<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<title></title>
</head>
<body>
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<br>
<br>
Rosina Lila wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid35.3f678345.2cd5401eaaol.com"><font
face="arial,helvetica"><font size="3" family="SANSSERIF"
face="Franklin Gothic Medium" lang="0"> Hello you all,<br>
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.<br>
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: <br>
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. <br>
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.<br>
(This seems to be a new facility since Linda writes that her group of pilgrims
ate in the kitchen)<br>
Pilgrims wanting the three meals need to take three photocopies of the
Compostela.<br>
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.<br>
Linda's book mentions lodgings, but the commentator didn't.<br>
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. <br>
Also, there's little I wouldn't do to have Linda write a follow-up
on the other Caminos!<br>
Perhaps some day!<br>
Warm regards,<br>
Rosina <br>
<br>
</font></font></blockquote>
<br>
</body>
</html>