[Gocamino] Returning tickets; hosapitaleros' meeting

[blaroli at aol.com]

Hello you all,

Just below the Pilgrims Office on Rua de Vilar there is a tour agency called "Viloria".  Iria Cana is one of the multi-lingual workers there who advice pilgrims on the best and most economic way of returning home.  Airplane and bus tickets can be gotten there, including the much-reduced plane tickets awarded by Iberia to Compostela holders.  But for some reason RENFRE (the railroad people) will not at present recognize electronic tickets issued by anybody else.  The tickets, however, can be purchased directly from RENFRE by phone at Viloria (not through Viloria) as long as the pilgrim uses a VISA, an no other, credit card. This certainly beats going down to the railroad station only to find out that there are no seats available.

So far this year the number of pilgrims is much larger than in any other Non Xacobean Holy Year, and in some places, like Fisterre and Munxia, is almost doubled. Because of this the Galician Association of Friends of the Camino held a two day meeting attended by about 30 current hospitaleros. The meeting emphasized food availability at albergues as well as hygiene and safety conditions. Because hospitaleros must interact with different types of pilgrims who may have varied needs, including emotional ones, the meeting attendants were offered a series of lectures and classes offered by an ex-hospitalero, who at present is a professor of psychology at USC  (Universidad de Santiago de Compostela), Dr. Antonio Ares.
The meetings took place at the San Roque pilgrims' albergue in Corcubion. 

Hugs!

Rosina
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