- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances; Aragones; VdlP; Madrid-Invierno; Levante
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Yes there was definitely one female member of the forum (I think in May or even April) that slept there but I just can't remember who that was. I vaguely remember that she was maybe even the first one at all to overnight there...Has anyone on the forum spent a night at the albergue municipal in Villavieja this year? I have read three posts in the Comentarios on Gronze referring to that albergue which all state that it is impossible to reach anyone to open the albergue by calling any of the posted numbers. These comments are from July and August of this year and there are no other comments about the albergue since 2018. I am beginning to wonder if it is currently in use, as apparently locals were saying that the new mayor could not be bothered opening it for pilgrims. I would appreciate it if you could pass on any further information.
It was @alaskadiver who stayed there.Yes there was definitely one female member of the forum (I think in May or even April) that slept there but I just can't remember who that was.
Thanks for all replies. I am still unsure, as later (July-August) Comentarios on gronze indicate that lack of response to telephone calls is attributable to a new mayor who cannot be bothered to open the albergue to pilgrims. However, I shall call from Ponferrada the day before and won’t plan on staying there unless I get an affirmative response. Thanks again for replying.It was @alaskadiver who stayed there.
Hi, I noticed there seems to be a different tel. number on the Villavieja Facebook site dated 5 July. Have you seen that one? Not sure if it's any help - 687-80-12-64: https://m.facebook.com/alberguedeVillavieja/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0Thanks for all replies. I am still unsure, as later (July-August) Comentarios on gronze indicate that lack of response to telephone calls is attributable to a new mayor who cannot be bothered to open the albergue to pilgrims. However, I shall call from Ponferrada the day before and won’t plan on staying there unless I get an affirmative response. Thanks again for replying.
Just noticed that's the same as the Gronze number just grouped differentlyHi, I noticed there seems to be a different tel. number on the Villavieja Facebook site dated 5 July. Have you seen that one? Not sure if it's any help - 687-80-12-64: https://m.facebook.com/alberguedeVillavieja/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0
Thanks, hopefully on the next call some further instruction will be forthcoming!Just a quick clarification, not sure it really matters, but just in case. The ayuntamiento (town hall, municipal government) is actually in Priaranza del Bierzo, not in Villavieja. Villavieja is a little hamlet that is part of Priaranza’s munncipal government. I just add this in case someone gets to Villavieja and starts walking around looking for the town hall, because you won’t find one.
But this is very good news about the albergue being open!
@Clarky19Hi, I just managed to speak to someone at the Ayuntamiento in Villavieja who promised me that I could call just a couple of days before arriving there and the albergue would be open - that was for this September. Hope that helps. This is the number I used: ALBERGUE MUNICIPAL EN VILLAVIEJA: Llamar al Ayuntamiento. Tlf. 987 420 806
Thanks for clarification. This is pretty much what I suspected. Things seem to change rapidly on the Invierno, except when a new albergue is supposed to open. It is a challenge to keep up.I will hazard a guess that this confusion is connected to the municipal elections. Mayors and party affiliations may have changed as of June 15. I know this because on June 15 we walked into Puente Almuhey on the Olvidado and the owner of the great place we stayed told us that he had been replaced as mayor this morning.
The forum guide has different numbers, but those were put in before the municipal elections. Clarky has confirmation that the town hall is now the place to call.
BTW, this ayuntamiento is also in charge of the castle of Cornatel, so I wonder if more changes in operating hours will be forthcoming!
Hi, Clarky19,Quick update - I used the landline that @peregrina2000 noted and spoke to Monch (a man) who was very accommodating and will open the albergue for me at the start of September. So that last number definitely works.
My one question on this is - he can't be there until between 4-5pm - those of you who have used the hostel before, can you advise me if there is somewhere you can sit in shade nearby? I'm only walking from Ponferrada so I reckon I'll be there before that to avoid the mid-afternoon temperature rise.
Many thanks.
Thanks, Clarky, I was just going to write to say that the 687 number is not a land line, it is a cell phone, and you beat me to it.Actually, I've just noticed the 687-80-12-64 no. has popped up on my Whatsapp list, so must be a mobile & maybe anyone having difficulty calling can try getting them that way.
Sounds good, Laurie. I should be there next Monday, all being well, & can send a report from on site! When I first called the couple running it, the line was very bad & they were good enough to call me back later, which was very thoughtful. Bodes well.
