BIO-CONSTRUCTION WORKS IN A "DONATIVO HOSTEL"

ON THE PILGRIMAGE OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELLA

My name is David Cottereau and I'm in love with Santiago de Compostella Way/ Camino de Santigo

Summer 2014, Northern camino in Spain next to the Atlantic Ocean, I'm pilgriming with my walking stick and my guitar.

I'm feeling the need to change my life, and after full consideration, I decide to buy a lovely rustic house to rehabilitate in a small village, a few steps from the Way. It became « La Bohème »'s donativo hostel. The name comes from the famous French song by Charles Aznavour, that I would sing every night for the pilgrims.Elle deviendra l'auberge "La Bohème", célèbre chanson de Charles Aznavour que je chantais chaque soir pour les pèlerins du monde entier.

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The donativo « La Bohème » is located in Santa Catalina de Somoza, a tiny pretty village surrounded by mountains, at 1000 m above sea-level. It is situated in the sunniest region of the French Way / Camino frances (which starts in Saint-Jean Pied de port > Pamplona > Burgos > León > Santiago de Compostella).

At the moment, there is a lot of work to do in the house, which has a great potential of 230 m2 .

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... and an internal patio of 80 m2

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Friends from Poland, Belgium, Germany, Spain and Mexico, as well as my French family came and helped. Here is a picture from Christmas 2014 working team.

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The donativo « La Bohème » embodies solidarity, commitment for ecology with a new spirit based on sharing.

Our adventure, that is to say serving the pigrims in search for deep values, has already started...

What's a « donativo » ?

Well, on Compostella ways which cover Europe like a spider's web, only a few hostels are « donativos », they offer services to the pilgrims and the pilgrims can « donate » whatever they want or can for these services : night in a dormitory, breakfast and dinner (the « hospitaleros » and the pilgrims prepare the dinner altogether...)

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The principle is simple : the money left by the pilgrims yesterday will be used for whatever the pilgrims need today... The main moto of a « donativo » is conviviality among people coming from all over the world, a celebration of what unites us despite the surface differences.

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The philosophy of the project.

Our idea is not to open a « classic » donativo, We wish to become a non-profit organization where everyone can bloom. We are open to all cultures, different people and different ideologies and religions.

Concretely, the initial project is the following :

- Services to the pilgrims : Hostel - Restaurant - Lounge - Live music - Artcraft - Bread and pizzas from our antic stove.

- Alternative school.

- Permaculture gardening and way to live.

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Here are the basic ideas, which may vary. This project is very much open, for the moment we are seven pilgrims wanting to turn into "hospitaleros", but we are very much open to all the great ideas...

What we have already done:

Glass on all the windows:

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One door:

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Beginning of the electric installation:

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Painting on the doors and windows:

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Begining of the joints for the apparent stones:

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Roof on top of the antic stove:

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Stone walls:

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I spent years working as a teacher in France. I devoted my life to the kids....

I renounced getting engaged in love relationships to entirely focus on the project.

Nuria came into my life in an unexpected way, and the project and a love strory started intertwining.

Nuria's arrival gave some freshness to the project, and a lot of work has been done since she arrived, thanks to her enthusiasm and creativity.

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The most important things we have to do right now are taking care of one roof (cause the water goes through it), putting windows and doors everywhere, making a new roof, and making a bathroom, thanks to your donations !!!

Here is where we are today ! Now this is a big adventure, which is challenging on every aspect of life.

https://www.facebook.com/donatativolaboheme

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The publications