity. If it was charity, they would do more meals and not serve wines.
Plus, we have neither the clothing or shoes that would get us into the "real" dining room.
That was also my impression. This being said, if they are now handing out tickets to the first ten people to get their Compostela a day one has to wonder.3) sorry, but some pilgrims genuinely do have financial difficulties, and these meals do have them in mind
That was also my impression. This being said, if they are now handing out tickets to the first ten people to get their Compostela a day one has to wonder.
Oh OK and oh dear because I thought my thread was in fun. It was not my intention to take food from the mouths of the poor and needy and I would never have done that. If there were more than 10 queuing and looking needy I would have walked away. My niece walked the Frances last year on a shoe string and she ate twice at the Parador with very few other pilgrims and she walked in September in peak time. Can I say that all those queuing with me did not in any way look poor or needy. It was just meant to be an experience and an entitlement decreed by the King and Queen of Spain. Hey? Sometimes these things are fun. But obviously not on this forum.
Hola HedaP - I did the same (June 6th), and eventually discovered that it is now a 'first-come, first-served' with the daily meals - that only the first ten pilgrims checking-in at the pilgrims office each morning are eligible for tickets for the meals. That's what I was told. I know many, many pilgrims are expecting otherwise. Buen CaminoQueued inside the green doors at 12 pm as per instructions to get a free lunch at the Parador at Santiago. I'd earned it...believe me!
Followed instructions posted on the internet and on the wall outside the green doors.
Waited with half dozen other lovely folk of various nationalities. Noon passed. It got to 12:30 pm with nothing happening and one of the Spanish speakers found out there was no free lunch today because noone had ordered it.
Apparently the rules have changed. Tickets now have to be ordered for the free breakfast, lunch or dinner at the Parador from the Pilgrim Office. I'm guessing that's because the Pilgrim Office isn't busy enough?
IMO telefono a el Rey!!!
PS I make no apologies for my Spanish.
That's interesting but is it still the case?Hola HedaP - I did the same (June 6th), and eventually discovered that it is now a 'first-come, first-served' with the daily meals - that only the first ten pilgrims checking-in at the pilgrims office each morning are eligible for tickets for the meals. That's what I was told. I know many, many pilgrims are expecting otherwise. Buen Camino
That's interesting but is it still the case?
There used to be three meals provided by the Parador - breakfast, lunch and dinner. Do the first 10 pilgrims at the pilgrim office get all three?
On the day I queued, we told there was no lunch that day because noone applied for it at the pilgrim office.
It would be good to know what the rules are now for the sake of anyone who might feel comfortable about accepting a pilgrim meal.
Does anyone know what they are?
I'm curious. Is there a source for this information? I don't think the Parador website implies this but I'm wondering if that is stated elsewhere..... 3) sorry, but some pilgrims genuinely do have financial difficulties, and these meals do have them in mind
Yes, I think so.I had the free meal twice when I was in Santiago in 2007. I got the impression it was a charming tradition, a kind of re-enactment thing, and had nothing to do with charity. If it was charity, they would do more meals and not serve wines. It was always a faff to get in, they did that on purpose so only really interested people would bother.
Of course wine is good for ill people! It says so in this novel. It even tells you which is the right wine for each ailment.But actually in Spain and France it used to be a regular thing, drank in common glassess, not in fancy goblets. It was not considered as an intoxicant, but as a fortifying drink, good even for ill people (and, surely, for pilgrims).
I know that guy on the left he was in Hospital de Orbigo tonight giving me a ticket to forward baggage to his mates company..... though I could be wrongView attachment 34475When I was getting my compostela for completion of the Portuguese Camino this April, the first 10 people at the office received a certificate for lunch at the Parador from the pilgrim office. I was there right at 8:00 AM as the previous day when I went there the line up was likely 2 hours or more. I am not sure if they do this all the time or if it was just for a limited time period.
In any case, it was a gourmet lunch with both red and white wine.
I'm curious. Is there a source for this information? I don't think the Parador website implies this but I'm wondering if that is stated elsewhere.
Wow thank you. That was really kind of you to sort this out.Ok, mystery solved ;-) Just back from a chat with the friendly receptionist at the Parador, it now works like this:
The first ten pilgrims of each day that turn up at the pilgrims office get automatically a voucher for one free lunch each at the restaurant Enxebre at 13:00.
Buen Camino, SY
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