Tiziana Gava
Imagen de Tiziana Gava

Communal Dinners

Hi, Can anyone tell me what a communal dinner is? Does everyone bring something to contribute to the meal? Are you expected to cook for others?

This is our first time on the camino and just not sure what is expected.

Thankful for any advice. 

Xavier Riera Luna
Imagen de Xavier Riera Luna

Salud Tiziana,

por "cena comunitaria" se entiende cena compartida entre los peregrinos (que quieran). Cuando en un albergue anuncian "cena comunitaria" es porque el propio albergue lo propicia, la prepara para ser compartida. También sucede muy a menudo que los propios peregrinos se organicen para preparar y  compartir la cena, sin que el albergue tenga papel activo (nos autoorganizamos y hacemos la compra, cocinamos y compartimos los alimentos). Es prácticamente lo mismo, pero en  un caso, cuando el albergue lo anuncia es porque lo prepara y se encarga de todo (los peregrinos cenamos juntos y como mucho ayudamos a poner la mesa, etc) y otras veces es cuestión de autoorganización y entonces hay que comprar, cocinar, etc. Las cenas comunitarias son de lo mejor del camino; compartir comida intensifica vínculos y profundiza las relaciones (somos primates se supone que superiores...)

Salud, buen camino y muchas cenas comunitarias!

Tiziana Gava
Imagen de Tiziana Gava

Thank you Xavier for your advice. This clears up my confusion and I am looking forward to our first communal dinner in Roncesvalles.

drakonian
Imagen de drakonian

Some albergues offer "communal dinner" and it means that all people sit on the same table and they have dinner together. The owner of the albergue cook for them, and they usually offer water and wine for drink, bread, salad or pasta and a main course like chicken or similar. This is a very good opportunity to meet new people and other cultures for differents countries.
For example, I always go the camino alone so I love  this kind of dinner because I can meet a lot of pilgrims.

For example, in the first stage of Camino Frances, you finish in Roncesvalles. In Roncesvalles's Albergue they offer a "communal dinner" in the restaurant. The dinner is a first course (soup or pasta), a main course (chicken or fish) and dessert, with water and wine; so it is the same as otherwise restaurant, the different is that you share table with other pilgrims for other countries.

If you speak English, you don't have problem, because English is the main language in this kind of dinner.

Tiziana Gava
Imagen de Tiziana Gava

Thanks for the reply. Appreciate your advice and yes my first stop will be the Albergue Roncesvalles. I am now really looking forward to the communal dinner.