- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances; Aragones; VdlP; Madrid-Invierno; Levante
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Oh, dear...However, I am a pilgrim and I walk in faith.
Albertagirl,Since I have no accommodation at Higueruela and there is bus service from Alpera, where I spent last night, I have decided to take a bus to Albacete today and have booked a room there. That should put me a day ahead of schedule instead of my current day behind and I have a bed to sleep in, instead of a field. As for tomorrow, who knows? I have experienced the ongoing kindness of the local people and the ongoing perversity of my IPhone. This is certainly an adventure.
Don't forget to give us your feedback about the various options for walking into Toledo as you get there.Since I have no accommodation at Higueruela and there is bus service from Alpera, where I spent last night, I have decided to take a bus to Albacete today and have booked a room there. That should put me a day ahead of schedule instead of my current day behind and I have a bed to sleep in, instead of a field. As for tomorrow, who knows? I have experienced the ongoing kindness of the local people and the ongoing perversity of my IPhone. This is certainly an adventure.
Perfect solution.That should put me a day ahead of schedule instead of my current day behind and I have a bed to sleep in, instead of a field
Good luck Albertagirl! I have been thinking about you as you make your way and send prayers for your safety and comfort.Since I have no accommodation at Higueruela and there is bus service from Alpera, where I spent last night, I have decided to take a bus to Albacete today and have booked a room there. That should put me a day ahead of schedule instead of my current day behind and I have a bed to sleep in, instead of a field. As for tomorrow, who knows? I have experienced the ongoing kindness of the local people and the ongoing perversity of my IPhone. This is certainly an adventure.
@Doughnut NZDon't forget to give us your feedback about the various options for walking into Toledo as you get there.
I stayed in Albacete last night. Hotel Castilla is very nice, and walked to Hotel los Gabrieles this morning, arriving by noon. Today wasSo where to from Albacete? Hoping to hear good news. I personally think Albacete is a depressing little place, but I think it was heavily damaged in the Civil War.
How is the weather treating you @Albertagirl? I’m in Lugo and it was a bright sunny cool day. No complaints!
Hi @AlbertagirlYesterday was my first long day on this camino- from Hostal los Gabrieles on the Autovía Alicante to La Roda is just short of 30 k. with a stop for lunch in La Gineta. I was pretty weary at the end of it. But a cool, cloudy and breezy day made it doable. For most of the day, I walked with another pilgrim, who had stayed by chance in the same hotel, but we met when he caught up to me along the trail. His company made it easier to keep up my pace and to enjoy the details of the rural Spanish countryside. He had found an albergue, while I stayed in a comfortable hotel. I expect to see him again along the way. I have no idea where I shall sleep tonight. As usual, my chosen accommodation is not available. I'm still looking, and today promises to be a day much like yesterday, as I settle into Spanish country walking. Now, I must get back to looking for a bed for the night while I still have wifi: my data does not work. Buen dia a todos. Albertagirl
Once again, no where on booking.com for me to sleep tonight, after I managed to find a room for last night, but off the camino. When I am ready to leave here I shall ask the management if they have any good ideas for a bed for tonight in San Clemente.
Good idea!When I am ready to leave here I shall ask the management if they have any good ideas for a bed for tonight in San Clemente.
It sounds like accommodation is a real headache right now. No word about your knee, though, and I hope that means it's treating you well!Wish me luck.
So sorry to hear this. I have had trouble with reservations for San Salvador, Primitivo and Frances. Luckily will be in Santiago Monday and be finished with making reservations all day longI have been thinking of your recent walk, and how you had to sleep outside several times. I have had huge problems trying to find accommodations on the Levante, finally culminating this afternoon in a telephone conversation with the reservation person at the Posada in Higueruela. She informed me that there will not be any available accommodation there tomorrow and there's nothing else in town, with the albergue closed. I can't stay here, so my options are to sleep outside or to try to find a bus to take me on to some less busy place, where I can relax a bit and hopefully book far enough ahead to not need to sleep outside.
I have data on my plan with Orange. I t just doesn't work, which is a problem with the phone. But I can use wifi, which is available whenever I stay.
Thanks so much, Fran,Albertagirl, here is some info from 2019. I stayed mostly in private places - hotels. The following might help you in the coming days If your weather holds, you are in for a spectacular walk between toledo and avila -- it was my favorite part!.
Las Pedroñeras : convento del sagrado corazón
moto del cuervo: hotel royal plaza
(if you have some time, spend a bit of time in el taboso -- lots of interesting man of la mancha things and museum. in villa don fadrique a guy had just opened a new private albergue. (I didn't stay because it was too early in the day)
quint. de la orden: hotel alonzo
vilacañas: hotel europa
temblique: o posada (beautiful)
mora: los conejas (and the camino picks up right across the street!)
toledo: hotel centro Toledo was tough.
