Typical day - albergues - advice for first timer :)

[MarkH]

I will start my camino in June in SJPP and have found the advice on the forum wonderful. As a non-hiker or experienced trekker I find myself becoming nervous about staying in albergues, finding a bed and best using my time. I would love to hear some experienced pilgrims' advice on how they plan out their typical day. (I don't want to book ahead too much unless I have to).
Things like - best time to look for a bed? Do u shower as soon as you arrive? Laundry early each day or later? Wake early or not? Shower again or not? Shopping for food when and where? Siesta?
I realize these kind of questions might seem silly but as someone who has only stayed in hotels or at home in my 48 years, I'm struggling to imagine my day other than the walking. Stories of no beds and un-showered pilgrims because of long queues or no laundry facilities have me worry about rushing or dwelling on issues I should not.

If anyone can share their typical routine I'd love to hear. Apologies if this is covered on the forum already but I can't seem to find it.

Mark - originally from UK but now Singapore and getting more nervous but excited everyday

 

[Deleted member 3000]

June will be hot, so if you are not in a rush, stop about 3 p.m. (or earlier).

Do laundry soon after arriving so that it will have space and time to dry.

Hot water can run out, so the sooner you shower, the better. Almost no one showers in the morning. Save a little hot water for others by keeping it short and warm.

Most albergues will evict you at 8 a.m. Many pilgrims begin to rise by 5 a.m. Most awake by 6 a.m. Expect the lights to go on at 7 a.m. regardless of how courteous other pilgrims may have been. The sun will be up by 7 a.m., so you will have some cool morning air to cover some distance. Don't waste it!

Stores close at 2 to 3 p.m. for several hours, so you need to shop between 10 a.m. and the siesta closing. Most will reopen at 5 p.m. Many stores are closed on Sunday.

Pilgrim restaurants will open by 7 p.m., but the Spanish do not dine before 8:30 to 9:00 p.m., so in larger cities, you may have an albergue curfew before the restaurants are open.

 

[Anniesantiago]

What Falcon said.
First thing to do when you arrive is put your bag in the line to save your place. Then find shade where you can watch your bag, and wait for the albergue to open.

Once you check in, go find your bed and put something there to hold it, like your sleeping bag.
Then go get your shower - and TAKE YOUR MONEY AND CAMERA AND ANY ELECTRONICS WITH YOU INTO THE SHOWER. Be sure to take a large ziplock bag for this purpose or one of those wet-bags from a sporting goods store.

After showering, you will go wash your clothes... almost always by hand. You can pick up a bar of Fels Naptha in most local stores. This bar laundry soap is made for cold water washing and works great. You can cut it into about 4 slices and share it with some other pilgrims and it is very cheap.

There will be racks or lines to hang your clothes. I take safety pins instead of clothespins so the clothes don't blow or walk away

Then many will either go explore town or take a siesta. Many times you will not find food until late afternoon, so this is a good time for a nap.

Then find or cook dinner.
Then sleep and start all over in the morning after collecting your dry clothes from the racks.
I suggest you not start before dark - that's just crazy in my opinion.
Just go with the flow and trust the camino to provide.

If you arrive at the next town and there is no available bed, so what?
Take a taxi to the next village.
Or sleep under the stars!
Or ask to sleep in the church.
There will always be an answer.

It's so simple it's frightening... and you soon find your own rhythm.

 

[MarkH]

Dear Annie and Falcon,

thanks so much for this. Just a simple answer like this has me picture things much more easily. Happy to hear advice from other "experts".., keep it coming

p.s. Do all Albergues open at the same time? Is it better to grab a bed while you can vs. risking walking on to the next one?

Although starting in June, I will aim for Leon and then take a break and return in October to finish from Leon to Santiago and on to Finnisterre. Once it gets cooler and wetter, is there a risk that clothing never dries? Sorry again if it's an obvious question

hugs

M

 

[mspath]

Dear Annie and Falcon,

thanks so much for this. Just a simple answer like this has me picture things much more easily. Happy to hear advice from other "experts".., keep it coming

p.s. Do all Albergues open at the same time? Is it better to grab a bed while you can vs. risking walking on to the next one?

Although starting in June, I will aim for Leon and then take a break and return in October to finish from Leon to Santiago and on to Finnisterre. Once it gets cooler and wetter, is there a risk that clothing never dries? Sorry again if it's an obvious question

hugs

M

Mark,

All albergues do NOT open at the same time, but the time is usually posted on the door. In the busy months of summer it is probably better to take a bed when you can find one.

In October when you plan to continue your journey there will be fewer pilgrims and many albergues will start to close for winter. Usually the hospitaleros at one will be able to tell you who is open ahead. Also the weather will definitely change. Be sure to modify your kit for cooler weather. Nights can get quite cold. Most albergues have blankets and heat, but not all.

Autumn weather and conditions on the Camino can be wonderful, but unpredictable!

Buen Camino!

Margaret

 

[MarkH]

Thanks margaret - the more advice the better

 

[Jacobus]

I will start my camino in June in SJPP and have found the advice on the forum wonderful. As a non-hiker or experienced trekker I find myself becoming nervous about staying in albergues, finding a bed and best using my time. I would love to hear some experienced pilgrims' advice on how they plan out their typical day. (I don't want to book ahead too much unless I have to).
Things like - best time to look for a bed? Do u shower as soon as you arrive? Laundry early each day or later? Wake early or not? Shower again or not? Shopping for food when and where? Siesta?
I realize these kind of questions might seem silly but as someone who has only stayed in hotels or at home in my 48 years, I'm struggling to imagine my day other than the walking. Stories of no beds and un-showered pilgrims because of long queues or no laundry facilities have me worry about rushing or dwelling on issues I should not.

If anyone can share their typical routine I'd love to hear. Apologies if this is covered on the forum already but I can't seem to find it.

Mark - originally from UK but now Singapore and getting more nervous but excited everyday

Hi Mark, Welcome

Some don’ts

Don’t put your backpack on the beds
Don’t take a lower bunk unless your age/health/abilities dictate or it is all that is left.
Don’t save beds for someone else
Don’t use a chair unless you have chosen an upper bunk.
Don’t bogart the shower

Don’t forget to have a buen camino!

 

[David Tallan]

Hi Mark, Welcome

Some don’ts

Don’t put your backpack on the beds
Don’t take a lower bunk unless your age/health/abilities dictate or it is all that is left.
Don’t save beds for someone else
Don’t use a chair unless you have chosen an upper bunk.
Don’t bogart the shower

Don’t forget to have a buen camino!

Mark's post was from 2012. Hopefully he's figured these things out over the past 10 years.

 

[wayfarer]

This is an old thread and there are more up to date threads available.