The Gift of Returning: Elke and Hilde, the Guardians of the Casa Paderborn Hostel Who Return the Magic of the Camino
PAMPLONA, Spain – In the heart of Pamplona, on the banks of the Arga River and next to the walkways of the Swimming Club, there is a refuge where hospitality has a name and a surname: Elke Reineke and Hilde Laumann. These two women, inseparable and full of an unbreakable spirit, are the souls of the shelter Paderborn House. Its mission is clear: to offer pilgrims a glass of cold lemonade and some cookies, a simple gesture that contains a profound philosophy. «This is my way of giving back a little of everything I have received on the Camino. I want to show the amount of appreciation they have given me,” confesses Hilde.
From Pilgrims to Hospitallers: A Round Trip
Elke and Hilde are no strangers to the Camino de Santiago; They did it for the first time in 2009 and have repeated the experience so many times that they have lost count, even walking from their native Germany on several occasions. A few years ago, they felt the call to live the Camino in a different way, to go from being walkers to being guardians.
They are part of the association Freundeskreis der Jakobuspilger, a group of friends from Paderborn, their hometown, passionate about pilgrimage. This association, with more than 100 members, manages the Casa Paderborn hostel thanks to an agreement with the Pamplona City Council, the result of the twinning between both cities. Founded in 2006, the hostel celebrates its twentieth season welcoming thousands of pilgrims.
Elke and Hilde's connection with Casa Paderborn was not instantaneous. They stayed for the first time in 2015 and were captivated. «All the hospitable people want to come here. “It's like being at home,” says Elke, pointing out the green surroundings by the river, which reminded them of their beloved Europe. Their love for the place grew on their subsequent visits as pilgrims in 2017 and 2018.
When Calamity Forged an Unbreakable Bond
Fate would unite them even more deeply in 2021. When they learned that the shelter had suffered serious damage from a flood of the Arga River, and that the association was looking for volunteers to rebuild, they did not hesitate. Reineke, in particular, fell in love with a new facet of the place: "I loved working in the garden and planting flowers." After the hard work, they returned to Germany, but a part of their heart had already remained in that corner of Navarre.
Just one year later, in 2022, Elke and Hilde volunteered as hospitable, the volunteers in charge of managing the shelter. Since then, they have been part of a shift program, where two people rotate every three weeks. For them, it is like "a vacation in their second home." Despite their different personalities, they share a common goal: "We want pilgrims to start the day with enthusiasm and motivation." Their service goes beyond accommodation; They intend for the walkers to say goodbye in much better conditions than when they arrived.
Stories of Gratitude and Reflection at Every Step
The work does not give them money, but it does give them an invaluable reward: the gratitude of the pilgrims. «When they write in the pilgrim book you realize why you are doing this. They are very grateful,” says Hilde. Elke is moved when describing the emotionality of the farewells, with tears in the eyes of the walkers.
In addition to satisfaction, they also greatly enjoy the experience. «We had a good time. Each person is a story and no day is like the previous one. Some are overwhelmed and need advice. Others just want to talk and talk,” Laumann acknowledges.
For them, the Camino is also a life lesson. Hilde emphasizes the uniqueness of the pilgrimage: «It is something special because you go alone. Even if you go in a group you are with yourself. You find what's inside you. He defends that the silence and introspection experienced on the road are impossible to find on a daily basis. Reineke adds a deep reflection on materialism: «On the Camino, everything I need is in my backpack. And it's small. "It makes you realize how much we have left over."
San Fermin and the Adventure Continues
Elke and Hilde's stay this year has coincided with the world-famous San Fermin festivities. They arrived on July 1, just in time for preparations for the big celebration. The Casa Paderborn hostel was the only public shelter which remained open during those days, generating total occupancy. «We had all 26 beds full every day. We even offered the floor to sleep on,” they remember.
Despite the fatigue of the Camino, the proximity to the Bullring motivated the pilgrims to immerse themselves in the festivity. “They came home and all they wanted was to go back to the center again,” they say with a smile.
Elke and Hilde will finish their three-week shift as hospitalists next July 27, returning to Germany to rest. But his pilgrim spirit does not stop; Before returning home, they have one last plan: to do a couple more stages of the Camino de Santiago. Further proof that his love for the route and his desire to serve are inexhaustible.
