New albergue (inside a bandstand!) in Vila Meã

[jungleboy]

@amsimoes mentioned this in another thread but since we passed by it today, let’s celebrate it in its own thread!

INAUGURATION OF THE REQUALIFICATION OF THE CORETO DE VILA MEÃ
Today, May 15, 2022, the requalification work of the Bandstand in Vila Meã was inaugurated with the presence of the Hon. Mr President of the Municipality of Castro Daire, Dr. Paulo Almeida, from Mr. Vice President of the Chamber, Dr. Luís Lemos, from the President of the Parish Council of Moledo, Alexandre Pereira, Many people and friends.
These works, in addition to the rehabilitation of the space, allowed it to be transformed into a hostel for pilgrims, since it is part of the Portuguese Inner Way of Santiago.
It was in a festive atmosphere and a lot of conviviality that another step in the development of our Parish was marked.
Well done everyone!

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=caminho%20portugu%C3%AAs%20interior%20de%20santiago

The albergue really is in a bandstand! You can see two windows underneath the stage where the albergue is.



Inside, it’s a simple albergue with four beds:



The best part is the new mural in the bandstand by street artist youthone. It’s too big to capture in one photo but here are two. The representation of Santiago in the second one is based on a statue of the saint in front of the church in the same village.





The albergue is about 24km from Viseu so it gives pilgrims the option of a longer first day instead of only walking about 15km to Almargem, which is what we did.

 

[jungleboy]

This is the Santiago statue mentioned in the previous post:

 

[J Willhaus]

This is the Santiago statue mentioned in the previous post:

View attachment 125754

Is it my imagination or is his hat a little tight?

 

[jungleboy]

Is it my imagination or is his hat a little tight?

That’s how the cool kids wore hats in the first century.

 

[edandjoan]

We ate our picnic lunch under the “bandstand” last month. There is a bar/cafe just across the street. We had an espresso and the gentleman running the place asked if we needed a place for the night. So perhaps he runs the place. He was very friendly. We did not stay as it was early, but it’s very nice