- Time of past OR future Camino
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Pilgrims are asked to leave their backpack in a large yellow plastic bag in the cabinets downstairs. I'm not sure how much the plastic bags help in the battle against bedbugs. They can carry what they need upstairs in large plastic pails. A fringe benefit is that this reduces noise in the dorms in the morning.I look forward to your updates! Do they still have a routine with leaving backpacks downstairs, transfering things to plastic bags, etc?
Tom Friesen was the fellow who provided my HosVol training. He also gave me (and Shannon) an orientation to the albergue and town. I expect I'll be using my free time mostly sightseeing, doing chores, and hopefully reconnecting with some friends I made on the San Salvador last year.Great David! Our friend, Tom Friesen several years ago arranged to go to Spanish classes while serving there since he didn't have to clean much. Don't know if that is of interest to you.
I had to do this same thing quite a few times at the gites on the Via Podiensis in 2018. I didn't mind.Pilgrims are asked to leave their backpack in a large yellow plastic bag in the cabinets downstairs. I'm not sure how much the plastic bags help in the battle against bedbugs. They can carry what they need upstairs in large plastic pails. A fringe benefit is that this reduces noise in the dorms in the morning.
HosVol is a Spanish group that provides trained volunteers hospitaleros (hospitaleros voluntarios) to donativo albergues. There are thirty something albergues they provide hospitaleros to. Hospitaleros come from around the world, if they have taken the HosVol training (which, in my case, was conducted over a weekend). Various volunteers around the world do the training. In my experience, you fill in a form for your first stint, answering some basic questions about what you may or may not be up for (organizing a communal meal or evening service, for example) and tell them when you will be available and they assign a location. I think most of them are not solo, but most have a lot more work than this one.What an interesting posting, I think you will make an ace Hospitalero, you come across as a nice guy.
I am now looking for my next adventure, and am considering an immersive month learning in Spain, and have been considering doing some volunteering somewhere, and reading this thread is like seeing stars align. Therefore could I ask some questions please.
Is is usual to be thrown in at the deep end as a solo Hospitalero for your first one
This "HosVol training" is it a Canadian thing? ( I am UK based).
How much Spanish can you speak and how much is necessary?
Do you get to chose the Albergue?
Should I have searched the forums for a thread on how to be a Hospitalero and how to spell it;-)
As David advised training is conducted in several countries around the world, including England. I did mine here in Germany.I am now looking for my next adventure, and am considering an immersive month learning in Spain, and have been considering doing some volunteering somewhere, and reading this thread is like seeing stars align. Therefore could I ask some questions please.
Is is usual to be thrown in at the deep end as a solo Hospitalero for your first one
This "HosVol training" is it a Canadian thing? ( I am UK based).
How much Spanish can you speak and how much is necessary?
Do you get to chose the Albergue?
Should I have searched the forums for a thread on how to be a Hospitalero and how to spell it;-)
I made Camino buttons but I am gifting them to pilgrims rather than asking for a donation.Congratulations on the Posting! I wish you all the best! The people I have stayed with have been great both times and I hope you're still about in a year or two when I walk back through.
One of the previous hospitalero's made Camino wrist bands, for a donation you could have one. Do you have any plans to do something similar? Camino memento's are the best!
Thanks for the tip! Do you have contact info for him?Well done David!
Make sure to contact the lovely professor Luis Quintales (father of the Torres camino) at University of Salamanca. He can direct you to the bust of professor Diego de Torres & provide all the latest Torres route info.
I did this in 2016 when the Torres was really an unknown. Tough days...Great times!
Post a message on the Camino Torres Facebook page will get contact rolling.Thanks for the tip! Do you have contact info for him?
Sure makes me want to walk into Salamanca for the 3rd time...I think Salamanca is one of my favourite Camino towns.
The Plaza Mayor I could sit in all day!
Though the final 12 kms walk in from the South seems never ending
We must have sat outside a cafe slurping wine listening to these guys for ages...... topping up their tin every now and again to keep them going. I wonder if they are still around? Just up the hill from you.
They were just here. https://maps.app.goo.gl/YAQjEwHqVX87yk646
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Sure makes me want to walk into Salamanca for the 3rd time...
But I agree: The walk in from south seems never-ending...
It does look right up my alley! The trick is figuring out when it is open.David, I hope it will not take you long to visit the incredible San Marcos. A bit of a long walk though, but just up your alley.
This is my first time as hospitalero. So far I've been keeping up here and on other social media and listening to Spanish learning resources. Hopefully, most days won't be so pilgrim-free. It sounded like Shannon got a reasonable number most days, and I would think that October would be one of the more popular times of the year fir the VDLP, after the heat of the summer has subsided.David, it sounds like you're going to need that Kindle library. Either that or a friendly local to drop by to keep you company from time to time.
I love time to myself but I also need something to do - as you've served before, how did you cope? (Other than the time you spent here on the forum of course!).
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