There has been a lot of discussion and concern about the enormous pressure on albergues during the Holy Year.
The pilgrims' office estimates that only 1-in-5 pilgrims on the camino will earn a Compostela.
Thousands walk short sections of the main routes, or variants (like the Aragones, Catalan, San Salvador etc), with no intention of walking to Santiago.
Perhaps one way to lessen the burden would be for albergues to only accept pilgrims who are walking to Santiago?
I know that it would be hard to police, but the word would soon move along the grape vine and those not walking to Santiago could find alternative accommodation leaving beds free for the die-hard, Santiago Holy Year pilgrims.

There is too much competetion for beds in the summer months but, how to limited it?? i hate to have to leave in the dark and race to the next overnight. my main concern is the bus tour pilgrims that don't really walk a pilgrimage ,but can take up 30 beds easily after only 10 k . another gripe is the cyclist, but they are pilgrims too.i'm starting another Camino the end of may and can just imagine the crowd-darrell

I have read discussion about this on other forums and feel there is no simple answer to the question. We know there are those who "cheat" on what are considered to be the established rules about beds in the albergues - we've all seen them. I wish they would arrive at the albergues with big X's on their foreheads - but they don't. They're around at all times, probably no more this year than on any other year so let's forget about them for the moment...

The discussion I think is really about who is most deserving of the first beds. So just as a point of discussion then ... if the accepted, most important end point (in this case) is Santiago, where is the most deserving starting point? What is the 'real' pilgrims' route in terms of what is best? Is it only the last 100 km into Santiago, or does it start somewhere else? Should pilgrims who start at Burgos (for example) have earned more rights to the early beds than those who start at Sarria or Leon? What about those who start at Roncesvalles? Saint Jean Pied de Port? How about Le Puy or Arles? For that matter are those of us who are not bikers sure that biking 70 or 100 km is somehow less deserving than walking 15 - 40 km?

And if I am Catholic does that somehow make me a more deserving pilgrim (think early beds) than, for example, a Buddhist? And if anyone's answer to that is yes, I have to ask you if you think Christ would have given the same answer.

I'm not trying to make light of the problem because I know it is very real. But I think we are told that in times of uncertainty we should look to our greatest teacher for the solution. What would that teacher say in this instance?

And in case it's not clear - I'm asking the questions because I don't have the answer. My personal decision, since I'm not Catholic is to stay away from the camino on Holy Years since July 25th is not more important to me this year than it was last or next years, but that doesn't make it any easier for those to whom it is.

Practically speaking (and speaking as a non-Catholic) for me it is reasonable (if not in the usual camino spirit) that any albergues funded by the Catholic church would be well within their rights to accept only Catholics during the Holy Years. This could be a partial solution. Other than that I don't see how it can be controlled. Possibly the best plan is to make more of a point of warning people over 50% (60%?) (70%?) of the people travelling this year should plan to stay somewhere other than the albergues. I do think various people have already done a great job of suggesting alternate routes especially for this year although I sometimes wonder if it's the pilgrims or the tourists who will take the suggestion.

Buen camino to those who will be making the pilgrimage this year. I'll see some of you on the camino inn 2011.
Cecelia

You make very good points Cecelia.
We are starting in Le Puy around the 12th June and spending the next 40 days getting to St. J It will be slow and enjoyable and the crowds should be missing.

I think as long as the cost is minimal you will have the cheats.

In 07 we could not believe the amount we witnessed "driving" get accommodation and late walkers moved on. On the second night a few days latter we told these people ''thats it boys and girls no more"

I think anybody who has commenced in St. J Pied De Port should be never turned away under any circumstance.

Best wishes, health and peace to all in 2010
David

Hi there,
Albergues for true pilgrims. Thats my call. I witnessed last year the busride pilgrims and after walking for hours on end in styfling heat found I had to pay for private accomadation sometimes, the nearer I got to Santiago because the buspilgrims had left so early and some had even taxied or sent their bags on to the next Albergue. its utter cheating physically, mentally and spiritually.If you dont want to undertake this journey properly then please dont go, leave the Camino`s Alburgues to those who have paid with pain.

Hi there,

Just finished recently and I have to tell you it did bother me from time to time about not having accommodation knowing that others had not walked the Way.

