We had made a reservation to stay in a private room in the albergue pictured above but cancelled it a day or two before because we couldn’t get some clear information we needed about the reservation. (They seemed to be the world’s worst communicators.)
We ended up sleeping a few miles before this place, where we blogged last night. We were glad for the change, but when we walked by the albergue today, we were curious about where we might have stayed and, also, we were hoping they’d be open to sell us coffee and a bathroom. When we got there we tried the door (locked) and looked in the window (dark inside). So we took a photo and started to move on. Then … a man came out from further down the street and asked why we were there. I guess he’d seen us looking in the window. I didn’t tell him we were the people who cancelled, but asked if there was a bar in town. He thought for a second and then said “follow me” and led us away from the albergue. At first, we thought he was inviting us into his house. He opened some large doors and indicated we should go in. It was not a public bar but evidently the bar/cafe that was associated with the albergue. (It’s not surprising it was closed. Albergues tend to kick the pilgrims out early and close early.)
We were able to order coffees, water, use the bathroom, plan the rest of our day.
He was gruff but nice at the same time.
While we were there, he’d left the door open and several other pilgrims came in after us. He served them as well.
From the look (and sound) of it, it doesn’t seem as if you missed much by not staying there.
He was definitely a poor communicator. I really liked his logo but I suppose that is not a good reason to stay there.