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it is 'Custody of the eyes'!People usually just avert their eyes in the bunk rooms and in showers, etc. (Chasitity of the eyes, I think it may be referred to?) Usually there is some privacy as mentioned with a curtain or a cabinet door to the shower stall.
Culturally it will be a little different; and there is a wide range within even Western Europe.Hello all,
I am leaving to Spain tomorrow; however, I come from a culture where privacy in the bathroom is highly appreciated and therefore would like to know whether the same traditions apply in Spain or I should not be surprised seeing groups of naked men sharing the showers such as other cultures.
Thank you for your help and Buen Camino to all current pilgrims
There seem to be more "gang showers" for guys than for girls. Nonetheless, the ladies' shower in Ponte de Lima muni albergue was very definitely a "communal" experience! Haven't had that since junior high school.Most albergue showers these days have privacy screens or curtains but there are still a few places where you may find open communal showers and other naked men.
It was the last time I was there. Doesn't bother me in the slightest either.The municipal in O Cebreiro is one where the showers are a communal thing, at least for women…so I’m assuming the same goes for men.
The op said they come from a country where privacy in the bathroom is highly appreciated, and they were wondering what the bathroom situation was like in Spain. With all due respect, they weren’t asking for possible solutions, which may or may not work in their situation. And I’m struggling with how exactly to phrase this, but who are the ‘normal’ people?The op could always carry a pestemal and use that, but the best thing is to understand that the vast majority of normal people don't care at all.
Ahh, I don't mean to offend in any way at all. I also think potential solutions are exactly what the OP would like in this case. A modest covering in the case of a pestemal is exactly the way forward in terms of hiding what's 'down there'.The op said they come from a country where privacy in the bathroom is highly appreciated, and they were wondering what the bathroom situation was like in Spain. With all due respect, they weren’t asking for possible solutions, which may or may not work in their situation. And I’m struggling with how exactly to phrase this, but who are the ‘normal’ people?
Hi JawadI am leaving to Spain tomorrow; however, I come from a culture where privacy in the bathroom is highly appreciated and therefore would like to know whether the same traditions apply in Spain or I should not be surprised seeing groups of naked men sharing the showers such as other cultures.
But the OP does. Hence the question.... the vast majority of normal people don't care at all.
Yes, and the OP is asking a very genuine question.But the OP does. Hence the question.
There are a few and far between albergues where I have stayed where not only are the showers open to all to view but they shared the same space as the urinals and these shower room were co-ed.Most albergue showers these days have privacy screens or curtains but there are still a few places where you may find open communal showers and other naked men.
I have read your response and … well, yes, I have read it.Ahh, I don't mean to offend in any way at all. I also think potential solutions are exactly what the OP would like in this case. A modest covering in the case of a pestemal is exactly the way forward in terms of hiding what's 'down there'.
Sorry you take offense at the word 'normal'. I mean it as a pilgrim who is in the showers and just interested in doing their own perfectly normal thing (showering) rather than a pervert who may be thinking / doing...well... .
In 2019 I stayed in a small albergue in Atapuerca (don't remember the name) where men and women shared the same shower room. There were stalls with curtains but the entire area was quite small. I managed to shower and dress behind the curtain but my clothes got a little wet. However, in the small common space outside the curtain there were both men and women walking around naked. The door to the room was at one end and the space was small enough that if you were at the end away from the door you were going to have a close encounter with someone unclothed as you exited. I chalked it up to just another unique Camino experience.Hello all,
I am leaving to Spain tomorrow; however, I come from a culture where privacy in the bathroom is highly appreciated and therefore would like to know whether the same traditions apply in Spain or I should not be surprised seeing groups of naked men sharing the showers such as other cultures.
Thank you for your help and Buen Camino to all current pilgrims
I am a middle aged male and not worried about privacy ,however I have never seen a naked male or female on my dozen Caminos. On rare occasions I have seen a woman in a bra , but never heard a comment or gesture. I did witness a humorous situation or two with my teenage daughter and my son on different walks . But best told over a beer.Hello all,
I am leaving to Spain tomorrow; however, I come from a culture where privacy in the bathroom is highly appreciated and therefore would like to know whether the same traditions apply in Spain or I should not be surprised seeing groups of naked men sharing the showers such as other cultures.
Thank you for your help and Buen Camino to all current pilgrims
I would say 99% of bath is divided into women / men. Showers are always with privacy cabins. Only mirrors and tooth brushing is communial .Hello all,
I am leaving to Spain tomorrow; however, I come from a culture where privacy in the bathroom is highly appreciated and therefore would like to know whether the same traditions apply in Spain or I should not be surprised seeing groups of naked men sharing the showers such as other cultures.
