[Gocamino] Albergue fees?

[blaroli at aol.com]

Hello you all,
 
Commencing sometime last year the complaints about albergue facilities, and abuses thereof by erzast pilgrims, reached a crescendo that has compelled the powers to be to do something about the claimed dysfunctions. 
Apparently, a significant number of tourists seeking places to sleep free of charge took advantage of the staff shortages in the albergues and occupied many of the spaces meant for genuine pilgrims.  Further, and perhaps because of their frustration over the non-pilgrims, legitimate Camino walkers and cyclist in the albergues left many in sorrowful conditions of trash and other indicia of lack of consideration for the albergues and their "hospitaleros".
Last week the Xunta, and the new Director of Tourism, Ruben Leos, arrived at an accord whereby pilgrims  that occupy the albergues will be asked to contribute to their upkeep by paying a fee which will range from 3 to 10 Euros.  The income from such fees will allow the albergues to offer better service, including bed-clothing and towels, and it will also provide some means for augmenting personnel in the albergues so that  claims of being a pilgrim   maybe looked into in such a manner that phony ones may be detected.
The good news about the proposed change is that, in addition to better services in the albergues, true pilgrims will be able to make reservations in the forthcoming albergue as they leave one.  This will avoid the necessity of pilgrims starting out before dawn, in the dark, so that they may reach the next albergue by one o'clock in order to find a space.  Since the reservations will be made from one albergue to another presumably the increased attention, time intervals, and tracking will uncover free-loaders pretending to be pilgrims and will provide neede ease of mind to true pilgrims.
 
The above information, as published in the Galicia newspapers, states that that albergues in Galicia are the only ones that do not charge a fee.  This statement does not accord with my recollection of the wonderful albergues in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, both the ones run by the nuns, with their delicious soup and bread, and the one run by the Camino Friends.  As I remember, they merely have a jar by the front desk for "donations"; although I heard more than once, that the donations were mostly made by foreign pilgrims. The same system prevailed in the Estella albergues where the only fixed charge is for the food.
 
The mayor of Santiago, Sanchez Bugallo, quoted the famous words of Leonardo da Vinci about life: "Chi non la valora non la merita", to opine that the fee would have a beneficial effect on the hospitaleros and the pilgrims because we tend not to value, or take care of, what costs us nothing. (Although a literal translation of the Da Vinci quote would be that s/he who does not value it -life- does not deserve it).
 
It should be mentioned that there is already a quasi-public albergue in Santiago itself: San Lazaro, which opened last year. Pilgrims who, at the end of their pilgrimage, occupy any of the 80 vacancies there may stay up to three nights paying 10 euros for the first night and 7 for the two subsequent ones.  In addition to comfortable hot-water showers. laundry facilities and kitchen, the albergue gives each pilgrim a fresh change of bed-clothing and towels.
Further, the fees to be charged, small as they may be, will quelch the "unfair competition" complaints from those who run truly autristic altruistic and well-cared for private albergues.
 
Lastly, despite the severe shortage of personnel and means available to the Pilgrims' Office, their plans to set up a network of computer communication among all the albergues proceeds apace.
 
Big hug!
Rosina