Well, Fiona, just to add to the suspense, just this minute I received a WhatsApp fromo Monchi saying in response to my message to him that I had received another whatsApp that told me the albergue was closed. My translation: “I don’t know, I understood that there were problems with the hot water. I don’t know if they fixed it, I think so, but I cannot confirm it.”Confusion reigns. Well, Laurie, what can I say?! I guess I'll be there for 4pm & if nothing happens I'll have to keep going. First test of pilgrimage - to trust in provision when needed. Hadn't thought I'd hit that quite so early on mind you. I'll let you know what happens. Fiona
There's lots of shade in the village as well as along the path that goes up to the castle. There are monster chestnuts which would be lovely places for a nap.if there is somewhere you can sit in shade nearby?
I'm sure that old mastiff would be quite happy to have a napping friend. Seriously! I mean imagine his life in Villavieja...Wow, hope it all works out, @Clarky19!
There's lots of shade in the village as well as along the path that goes up to the castle. There are monster chestnuts which would be lovely places for a nap.
I'm sure that old mastiff would be quite happy to have a napping friend. Seriously! I mean imagine his life in Villavieja...
No, really?That old mastiff seems to have faded gracefully into his retirement. Last time I walked through, in July, there was no sign of him.
So here I am in Hospital de Orbigo, only a couple of days short of Ponferrada, and I still have no idea where I shall sleep my first night on the Invierno. I shall try telephoning the albergue later today to see if Monchi has a place for me. I don't know what I shall do if I cannot arrange that with him. Wish me well and I shall let you know.
Sorry to be unclear. I meant “leaving from Ponferrada.” So you gave me the answer I was looking for.@peregrina2000:
I am not sure what you mean by "when are you leaving?" I am in the Siervas de Maria albergue in Astorga right now and expect to be leaving Ponferrada for Villavieja on the 21st. As soon as I can find a quiet place I shall try to phone Monchi and make a reservation to stay in the albergue at Villavieja that night. I'll let you know how it goes.
@peregrina2000:
I am not sure what you mean by "when are you leaving?" I am in the Siervas de Maria albergue in Astorga right now and expect to be leaving Ponferrada for Villavieja on the 21st. As soon as I can find a quiet place I shall try to phone Monchi and make a reservation to stay in the albergue at Villavieja that night. I'll let you know how it goes.
@peregrina2000Well, as luck would have it, I just received a note from the ayuntamiento. As I write this, @Albertagirl, you are probably on your way!
Here is what I learned:
Monchi is in charge of the albergue until the end of the year. You must call him ahead of time and reserve. Phone number is 687 80 12 64.
If you have any problems, you should call the town hall of Priaranza del Bierzo and they will help you. 987 40 08 06.
The town is going to find a new licensee for 2020, so I hope that these problems will be a thing of the past. Buen camino, Albertagirl, and I hope you have a wonderful Camino de Invierno!
@peregrina2000In preparation for the forum Invierno zoom meeting, I was wondering about the current status of the albergue in Villavieja. Last we heard, the license was up for bid.
Well, according to this article, the license has been given to a woman who is described as having worked in “emergency services in New York.” This hospitalera declared that her albergue would be open to any walker who needed a place to stay, during the pandemic. Interesting that the article was written on March 31, well after the lockdown began, so I am not sure about the legalities of all of this.
In any event, the hospitalera says that she will provide some basic food if needed, and the article has several pictures that confirm what @alaskadiver said about it being a nice place.
And btw, I know that there are some forum members who have recommended taking the road route to bypass Villavieja and the Cornatel castle. That will take you straight into Borrenes without the first big ascent. Please take a look at these pictures before you make that rash decision. Villavieja is a story-book village, and its big barking mastiff that used to cause worry has apparently been confined so that it can no longer terrorize peregrinos.
Yes, I remember you had a horrible time with this, @Albertagirl. The albergue itself is to the left and up from the camino tracks, and it is the old school. But in any event, the good news is that Monchi is no longer in charge and it looks like things have gotten onto a much better trajectory.@peregrina2000
You know from my remarks above my challenges in trying to stay in this albergue. I am now actually wondering if I was in the wrong location, as I have looked at a photo of the albergue which does not resemble the building in Villavieja which I thought was the albergue. However, this could have easily been sorted out if Monchi had not kept hanging up on me. Three other pilgrims who passed me on the walk to Villavieja also were unable to stay there and had to go on to Borrenes that day. My one comment on deciding to try to stay at Villavieja would be that if, like myself, you are a fairly slow walker and have, for whatever reason, had to leave Ponferrada somewhat late in the day, you might consider whether you could make it to Borrenes by the Villavieja route. I had a booking at the Villavieja albergue, but I still had to hitch a ride into Borrenes in the rain and the approaching dark. That would not have been a good time to walk.
There is an updated link for this Albergue https://alberguedevillavieja.com/
and going back to a possible New York connection, on the food and drink advertised New York is given as one of the origins of the styles of coffee on offer.
there’s even New York style coffee, which may or may not be a compliment.
which may or may not be a compliment.
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