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www.elprogreso.es
Such welcome news! When I was there this past November, many workmen at the Albergue. The church, seemingly always closed, we couldn’t “pretty please them” for a peek inside, no key. Some pics from 11-10-21We need first hand reports! 34 beds, bathrooms, living room, kitchen. No one has said whether the kitchen will be equipped, though, or whether it will be a typical Xunta albergue that has a kitchen with no equipment. Maybe Torre Vilariño will take orders and deliver a meal.
For those who haven’t followed our long wait for this albergue, you should know that it is located in the Bishop’s palace (15th C???) that is built onto the side of the 12th C Romanesque church in Diomondi, out in the middle of nowhere.
I have been to the church on three different occasions and never found it open. I wonder if the hospitalero/a will have the key. That would make it just about as perfect a stop as could be imagined.
Thanks for another article in the Spanish press, @FreeCat. I’ll bet the church hasn’t seen a crowd like the one in the picture for years!!!Another good news.
Next week the Diomondi hostel opens its doors.
El Camino de Invierno tiene ya su primer albergue público... y es monumental
Está en el antiguo palacio obispal de Diomondi, en O Saviñao, y abrirá la semana que vienewww.lavozdegalicia.es
www.elprogreso.es
In the spirit of self-sacrifice and duty, I will take on this task to inform the forum.
Answering the call... as alwaysIn the spirit of self-sacrifice and duty, I will take on this task to inform the forum.
That’s a great question. Gronze doesn’t even show the albergue yet. I bet the albergues in Monforte de Lemos can help with that, but I will also send a few inquiries to see if I can find out something.
The tourist office in Monforte says they don’t have a number for the albuergue in Diomondi but it is open and can just show up- so that is what I will try when I walk through day after tomorrow. I think it is now on Gronze as well?
It's 'or,' I think.
I‘ve had a WhatsApp with the owners of the new albergue in Monforte de Lemos. They have tried to get some information but all they have found out is that the authorities are waiting on a phone number. Not sure what that means. Gronze just shows “open at 1 pm”. I can’t imagine that the Xunta will staff this albergue with a hospitalero but I could be wrong! You will have to let us know, take lots of pictures!
Some albergues don't have phones or it rings to the municipal building and not the albergue.
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... We all hope there won't be hoardes, but I am sure the community along this Camino does. Thanks Amy for the report.
I guess this means the Xunta will let non-peregrinos stay there? I don’t think that’s normal practice (and Gronze says it’s only for peregrinos). but there’s surely not a crunch!
Maybe she meant the first peregrina instead of peregrino?
WOW indeed! The interior looks spectacular! Thank you so much for the report and photos @amy374
Cantina Mean is no more than 3km from Diomondi, on LU-P- 5806. I turned right off the camino route onto a farm road a few km before Diomondi that brought me right to its door. Juan is on WhatsApp +34 678 50 52 19.
Yes, I understood her to mean I was the first female pilgrim to stay.
This looks really nice! There is a restaurant and pilgrim accommodation.
Looks so beautifully done! Thanks for posting. Makes me want to get on the next flight.Wow, WOW! The albergue in Diomondi is so new, so big, and so empty! I was the only pilgrim there last night and the hospitalero told me I was the first peregrina to stay and maybe only the 12th person?
There are many many rooms and beds, also bathrooms (though showers only on first floor), and a beautiful sitting area/loft upstairs. The hospitalero Iría was not there when I arrived but the number was on the door, I used WhatsApp to text her and she came about 40 min later- very apologetic that she hadn’t been there (though it’s a lovely site to wander around and wait)!
There are two kitchens, upstairs and down. Small and I saw no utensils, plates etc. Funny to have created a huge albergue with such tiny cocina. Earlier, I found a nearby “Cantina Mean” on Google maps, and Juan the owner is on WhatsApp. He confirmed that he would be open when I came through that afternoon and had a pilgrim menu. It was sort of like a “farmhouse bar”, soup, eggs, chorizo, potatoes, salad, wine and coffee for 10e. I don’t get the sense there is a lot of variety on offer there (or that it is as nice as Torre Vilarano, where it was too early to stop as I walked through). I would absolutely suggest confirming they are open before counting on it for lunch or dinner. But it is perfectly located near Diomondi, friendly, and a nice place to stop for a home cooked meal before settling in at the albergue. No wifi there (or at albergue).
Iría explained they are still working out some kinks- for example the lights don’t go off in the dormitory room once turned on. It’s nice to have the electric on though because every bed has an outlet next to it. A big area outside for washing clothes but no where really to hang them- I made do with a tree.
After walking to Chantada this morning, with the descent and then climb (how are there cherries already ripe!!!?), I can say how glad I am to have been able to do that stretch in the morning and not at the end of a long day from Monforte de Lemos.
I hope many other pilgrims will make use of the albergue and also Cantina Mean
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Yes, Laurie! Private albergue. The owner/hospitalera was very kind and helpful, everything brand new, gorgeous individual bathrooms, individual light and outlet, strong WiFI, self service washer and drier included in the price. All one floor. Nice bar next door for early breakfast, and right on the Camino.
Fingers crossed, this will be the case at the end of the summer since I do not have a phone (yes I am a bit of a Luddite).
