Albergue at Embalse de Alcantara closed

[george.g]

Arrived at Cacares today (Las Veletas) to be told that the albergue overlooking the lake is closed for repairs!
So plan accordingly!
I'll go past in the next day or so and if I can I'll check and report
Regards
George
PS So is the fishing lodge Alcantara Pesca

 

[grayland]

I was the only one in that Albergue in August of 2013....except for a young college girl who was working as hospitalaro. She left about 5 pm and left me a key to lock up when I left in the morning.
I always thought that was an unsafe place for that girl because of the remoteness.
It was a really upscale place...kind of like a 5 star Albergue.

It is a long walk across the busy highway and down a long steep and rocky road toward the reservoir.
I don't think you will want to divert to it if it is closed.
It really is a strange place in a very remote area.
Right after this...I ran into the huge railroad construction that had uprooted the Camino at that time.
It was Sunday and no workers around just miles of disturbed ground, piles of dirt and equipment.
Some Camino signs in piles on the ground.
I had a GPS track on my iPhone and was able to just go generally in the direction of the track..though dirt piles, rubble, etc. I did hit the marked Camino a few miles farther on.

 

[amancio]

indeed, the Alcantar albergue is closed for renovations (worst time of the year for that, really, when it is at its busiest). Good news is, though, there is a brand new albergue in Cañaveral now!
I was in las Veletas myself only on Saturday, we might have actually met in the camino last week, George!

 

[peregrina2000]

indeed, the Alcantar albergue is closed for renovations (worst time of the year for that, really, when it is at its busiest). Good news is, though, there is a brand new albergue in Cañaveral now!
I was in las Veletas myself only on Saturday, we might have actually met in the camino last week, George!

Great news about Cañaveral, Amancio. I stayed in the roadside hostal (maybe named Málaga???) and it was fine, but those who stayed in the little albergue had a rough go of it.

Do you have information on the other albergues turísticos along the Vdlp in terms of opening or closing? It seems like every year some of them close, Fuente de Cantos, Torremejía, Banos de Montemayor, etc, but then they also randomly open up. I do think that based on George´s recent post that the lovely albergue turístico in the old olive farm before Villafranca de los Barros is permanently closed.

Looks like there is a healthy number of pilgrims on the Vdlp this year! Buen camino, Laurie

 

[amancio]

Hola Laurie!

indeed, I forgot to mention that the municipal in a convent in Fuente de Cantos has reopened this year, so you have two places to stay now. the one in Puebla de Sancho Pérez was closed, now that I remember, chaotic mind now that I am back at work!

It is good to see albergues reopen, but it is also discouraging to see how things have changed in the camino over the years.

Seeing the man in charge in an albergue municipal greet the taxi driver with a firm handshake and big smile, open the taxi boot and pick the "pilgrims" rucksacks himself and bring them into the albergue while the people who came by taxi chat away is still a violent scene to me, I cannot help it.

And seeing two ladies leave the Alcuescar albergue at 7:30 in the morning and bring their rucksacks to a luxury big car round the corner... also such a pity!

And then the hospitalero in Alcuescar tells me that the average donation by pilgrim is just around 4 euro per head, including bed and dinner!!!

Other than that, spring in La Plata is more "spring" than anywhere else in the world!

 

[Saint Mike II]

I staid in this albergue myself back in May 2013 and considering its construction I find it very, very hard to understand that the "Alcantar albergue is closed for renovations".
It"s made of concrete and brick - the most sturdy place I remember. I agree about it being isolated - even the train (on the old branch line) no longer stops at the station about a km from the albergue. Hopefully it will reopen soon, otherwise its a long, long day (30-35 km +) from Carceres (unless you want to break it at Casar de Caceres (about 11 km). It make for a real short day and then a longer day to Canaveral or Grimaldo. Cheers

 

[amancio]

Well, Saint Mike II, renovations may be plumbing, windows, who knows... gorgeous place in any case.

 

[grayland]

Hola Laurie!

Seeing the man in charge in an albergue municipal greet the taxi driver with a firm handshake and big smile, open the taxi boot and pick the "pilgrims" rucksacks himself and bring them into the albergue while the people who came by taxi chat away is still a violent scene to me, I cannot help it.

And seeing two ladies leave the Alcuescar albergue at 7:30 in the morning and bring their rucksacks to a luxury big car round the corner... also such a pity!

And then the hospitalero in Alcuescar tells me that the average donation by pilgrim is just around 4 euro per head, including bed and dinner!!!

Other than that, spring in La Plata is more "spring" than anywhere else in the world!

Hola Amancio,
You have expressed my thoughts very well.
I am greatly saddened by the changes that are occurring. I expect to soon see the little tourist trains running along Camino.

The saddest thing, I think, is the constant promotion of the idea that carrying one's pack is for fools. Actual walking on difficult parts or "boring" stretches is frowned upon and buses and taxis are encouraged.

Much of this attitude is now posted by long time pilgrims as well as those who have never been. I would guess any guilt or regret one might feel is helped by getting others to participate in the same activities.

It is good this thread is in the little read VdlP
Section or the mobs with torches and pitchforks would be howling by now.

 

[domigee]

Nah, carrying one's pack MAKES the camino! Everything you need, with you. I don!t need to say more, you lot know what it's all about as for 'boring' bits..., I don't understand either.
But hey!
I always felt and I wasn't the only one : if you can't carry it in comfort, then you don't need it!

 

[KinkyOne]

Hola Amancio,
You have expressed my thoughts very well.
I am greatly saddened by the changes that are occurring. I expect to soon see the little tourist trains running along Camino.

The saddest thing, I think, is the constant promotion of the idea that carrying one's pack is for fools. Actual walking on difficult parts or "boring" stretches is frowned upon and buses and taxis are encouraged.

