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Recent content by Mark Temple

  1. M

    What to drink in Spain II

    Red wine is mostly chilled because bottles often spend some time open, and the lower the temperature, the slower the rate of oxidation. Simples! Of course it may also be seen as a positive in summer, and given that most red wine should be drunk at between 15 and 18 degrees it is indeed essential...
  2. M

    short mountain-based walk between León and Galicia?

    OK, better late than never (I hope ;)) I did this walk as planned last month, doing Laurie's Peñalba "loop" and then the bit of the Francés between Villafranca and O Cebreiro (and the mountain variant via Pradela). The second day was really one of the most beautiful walks I have ever done...
  3. M

    my short "camino" around the Bierzo :-)

    Thanks :) Btw, I guess I can do this route with only a sheet sleeping bag, renting blankets? I hate the cold, but will be taking a day pack only, so would really like to avoid having to take the bag.
  4. M

    my short "camino" around the Bierzo :-)

    Yep, sure, I know that :)
  5. M

    my short "camino" around the Bierzo :-)

    Thanks! I'm hoping to stay in Pradela (i.e. between Villafranca and Trabadelo) - do you know anything about the albergue? I did try contacting them through their FB page, but no luck so far. Trabadelo would make a good fallback, yes. I'm planning to stay at Casa Lixa in Las Herrerías rather...
  6. M

    short mountain-based walk between León and Galicia?

    No luck in contacting La Masera. I've tried the email and FB page, but nothing so far... I'm thinking of having the option of walking Villafranca-La Herrerías-O Cebreiro instead of the Las Médulas-O Braco bit, in case I don't feel up to THAT day. :eek: Wondering whether I need to take a...
  7. M

    Booking.com (Good service? any complaints?)

    Most people these days who work in tourism can manage a bit of English. And even Google Translate should be able to handle a simple email like this:-)
  8. M

    Booking.com (Good service? any complaints?)

    OK, sorry, my mistake. Of course it's useful that these sites exist. But, like Amazon, if everyone buys everything from them then all the money is going into the pockets of very few.
  9. M

    Booking.com (Good service? any complaints?)

    I don't like to use booking.com. A number of people who run hotels etc in different countries have asked me to book direct with them (if they have their own site, or even email), because the margins in the industry are already small. I much prefer to do my best to make sure all my money goes...
  10. M

    my short "camino" around the Bierzo :-)

    Obviously not a memorable day for you then :) I figured I will be a bit tired after the three days in the Valle del Silencio, so starting lateish and maybe having lunch in Villafranca with some good Bierzo wine doesn't sound too terrible a prospect. Then 12 kn in the afternoon. The day to...
  11. M

    my short "camino" around the Bierzo :-)

    Hope you have a good dentist on the road, with all that bellota in the mornings :-) I was kind of put off by the sheer length of the day from Penhalba to Las Médulas, and so I started to look for other options. Which was when I thought this Villafranca-Pradela-Ruitelán-Cebreiro route might work...
  12. M

    my short "camino" around the Bierzo :-)

    Yeah, I reckoned a 7.30 start should be about right. Bit early for a beer maybe... more of a third coffee I reckon :-) Pradela private or municipal?
  13. M

    my short "camino" around the Bierzo :-)

    Thanks! Are either the Ruitelán and Pradela ones municipal/parish-run?
  14. M

    my short "camino" around the Bierzo :-)

    I'm coming to Ponferrada in early June to walk for a few days. I am planning to do a loop around the Valle del Silencio (Ponferrada-El Acebo-Penhalba de Santiago-Ponferrada. I then have two more days - need to be in León by lunchtime on the third day. I hope to come back in future years when I...
  15. M

    short mountain-based walk between León and Galicia?

    Thanks, both of you! I reckon 5 hrs should be plenty for Ponferrada - El Acebo. Would like to stay at La Trucha but not sure I can justify an extra 40 or 50 euros for the first night. Now if it was the third or fourth... I am still pondering the Penhalba-Médulas day. Thinking if instead I...
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