Brandy
Active Member
- Dec 14, 2016
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF,VDLP,NORTE,ARAG,SANABR,SALVAD,PRIMIT,MOZAR,JAUME,LEVANT,MADRID,HUELVA,PORT,EPW,ESTRECHO;
Hola, Brandy,Hola everybody !
I walked in March from Valencia to Avila on the Camino de Levante, I will resume in the next few days walking on a small part of Sureste to Tordesillas, transition to Madrid in Castromonte and from there to Santiago via Sahagun - Leon - Oviedo - Santiago.
Buen Camino.
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As I know Sr.Martin and his wife don't prepare food anymore. Better stock up and cook yourself a dinner. Kitchen in Castromonte albergue is fully equipped.Hallo Laurie, it is nice to hear from you.
Yes I will go to Castromonte and visit Bar Caribe, and say hallo to Sr Martin. I'm planning to spend a night in Castromonte so if the food is decent I may even have dinner in the same bar.
Buen Camino.
Brandy
Hola, Brandy,Day 1
Avila Gotarrendura.
Very nice day temp 23 24 light winds.
The whole track was very nicely marked. The first 4 km were on asphalt but after that it turn in a very nice walk on countryside away from the caretera. There were occasionally seats where you can rest.
I think this is because the marked camino ( which is Sureste, not Levante) coincides with the Camino Teresiano. We are in fact in Teresa d'Avila country.
I confirm a bar at the entrance of the village in Cardenosa with very friendly staff.
Amazing albergue in Gotarrendura.
No pilgrims met.
Buen Camino
Brandy
Day 1
Avila Gotarrendura.
Very nice day temp 23 24 light winds.
The whole track was very nicely marked. The first 4 km were on asphalt but after that it turn in a very nice walk on countryside away from the caretera. There were occasionally seats where you can rest.
I think this is because the marked camino ( which is Sureste, not Levante) coincides with the Camino Teresiano. We are in fact in Teresa d'Avila country.
I confirm a bar at the entrance of the village in Cardenosa with very friendly staff.
Amazing albergue in Gotarrendura.
No pilgrims met.
Buen Camino
Brandy
In 2015 the exit from Avila was still on the highway but no big deal as I remember.Hi, Brandy,
So good to hear your reports. Just wondering if the exit from Avila is still as dangerous as it was when I walked the Levante. The story we heard was that there used to be a path through private land, but the owner was successful in blocking it, so pilgrims just had to walk around and on the shoulder of the entrance to the autovia (superhighway). I did it early on a Sunday morning, so it wasn't an issue, but I remember thinking it was a disaster waiting to happen. I had a WONDERFUL huge plate of setas (wild mushrooms) in the bar in Gotarrendura, hope you are as fortunate to have something special! Buen camino, Laurie
ps And do I remember correctly that the lore is that the dovecote in Gotarrendura belonged to Teresa d'Avila's family?
Looks like.I'm almost sure that Teresiano and Levante (possibly Sureste as well) overlaps on this stage.
I marked that one two years ago. It fits perfectly in my Camino Combo:Looks like.
(The Tereisano looks so intriguing; I keep coming back to looking at it. As a short stand-alone camino or a meaningful way to walk from Avila to the VdlP and beyond.)
Buen Camino, Brandy and thanks for the updates!
No, actually I don't as a Pagan but I'm avid long distance walker and very inquisitive about the history being that RC Church history or any other...
And if you have any interest at all in Teresa of Avila? Well, then it's a pilgrimage in its own right.
Catholic or not (me, neither), she has an amazing story - being a mystic, a teacher, and a politician all at the same time.No, actually I don't as a Pagan but I'm avid long distance walker and very inquisitive about the history being that RC Church history or any other
Hola LaurieHi, Brandy,
So good to hear your reports. Just wondering if the exit from Avila is still as dangerous as it was when I walked the Levante. The story we heard was that there used to be a path through private land, but the owner was successful in blocking it, so pilgrims just had to walk around and on the shoulder of the entrance to the autovia (superhighway). I did it early on a Sunday morning, so it wasn't an issue, but I remember thinking it was a disaster waiting to happen. I had a WONDERFUL huge plate of setas (wild mushrooms) in the bar in Gotarrendura, hope you are as fortunate to have something special! Buen camino, Laurie
ps And do I remember correctly that the lore is that the dovecote in Gotarrendura belonged to Teresa d'Avila's family?