Much of this attitude is now posted by long time pilgrims as well as those who have never been. I would guess any guilt or regret one might feel is helped by getting others to participate in the same activities.

It is good this thread is in the little read VdlP
Section or the mobs with torches and pitchforks would be howling by now.

Bravo!!!

 

[VNwalking]

I walked with a friend who has medical challenges and who wisely chose not to carry her pack. I carried mine and she used Jacotrans. In that case there was no question...she walked...and was definitely a peregrino and not a turistico.
But this taxi business from door to door? And avoiding the boring parts? Oh. My. At the risk being labelled a Camino Snob...well, what's the point? Different intentions, that's for sure.
The low-light of my last Camino was the evening "Pilgrim Mass" (and tour) at San Juan de Ortega...in large part for the entertainment and edification of 2 busloads of fancily-dressed folks from Burgos. We pilgrims who had slogged from Belorado through the snow and freezing slush were outnumbered 100 to 1 and there was no blessing from the Padre...

 

[george.g]

I went passed the lake this morning and was delighted to find that the fishing hostal was open.
I should have phoned myself and checked from Caceres, but when the hostal owner assured me that "everything closed"
Its called "Alcantara Pesca" 927 090 510.
I told the owner that the guy at Lad Veletas was telling everyone that his hostal was closed!

Be aware rooms are expensive at 25e single and 40 double, so perhaps it might as well be closed.
And to add my twopennyworth to the above posts, in my view some will always take the easy option, ie the "its your Camino" brigade
But there again when "purist" is used as a derogatory term, what the heck.
Regards
George

 

[grayland]

I was not aware of the fishing hostel....then again it was about 55c so I really wasn't aware of many things.

I am happy to be a purist or traditionalist...PC or not.

It is sad

 

[peregrina2000]

I went passed the lake this morning and was delighted to find that the fishing hostal was open.
I should have phoned myself and checked from Caceres, but when the hostal owner assured me that "everything closed"
Its called "Alcantara Pesca" 927 090 510.
I told the owner that the guy at Lad Veletas was telling everyone that his hostal was closed!

Be aware rooms are expensive at 25e single and 40 double, so perhaps it might as well be closed.
And to add my twopennyworth to the above posts, in my view some will always take the easy option, ie the "its your Camino" brigade
But there again when "purist" is used as a derogatory term, what the heck.
Regards
George

Hi, George, thanks for the most recent update in the neverending saga of the Alcantara Pesca, formerly called Lindamar, and after that it had some other name for a while during its operation by a guy from the UK. This isn't cheap, but as private alternatives go, and given the distance from Caceres to Canaveral, for those who don't want to stop in Casar de Caceres it's a good option perhaps.

I wonder how long it will remain in operation, it seems to open, then close, then go up for sale, then repeat the cycle. Wishing the new owners better luck! Laurie

 

[grayland]

To add to the venting of the attitude changes occurring on the Camino.

The American Pilgrim Facebook site is a constant yapping about how to transport "luggage", "be sure to use bag transport", what albergues "not to miss", take a bus here and over there, "this is a boring section..skip it", etc., etc.
Any post that suggests carrying your own pack if not physically unable or to walk rather than take buses and taxis is immediately denounced as "judgemental" by the torch and pitchfork mob. If you do not agree with them..you are judgemental.
The amount of misinformation posted is astounding. Most new people are just reposting anything they have heard as facts.

Little is said about a pilgrimage. It is simply YOUR camino and MY camino.
It is much the same at the local pilgrim groups.
Woe is us...the end is near!

Hope THOSE folks don't find this thread.

 

[domigee]

So do I or you're in dead trouble

 

[VNwalking]

Perhaps if they do they'll notice that the world is a bigger place than they imagined?? You gotta start somewhere and that's their entry point. Well, just hoping. (I'm American but definitely with you on this one.)

 

[domigee]

Oh Virarani, rest assured it isn't just the Americans!
Ok, quick rant then : last Summer I was walking through France on a pilgrimage with a fellow Camino-ist... We were soooo pleased to meet a couple of young Italian pilgrims, in a campsite, the only ones in weeks and weeks.... They were 'walking' the opposite way, from Italy to Canterbury. Well, it was such a sad and disappointing evening , all they did was complain that there was no easy bag transfer, that the countryside was ever so boring etc etc... They were taking taxis, trains, whatever was available hoping they would quickly get to a 'more interesting part'!!!
We just sat there speechless and quite downhearted actually!
Rant over

 

[Magwood]

I am staying in Canñaveral tomorrow, afire a night at Casar de Cásares tonight (all beds filled). I will report on the new hostal at Cañaveral in my blog http://www.magwood.me/camino-mozarabe/

 

[VNwalking]

Point taken, Domigee! Thanks for the reality check.
I stayed in Albergue Virgen de Guadeloupe in Ciruena and the very interesting character of a hospitalero there talked about turisticos, athleticos, and peregrinos. He thought the athleticos were the most unfathomable...but having been one in a previous life about 20 years ago I kinda get it. That's one thing that led me in the spiritual direction, in fact. But the turisticos...I have to confess to the very uncharitable wish that they'd stay in a hotel and not take bunk space from folks who slog it out day after day. Selfish, I know. But guess it takes all kinds. Well, they can have a shadow of a 'pilgrim experience' that way...and maybe that will lead them to wanting to try it another way?

 

[grayland]

I can ignore them when they doing their not walking..not pack carrying activities.
My great problem is the seeming need to encourage new people to do the same.
You would think the had an investment in jacotran and the bus and taxi companies.

I just don't understand the constant promotion of the new attitude.

 

[VNwalking]

As you say, GL, maybe an effort to mitigate the feelings of guilt?