Thank you for your help and Buen Camino to all current pilgrims
Yes, the same for men but it was the only communal shower that I came across on my Camino.The municipal in O Cebreiro is one where the showers are a communal thing, at least for women…so I’m assuming the same goes for men.
I’d say if you had to ask about this, you’ll need either book private rooms with hopefully private bathrooms (or at least a shared bathroom with a lock) or do a detailed research which hostel has a specific type of bathroom accommodation. Is there such a thing as privacy in hostels? Only hostel (in Arcade on CP) I stayed had a bathroom without any dividers in the shower - military /jail style showers (no dropping of the soap) with a flooded floor. Afterward I only booked private rooms as I realized hostels aren’t my thing.
I think that I am blessed to be as “normal” as it ever gets. And most people are the same. Those who aren’t are abnormal. I hope that helps.The op said they come from a country where privacy in the bathroom is highly appreciated, and they were wondering what the bathroom situation was like in Spain. With all due respect, they weren’t asking for possible solutions, which may or may not work in their situation. And I’m struggling with how exactly to phrase this, but who are the ‘normal’ people?
Oh for heaven's sake. The OP asks about cultural standards in pilgrim albergues in Spain and within an international pilgrim community. Drop the sexual innuendos. There are cultural environments (countries, communities, families) where everyone runs around naked and there are cultural environments where people keep primary and even secondary sex characteristics hidden from the view of others. This simple fact should hardly be a surprise for anyone. None of this has anything to do with sexual activity or sexual interest - normal or abnormal for that matter. The OP just wants to know how shower rooms are organised or set up and used by pilgrims in Camino albergues.
Hi Kathar1na. I’m not sure if you’re responding to me or not. My reference to normal and abnormal contained no (intentional) sexual innuendo. I was making a satirical response to the notion of “normal” - as there is obviously no such thing- and anyone who suggests they are is questionable. If I upset you I’m very sorry.Oh for heaven's sake. The OP asks about cultural standards in pilgrim albergues in Spain and within an international pilgrim community. Drop the sexual innuendos. There are cultural environments (countries, communities, families) where everyone runs around naked and there are cultural environments where people keep primary and even secondary sex characteristics hidden from the view of others. This simple fact should hardly be a surprise for anyone. None of this has anything to do with sexual activity or sexual interest - normal or abnormal for that matter. The OP just wants to know how shower rooms are organised or set up and used by pilgrims in Camino albergues.
@Tony Lenton: I posted a general remark. It happened to be posted immediately after one of your comments.I’m not sure if you’re responding to me or not
Thanks.@Tony Lenton: I posted a general remark. It happened to be posted immediately after one of your comments.
Somehow, this reply went to a different thread. Copied and pasted here where it was intended.In twelve or more months 2015-2019 as hospitalero, we had one complaint about nudity in the bed rooms reported to us. Unknown how many incidents were unreported—I suspect few. We had co-ed bathrooms but all the shower and toilet stalls had doors. Each shower stall included a changing area inside the door so your clothes wouldn't get wet.
I've also slept in 44 hostels or albergues in fourteen countries without seeing a multi-person shower. Of those 44, 21 were on the Camino Francés or Vía de la Plata. One municipal had a distorting/blurring glass door but the rest were completely private.
It depends on what camino you are doing. On the Via de la Plata it varies greatly between albergues. Very few had communal showers, most were single person sized cubicles. The more common issues are a lack of hot water or the wall attachment for the shower head being broken etc.Hello all,
I am leaving to Spain tomorrow; however, I come from a culture where privacy in the bathroom is highly appreciated and therefore would like to know whether the same traditions apply in Spain or I should not be surprised seeing groups of naked men sharing the showers such as other cultures.
Thank you for your help and Buen Camino to all current pilgrims
I always had privacy in the shower with a curtain and sometimes a whole door or room to myself! I did not see naked people in the rooms- lots of men in underwear only though just fyi. Also FYI- I saw naked men swim in the river and topless women at the beaches.Hello all,
I am leaving to Spain tomorrow; however, I come from a culture where privacy in the bathroom is highly appreciated and therefore would like to know whether the same traditions apply in Spain or I should not be surprised seeing groups of naked men sharing the showers such as other cultures.