There was nothing in mascaraque, almonacid, nambroca or burguillos de toledo at that time, so I just bought an ice cream in burguillos and pressed on ... 39KM but the hotel centro is just there on the town square after you circle part way around the city, go down, cross the river and come up again. (NW corner of the square)
Hope this helps you out some
Fran
Albertagirl,Thanks so much, Fran,
I have been blessed by a room in Hotel San Isidro in Quintanar de la Orden, where by chance I arrived by bus from Mota del Cuervo. A
woman saw me at the bus depot, opened a conversation and offered to ask her friend, who works here, whether there was a space for a peregrina for tonight. The answer was affirmative, so she offered to drive me to the hotel. She has gone on my list of helpers to be prayed for in the cathedral in Santiago. Now I am checked in is a good time to look at your accommodation suggestions and make as many bookings as I can. I think I will eat first.
Good news, @Albertagirl.The answer was affirmative, so she offered to drive me to the hotel. She has gone on my list of helpers to be prayed for in the cathedral in Santiago. Now I am checked in is a good time to look at your accommodation suggestions and make as many bookings as I can. I think I will eat first.
Good luck Albertagirl! Your "determined stubbornness" will serve you well. I am keeping a close eye on the situation in Alberta - I have many friends and family members there - and it is looking quite scary. As a retired nurse I can well imagine what it is like in health care right now. And my area of British Columbia isn't doing great either. Sending prayers for your journey and hoping things get a little easier for you.The lunch was adequate but the afternoon was unpleasant, to say the least. The combination of my determined stubbornness and the repeated muddles happening with my bookings left me just short of screaming frustration. And the agents of booking.com were very fortunate not to experience my increasing rage. Now I am sitting in the dining room eating again and watching the lava flow down to the sea on Palma en el tele. And counting my blessings that I am far away from the terrible outbreaks of Covid taking place in my home province of Alberta. If I am alone here, if I do not know from one day to that next whether I shall have a bed to sleep in or a roof over my head, I am much more fortunate than the exhausted health care workers at home. I am counting my blessings, as I did i n my previous post, and hoping for better days for all.
Ringing directly is best for the peregrina and best for the inkeeper. There are rooms to be had that are not available online, and the proprieter doesn't lose money from fees. I speak only.a little Spanish and so don't do well speaking in the phone. That's where locals can really be a big help.alternative booking sites?
Trivago.com Posts availability from many booking sites including booking.com,
Agoda.com, Hotels.com, the actual hotels, and others. Try using Trivago if you can’t get availability through booking.
I am moving into booking my own accommodation.
Same here!I have been thinking of you @Albertagirl, on the trail, but am only just reading up on your ongoing difficulties. I am sending positive thoughts your way. May the sun, and more, shine through for you.
It is! I am shy on the phone because of congenital hearing loss, and have terrible Spanish - especially when it comes to comprehension of words spoken at triple speed. So I struggle making reservations on the phone. But asking for help has been a door opener. You're right. Determination snd humility. But you're managing quite well from the sound of it.This is not easy for those of us with limited Spanish. But with the appropriate combination of determination and humility it may be possible.
This is a stage without stops in between, so take a packed lunch and plenty of water. Unless you divert via Villanueva de Bogas, which is on the Sureste.
I know I have sung its praises before, but the pulsera turística is great. It includes admission to many of the “secondary” sites in Toledo — former mosque, former synagogue, bell tower with terrific view, etc, It also takes you on a walking tour through some of the more out of the way areas (if there is such a place in Toledo). I loved having it.At least one rest day in Toledo, @peregrina2000.
I a working my way through another muddle and would appreciate your help if you would have a look at a couple of conversations which I have attempted to initiate.I know I have sung its praises before, but the pulsera turística is great. It includes admission to many of the “secondary” sites in Toledo — former mosque, former synagogue, bell tower with terrific view, etc, It also takes you on a walking tour through some of the more out of the way areas (if there is such a place in Toledo). I loved having it.
Toledo Monumental | Monumentos emblemáticos de Toledo
Bienvenidos a Toledo. Descubre gracias a la Pulsera Turística la mejor forma de conocer la ciudad de las tres culturas.toledomonumental.com
And Toledo at night, when all the day-tour-buses have left, is something to behold. Lots of illumination, very few people, just great.
And I wouldn’t worry about changing the date on the reservation, in fact you should let me know if you want me to call and do that.
I cheer and encourage every step and section you take, Albertagirl! However, , might it be wise, perhaps, ?? to consider an alternate route with, perhaps less concern of directionality, and accommodations at this point? Know I admire your tenacity, but the daily stress of walking without surety of a place to say, and losing one’s way, may be partially offsetting the beauty of the route. Whatever…we are with you!Heartfelt buen camino, Mary Louse. It sounds like a more than normally challenging camino this time. I hope at some point you can just relax into walking without concern about accommodation, but conditions sound like they're not so supportivr right now.
Being the officious intermeddler that I amdo hope that the albergue in Rielves will be open my first night after Toledo. as I understand that no other accommodation is available there.
An officious intermeddler is just what is needed!Being the officious intermeddler that I amI took it upon myself to call the parish in Rielves. I spoke with the padre to ask about accommodation. They have two rooms (no shower) but you are welcome to stay there. The priest himself will not be around on Tuesday, which is the day I have told him I thought you would arrive, but he is going to leave the key with the Señora Begonia who lives on the Calle de la Iglesia in front of the church. He didn’t remember the house number but if you ask for Begonia, you will find her.