I remember that strange exit from Avila, but as we did it in the early morning we were lucky with light traffic also. @Brandy you reports remind me of our Levante crossing, as I lost my credential, camera and journal later on when travelling in France, my memories from this route are hazy... Partly due to it being so hard starting in Cartehenga, but I do remember the Avila to Toldeo section as being beautiful, despite some long days on the road. But then we were heading across to join the Vdlp in Zamora, good luck with the rest of your walk, I will follow you with interest.Hi, Brandy,
So good to hear your reports. Just wondering if the exit from Avila is still as dangerous as it was when I walked the Levante. The story we heard was that there used to be a path through private land, but the owner was successful in blocking it, so pilgrims just had to walk around and on the shoulder of the entrance to the autovia (superhighway). I did it early on a Sunday morning, so it wasn't an issue, but I remember thinking it was a disaster waiting to happen.
Duh, I didn't know that Palacios de Goda has any albergue... But Ataquines does have a small Acogida at Polideportivo according to my itinerary from 2015. I also have two telephone numbers for it but it's too late now....Both bars in Palacio de Goda were closed. And one of the two is supposed to have the keys for the little albergue they have there.
Ataquines my destination at the Hostal on the caretera. I have read some negatives reports about this hostal. I think for 20 euros I can be happy for the room they give me....
Thanks Kinkyone next stop Tordesillas.Duh, I didn't know that Palacios de Goda has any albergue... But Ataquines does have a small Acogida at Polideportivo according to my itinerary from 2015. I also have two telephone numbers for it but it's too late now.
Let me know your next stop (if you know it of course) if want to help you from a distance with some info.
Anyway Buen Camino!
Oh, now you got me on my left foot as I don't have any specifics about Sureste. But I can search for them if you wishThanks Kinkyone next stop Tordesillas.
Buen Camino
Brandy
Tordesillas is great, crossing the Duero not quite so spectacular as at Zamora, but pretty good. The hospitalero at the (outstanding) albergue (fridge, washing machine etc) is the local police chief, a great enthusiast for the camino and for the rare pilgrims who don't turn left at Medina del Campo. Albergues at all 2 next stages (or 3 if you stay at San Pedro de Latarce, splitting the long day between Mota del Marques and Villalpando) on to Benavente.Thanks Kinkyone next stop Tordesillas.
Buen Camino
Brandy
Hola AlansykesTordesillas is great, crossing the Duero not quite so spectacular as at Zamora, but pretty good. The hospitalero at the (outstanding) albergue (fridge, washing machine etc) is the local police chief, a great enthusiast for the camino and for the rare pilgrims who don't turn left at Medina del Campo. Albergues at all 2 next stages (or 3 if you stay at San Pedro de Latarce, splitting the long day between Mota del Marques and Villalpando) on to Benavente.
Buen camino, quite a lot of corn coming up over the next few days.
As far as the albergue goes I must have the wrong number. I called yesterday twice with no answer. So I decided for the puerta de villa hostal. Very decent.Tordesillas is great, crossing the Duero not quite so spectacular as at Zamora, but pretty good. The hospitalero at the (outstanding) albergue (fridge, washing machine etc) is the local police chief, a great enthusiast for the camino and for the rare pilgrims who don't turn left at Medina del Campo. Albergues at all 2 next stages (or 3 if you stay at San Pedro de Latarce, splitting the long day between Mota del Marques and Villalpando) on to Benavente.
Buen camino, quite a lot of corn coming up over the next few days.
Hola, Brandy,Day 4 Tordesillas Castromonte
I didn't mention that today was the last day of 8 days of festivities for the protector of Tordesillas. Very Spanish.
The point is that at 7 a band came under the windows of my room to remember that nobody can sleep but all must get involved.
So after caffe I started my transition to the madrileno. Untill Velilla I succeded in finding a country road and after I just took the caretera to make my day shorter. The caretera has very little traffic.
