Pilgrim meals at the Reyes Catolicos Parador

[Lydia Banales]

Perhaps it was pride that kept us from trying to get a free meal at the
beautiful Parador. When we arrived in Santiago we had planned to treat
ourselves to a night's stay. Two things changed our minds. First, it
looked like the 'haves' and the 'have nots'.  As the Pilgrims lined up
(in their best Camino finery) they were a stark contrast to the fancy
guests of the Parador. It looked more like royalty granting a boon to
the poor peasants. It didn't look like holspitality. And to only give
out 10 meals when there are hundreds of pilgrims - were we supposed to
race over and try to get in ahead of our companions of the road?  And
second, we had come to know some fellow pilgrims who were on very tight
budgets. We decided to find accommodations we could all afford in
Santiago and share a meal together.  We did stay in the Parador in
Ribadero on our way back to San Sebastian and it was great. But I'll
never look at the Reyes Catolicos Parador without thinking of my walking
companions. Lydia

Rosina Lila wrote:

> Hello you all,
>        In her book (page 362) Linda writes that, by tradition,
> pilgrims walking to Santiago were entitled to three days free food and
> lodging at the Parador, and she recounts how her group partook of such
> entitlement in 1974.
>        Two weeks ago, the commentator that is walking the 8 Galicia
> Caminos, for the Coruna Deputation, availed himself of the pilgrims'
> right to free meals and reports the current procedures:
> The Parador will provide the meals to the first 10 pilgrims that
> request them.  Breakfast is at 9:00 a.m., lunch at 12:00 noon and
> dinner at 7:00 p.m.
> Interested pilgrims need to take photocopies of their Compostela,
> awarded within the last three days, to the person in charge of the
> garage who will collect them and will give  coupons for the meals.
> Pilgrims with such coupons enter the Parador through the main door and
> cross the cloister in direction to the kitchen where they will be
> given a tray for the food.  The meals provided to pilgrims are those
> provided to the Parador's staff; the main meals consisting of first
> and second courses, dessert, water and wine.  With their trays full
> pilgrims then proceed to a special dining room for pilgrims.
> (This seems to be a new facility since Linda writes that her group of
> pilgrims ate in the kitchen)
> Pilgrims wanting the three meals need to take three photocopies  of
> the Compostela.
> The commentator reports that seven international pilgrims had the noon
> meal when he went two weeks ago, and that a Canadian pilgrim assured
> him that the right to the free meals extended for three days.
>        Linda's book mentions lodgings, but the commentator didn't.
>        You know, it does seem a shame that Linda's book, the most
> valuable modern book on the Camino Frances in my personal opinion, is
> only available in English; pilgrims of all nationalities, particularly
> Brazilian and French, keep asking me whether it will ever be available
> in their language.
>        Also, there's little I wouldn't do to have Linda write a
> follow-up on the other Caminos!
> Perhaps some day!
> Warm regards,
> Rosina
>


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