On several occasions I arrived at hostels and seen people who I knew for sure had not even finished dressing as I was leaving the hostel in the morning. There was no way they could have passed me without me seeing them and yet they some how got there before me. I could understand if on the day someone was not feeling well or may have an injury, but not everyday.

The whole point of doing the Camino is for the experience of walking and "suffering" in order to earn the Compestella justly and with integrity. Never mind, I enjoyed my Camino and will go again, please God!!!

djay191,

Congrats on your camino.

Thank you Barbara.

The positives far outwayed a small negative. I enjoyed my camino immensely. As I am sure you are only to aware meeting other pilgrims and sharing in the fellowship of the journey is the Camino was what made it for me.

And I always had someware to sleep.

See you next time on the Way

David

Having walked twice, I’m as familiar as others with this issue. I don’t have an answer, only my perspective. For me, the Camino is about following the road, seeing where it leads each day. This statement speaks to the physical journey but as pilgrims know, it’s also a description of the emotional and spiritual experience.

I have been without a refugio bed on occasion, but always found a place to sleep and with it had unique and positive experiences. I found this in a semi-private camas above a bar in Atapuerca, an inexpensive hotel in Burgos, a small inn overlooking the river in Porto Marin and a private home in Sarria. Such is the Camino for me. The gifts of The Way are many, and some come in an unusual manner. My task is to accept my circumstances, and see the beauty of how God works if I trust in his way. The walk parallels life - I can’t change the habits or failings of others. I can only focus on my attitude.

I’m a Catholic, and I don’t believe non-Catholics should be restricted from Catholic-run refugios. I know that wasn't the suggestion, and for me it would be ‘anti-Camino' to restricted anyone for any similar reason. We will never know when or how someone’s heart might be transformed by sitting among real pilgrims who describe the experience of walking hundreds of kilometers. To me we should welcome all as much as possible. A tour bus arriving at a refugio or other obvious non-pilgrims should be told the beds are not intended for them; rules about who can use a refugio might be posted on the entranceways. Otherwise, the Camino is to me a truly open and accepting society, an ideal of how things can be. The attitude of this forum is an extension of that and I believe visitors here get that message...

In my Camino workshops I advise would-be walkers to expect this situation, and prepare to be without a refugio bed on occasion. My recommendation is not to get up early, and not to race to the next town, but simply to walk as one feels comfortable, and accept the situation upon arrival. I suggest a refugio bed is usually available, but an alternate may be required sometimes. I recommend a sleeping mat for busy times, such as summer and Holy Years. I also advise my workshop participants to stay in smaller towns that are less common as Camino stops. I followed this approach in 2009 and to me it seemed as though there were fewer walkers last year than there were in 2003, even though the annual population had in reality doubled.

Just my thoughts…

Buen Camino to all.


Paul in Canada

Its good to see some familiar names on this site. I have not contributed for a few years now following my camino's of 2003 and 2005 from SJPP and Burgos. So hello again to all those old (and new) friends.
The posts are very much the same as they were then with busy refugios and taxi pilgrims. I looked back at some posts in the past. On the one hand I remember noticing my irritations at turning up tired and dusty at refugios to find freshly showered 'pilgrims' who I know were still in bed when I left the last refuge. I had no desire to take part in a bed race, but was fortunate in always finding a space. This was mainly because I was able to walk, both times, in March/April.
I guess it may even be busy now at those times. I suppose an answer might be for the refugios to put a time stamp on the pilgrim passport on leaving and anyone arriving 'too early' at the next refuge would have to wait. As with everything this could get complex.On the other hand, I noticed from an early post that at that time I was more forgiving....its a lesson of the camino, about learning tolerance,trying to look at your own irritations and learn about yourself, and to pick up a comment on this thread, in buddhist terms, practicing compassion and accepting those taxi pilgrims just want to be happy too. Ok, ok,ok, all very spiritual (and not unique to buddhists I know!) but not very easy after 6 hours+ walking. I learned that there is no one 'camino' that we walk, everyone has their own, so a camino with a bed every night will be a different experience to one where this is not always possible. What we have to deal with is our irritations about the 'cheats'. Maybe I should go back and do a July Camino, now that would be a real test.