El Puente Peregrino

We left without getting dinner at the “Gastropub.” After waiting ten minutes with no one paying attention to us, an attendant finally asked what I wanted. I asked whether they took reservations, since the village was full of pilgrims. She curtly said she didn’t accept reservations from people who weren’t staying at her hostel, and that we could come back later to see whether a table was free. The “Fair Trade” sign on the board caught my eye, and I wondered how fair that felt. We went elsewhere, where a Spanish host welcomed us warmly and served us very well. Sadly, this wasn’t the first time we’d seen this kind of treatment on the Camino. Too often, some places seem to treat pilgrims like a number instead of guests. I’d rather spend my hard-earned money somewhere that makes me feel welcome.

Elly was lovely and spoke excellent English. The place is adorable, the rooms charming, and the beds comfortable. My husband and I chose Pension El Puente Peregrino after reading the website reviews, and we were so glad we did. The food was honestly the best we’ve had on the Camino: curry, a burrito, and salad supreme, all so delicious. The portions were generous enough that I couldn’t manage the brownie and ice cream I wanted for dessert. We highly recommend staying and eating here. Thank you, Elly.

We ate here because there are only a few places in Trabadelo, and it was a wonderful surprise. Everything was vegetarian, homemade, really tasty, and fairly priced. I’m not even vegetarian, but I appreciated it so much. Honestly, the best food I’ve had in Spain.

The breakfast was a lovely start to the day: multigrain toast with butter, peanut butter, and maple syrup to choose from, plus fresh pressed apple juice, cafe con leche, and yogurt with granola. The bar and restaurant downstairs, run by the owner, was fantastic too, with comforting, nourishing vegetarian food, good prices, and good sangria. We felt welcome from check-in. The owner is from the Netherlands and speaks fluent English, which made checking in easier. Our room was on the third floor, up a narrow staircase, but worth the climb. It was beautiful, with comfortable beds and a large shower. Lots of small touches made the stay special.