I've walked through in October twice and the Agoga restaurant was open both times. The first time was at about 10am, It's not right in the village, but on the way out. Did you try that place?
The albergue in Villavieja is unstaffed, so hanging around for a couple of hours might be an option and there is good wifi (when you phone the ayuntamiento for the door code, you could ask if it's ok to leave late and use the early morning to go for a ramble up around the castle if you don't get...
The first time I stayed there (2021), it seemed to us, it was a work in progress. Still, we had a memorable stay and enjoyed Manuel's hospitality. Last October, that progress seems to have gone backwards, if anything. A shame, because he's a good guy and he does care about pilgrims.
Probably...
That was an unfortunate situation for you to find yourself in and hopefully was a once off. Coded locks are becoming more and more popular with accomodation providers everywhere these days, they are generally very reliable.
I'm not sure what the issue was for them, but phone (or email) the ayuntamiento and they'll give you the code for the door, it's pretty straightforward. If you're arriving at a weekend, be sure to contact them on the Thursday or Friday:
+34987420806
aytopriaranza@ccbierzo.com
In November last...
Very true.. I recently dug out my own September/October 2021 account of the invierno and this short excerpt, describes that morning:
"By the time I'm up over the top of the hill and past the castle, dawn has broken and I make it the 12km or so to the Orellán mirador in just a couple of hours...
Yes, looking again.. I came down by the 'camino del mirador' and took, I think the green path and ended up on the official camino right in front of Hotel Rural Agoga. It was a great spot for breakfast and didn't disappoint on my second visit last year when I came through Las Medulas.
If you're...
Looking at your map, I think I came down from the Mirador, through the forest on a marked path and came out to join the camino at Hotel Rural Agoga, just a little beyond the village. I'll look through my photos later to check 100%
I took the alternative path out of Borreñes in 2021 inspired by your own video.. I was glad I did! I got a bit lost and found it a tough climb up from the riverbed to the Mirador, but what a spectacular entrance and the walk afterwards down through the forest was beautiful indeed! From there I...
I've looked back through the thread, perhaps I've overlooked it but can't find a reference to any mention of jamming a pole tip into a dog's face.. what an aggressive and cruel suggestion.
I strongly disagree.
I agree, there just isn't a place for it in a camino environment. I would hate for...
Most of the dogs on the Camino Frances in my experience have been docile, lazy even.. they are so used to passing pilgrims. It's always been on quiet routes with few passing pilgrims, that I've encountered angry dogs, and most of them in more isolated places. In 9,000 odd kilometres, it's only...
I've had more than my share of loose, angry dogs on several caminos, including twice on the invierno, on both occasions it was in the same place somewhere after Rodeiro, in 2021 and 2023. Most times it seems to me, dogs are just bored and looking for a little attention and a few soothing words...
I stayed in that wonderful little donativo Casa Rosa two months ago, in late October, it was a real treat! The owners told me they were planning to close up for a couple of months over winter but weren't specific about the dates.
The newspaper article mentions the renovation of the municipal in...
I'm not usually one for recommending places, as we all have different experiences.. but I would go out of my way to stay again in this wonderful little family run donativo. It means a 35km day out of Ponferrada, but coming from Le Puy, I expect you might have the stamina for it...
Well, let's say the 37km or so trudging in the rain between Rodeiro and Silleda today on mostly churned up tracks between pig farms was great fun.. and how the heavy rain brings out the wonderful smell of pig slurry!
I made good ground today because tomorrow is to be much wetter and a shorter...
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