For lunch I stayed in Torrelobaton wich has a very nice castle. Very nice staff in the bar in the main square.
And then straight to Castromonte.
The man with the keys came in few minutes and opened the door to a very nice albergue with all facilities you can desire. All fo 5 euros.
I was the only pilgrim .
Then a word on Castromonte. There is nothing exept a lousy bar and the only food they coud provide was boccadillo with chorizo.
On google map there was a Tienda. But there is no tienda. So I advised google of the non existence o the tienda and within 30 minutes they told me they canceled it.
No pilgrims met during the day.
Buen Camino
Brandy
Hola KinkyoneHola, Brandy,
It was discussed many times in CdM section that Castromonte doesn't have a tienda. There was a carniceria but closed in afternoons. A tienda-van comes by in the morning. The tienda on Google maps is a clothes shop but it's tienda nevertheless
By "lousy bar" you probably meant the bar on the main street where Lottery tickets are also sold. You should go further to the square in front of the church and on the left side of the square (opposite the church) there is Bar Caribu with elderly couple running it. Very nice.
Ultreia!
Oh, Brandy, so maybe Sr. Braulio has closed the Bar Caribe. Let us know if you find out. He would be in his late 90s by now, I think. I hope he and his wife are still alive and in good health.Hola Kinkyone
In my tour of Castromonte today I didn't take the main street, I went to the tienda and I couldn't find it. There was nothing no store at all. I asked information to a lady and she said there is no tienda in the village "we only have a bar". So I continued I and arrived in the square of the church. I took some pictures of the church but I couldn't see any bar. Then I came back on the main caretera to the only open bar where I had my dinner.
Also the man that gave me the keys for the Albergue spoke about one bar not two.
Tomorrow morning when I leave I will check one more time.
Buen Camino
Brandy
Hi, Brandy,Day 8 Punte de Villarente La Robla
Nothing to say about the leg to Leon. With my disappointment now to enter the cathedral in Leon you must pay. So I didn't.
Then I left the francese to start the San Salvador. Nothin to say about the walking along careteras but there were about 15 km in the wild with steep climb and descents where you can get a filing of what is expecting you in the next days.
Albergue with 16 beds is full.
Buen Camino.
Brandy
Well, Brandy if you would take some time for preparation than you would know you can call ahead and have your dinner at Casa Rural in Poladura. Sorry, bad preparation ;(...
Albergue in Poladura is very basic. No tienda no bar. The only cooking facilities is a microwave oven period.....
Dear KinkyOneWell, Brandy if you would take some time for preparation than you would know you can call ahead and have your dinner at Casa Rural in Poladura. Sorry, bad preparation ;(
It's all on the forum...
Thanks will see.Hi, Brandy, as far as I can tell, you and @laineylainey are not far apart. I think she is in Grado today. https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/on-the-primitivo.50846/
Enjoying your posts, if you stop in one of the two great Albergues in Ferreira
https://www.alberguesdeferreira.com/?lang=en the day after Lugo, tell @Juanma hi from all his forum friends.
Day 13
Salas Tineo
The word of the day is "mud". For some reason 80% of today's camino was in the mud. So the enjoyment was somewhat reduced.
In Tineo I went to a very nice hotel: Palacio de Meras. In the same building they have Albergue (12 €) and hotel (40 €). The menu del peregrino was not 4 stars like the hotel.
In the hotel I met @laineylainey (thanks Laurie) and had a very interesting conversation / evening.
Buen Camino
Brandy
Hi, Brandy, well, you are done and done! Congratulations.Day 19 Castroverde Roman de la Retorta.
This stage can be divided in two parts. Untill Lugo or just before Lugo it is very nice. After Lugo it is 90 % on asphalt.
Lugo is nice but not special. I visited the cathedral in the center. After that I had a meal at Roots and Boots on the camino just before the bridge on the rio Miňo. This place is very nice and it has also an Albergue. (10 €).
After that I walked to Roman de la Retorta where the private albergue is disappointing. The food they offered was also not very good. There is also a municipal Albergue.
Buen Camino
Brandy