Thank you for your help and Buen Camino to all current pilgrims
Very good point. But clearly you haven't stayed at the Xunta albergue in O Cebreiro. There is always an exception.I once stayed for a month at a (Saudi) hotel in Riyadh that had a very good (men only) gym, which did have a large communal change room. There was a conspicuous notice in English informing visiting guests that it is culturally inappropriate to be fully naked in the presence of others and to please observe appropriate modesty. It was a polite reminder of something that many of us from other cultures might not be aware of.
So I would say to the OP - in three long Caminos, staying mostly in municipal and Xunta albergues, I don't believe I have ever found myself in a situation where you would not feel comfortable.
I have bee on the Camino more than a dozen times and have never seen ONE naked person in albergue / showersHello all,
I am leaving to Spain tomorrow; however, I come from a culture where privacy in the bathroom is highly appreciated and therefore would like to know whether the same traditions apply in Spain or I should not be surprised seeing groups of naked men sharing the showers such as other cultures.
Thank you for your help and Buen Camino to all current pilgrims
I guess you haven't stayed at the Xunta albergue in O Cebreiro on any of your dozen Caminos. The showers there had nothing to hide the guys who were using it from each other, just one big room with a bunch of nozzles (like high school, back in the day).I have bee on the Camino more than a dozen times and have never seen ONE naked person in albergue / showers
I'm one of those Scandinavians, and communal saunas are the most common thing for us.. and importantly, it's a kind of "band of sisters" (or brothers). But, we always have the towel on, and we never focus on the body, just that we are unique creatures with a community. It's relaxing and natural, kind of like the Romans did, I suppose?. But, I admit, I probably couldn't relax with men around. It's just a cultural thing. Whether you're comfortable or not, I can understand it seems strange.Culturally it will be a little different; and there is a wide range within even Western Europe.
I was at an all male boarding school, played rugby and spent some time in the army. I probably spent an unusual amount of time stark bollock naked, (but not so much as the Royal Marines of my acquaintance), and it doesn’t concern me. Nor my Scandinavian friends and those for whom the sauna is a routine social event.
In an albergue there a certain amount of necessity for shared bathroom facilities - but privacy is respected so far as is possible. You will certainly not be the only one feeling a little apprehensive..
I guess you haven't stayed at the Xunta albergue in O Cebreiro on any of your dozen Caminos. The showers there had nothing to hide the guys who were using it from each other, just one big room with a bunch of nozzles (like high school, back in the day).
Like albergues without pillows, they are rare but they exist.
I wrote "keep the towel on". I visited Finland (homeland of saunas), and they did not use towels at all, just being naturally naked.. it just took a few times, then I got used to that too.. so, culture is different, one can adapt if it feels comfortableI'm one of those Scandinavians, and communal saunas are the most common thing for us.. and importantly, it's a kind of "band of sisters". But, we always have the towel on, and we never focus on the body, just that we are unique creatures with a community. It's relaxing and natural, kind of like the Romans did, I suppose?. But, I admit, I probably couldn't relax with men around. It's just a cultural thing. Whether you're comfortable or not, I can understand it seems strange.
I'm not saying there is necessarily anything wrong with same sex communal showers. I'm just saying that they exist in some albergues. To more fully answer OP's original question.I do not mind showering in a same sex communal bathroom like O Cebreiro though I noticed some females being very apprehensive when they entered and saw the open floor.
So I told them that if they waited for a couple of minutes till I got dressed I would leave so the two of them ( good friends ) had the shower to themselves. It is all about getting to feel the finesses of cultural differences and act accordingly.
I'm not saying there is necessarily anything wrong with same sex communal showers. I'm just saying that they exist in some albergues. To more fully answer OP's original question.
I’d say it’s certainly rare to find an albergue where a modest pilgrim would not feel comfortable showering. The vast majority looks something like this one in Najera.I would say 99% of bath is divided into women / men. Showers are always with privacy cabins. Only mirrors and tooth brushing is communial .
Buen Camino
I’d say it’s certainly rare to find an albergue where a modest pilgrim would not feel comfortable showering. The vast majority looks something like this one in Najera.
When we weren't crowded, we would try to assign bunk rooms by gender. Showers had doors and each had two rooms, one for changing and one for washing. But one day someone complained that German males were stripping in the bunk rooms and when confronted about doing so in front of female teenagers, retorted "nothing she hasn't seen before." Manager went up and spoke to them.In an albergue there a certain amount of necessity for shared bathroom facilities - but privacy is respected so far as is possible. You will certainly not be the only one feeling a little apprehensive..
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