There is a small store in town, which closes very early in the afternoon, closed for sure by 6 pm. There is also a bar on the highway, El Pistón, which will serve food.
So I hope this helps, and if you plan to arrive on Wednesday, I am sure the señora will still have the key but I would try to contact the priest again to tell him the date.
So, relax and enjoy the Jalisco and your nights in Toledo. Buen camino, Laurie
An official camino angel extraordinaire, you mean, @peregrina2000? I'm tearing up and I'm not even in your shoes @Albertagirl.Being the officious intermeddler that I am
Great going, how was the walk into Ajofrin?Now I in Ajofrin, going on to Toledo tomorrow, there no way I would bypass one of the high points of my camino. I do hope that the albergue in Rielves will be open my first night after Toledo. as I understand that no other accommodation is available there.
Well I tried a taxi ride, so your suggestion bore fruit and brought me here to Ajofrin, where I am very comfortable and treated like a princess by the staff. If I don't think about it, I might forget that €30 charged by the driver for a fairly short ride. But he was, as they say "the only game in town."You have this, @Albertagirl !
I sometimes remind myself when things seem overly complicated, that if worse comes to worse, I can afford a taxi and taxi drivers always seem to know who is likely to have a bed. I’ve only once needed to rely on that - and that was in Mexico! It’s part of my budget too - and if not needed, it can go to the cost of a luxury somewhere near the end. I think it helps me to set aside the worry while I’m walking.
@peregrina2000 - an online camino Angel.
I don't really know what happened. It took me a long time to find the route from Mora, because I was confused by the different tracks which seemed to have appeared since I last looked at it. There were yellow tracks which I didn't recognize. Finally I sorted it out. Go north on the route to Toledo. On the north edge of town there's a large Día Max store straight ahead. Go left before the store, following a sign which points towards Villaminaya, the halfway point on the way to Ajofrin. I followed this route as best I could, with very few references to my phone, which wasn't holding a charge well: under one highway overpass and over a second. I seemed to be following the route of Don Quixote, which had frequent markers. A glance at my phone showed that the direction arrow seemed to be floating in the middle of nowhere. Eventually I walked into a town which, to my amazement, proved to be Mascaraque. I wandered around for a while trying to figure out how to go on. Eventually, a girl on duty at the social centre/bar agreed to telephone someone with a car who provides a personal taxi service and could ferry me to Ajofrin. She suggested a fare of €5 or €10. He insisted on €30. That was my day. Today, on to Toledo. I have checked and the route is both obvious and marked- yellow arrows.Great going, how was the walk into Ajofrin?
I do hope you can manage to let the taxi price float away. It will lighten your load, and you can imagine it is being spent on treats for grandchildren...Well I tried a taxi ride, so your suggestion bore fruit and brought me here to Ajofrin, where I am very comfortable and treated like a princess by the staff. If I don't think about it, I might forget that €30 charged by the driver for a fairly short ride. But he was, as they say "the only game in town."
I don't really know what happened. It took me a long time to find the route from Mora, because I was confused by the different tracks which seemed to have appeared since I last looked at it. There were yellow tracks which I didn't recognize. Finally I sorted it out. Go north on the route to Toledo. On the north edge of town there's a large Día Max store straight ahead. Go left before the store, following a sign which points towards Villaminaya, the halfway point on the way to Ajofrin. I followed this route as best I could, with very few references to my phone, which wasn't holding a charge well: under one highway overpass and over a second. I seemed to be following the route of Don Quixote, which had frequent markers. A glance at my phone showed that the direction arrow seemed to be floating in the middle of nowhere. Eventually I walked into a town which, to my amazement, proved to be Mascaraque. I wandered around for a while trying to figure out how to go on. Eventually, a girl on duty at the social centre/bar agreed to telephone someone with a car who provides a personal taxi service and could ferry me to Ajofrin. She suggested a fare of €5 or €10. He insisted on €30. That was my day. Today, on to Toledo. I have checked and the route is both obvious and marked- yellow arrows.
Today, on to Toledo
For a change.I have checked and the route is both obvious and marked- yellow arrows
I am going out right now from my comfortable hotel in central Toledo to buy a pulsera turistico at the tourist office. I need a rest and inspiration.What I ifind challenging at present is to tell the enraged and bullying hospitalero that I shall not go with him tomorrow. But my walk was very difficult yesterday and I was unsure of my route. There was nowhere to buy any food all day, although I had lots of water. However, I met a kind woman who was confident of the way and she walked me into Mora.
I shall try to walk to Ajofrin tomorrow. That's all I can say at the moment.
Mary Louise
It appears that the joke is still on me. I saw a sign referring to the purchase of a pulsero turistico at the entrance to a Jesuit church in central Toledo and went to the woman at the window to request one. She advised against the purchase unless I would be in Toledo for several days, since all the displays would be closed Monday and Tuesday for descansar. Maybe I shall just walk around tomorrow and see some of the interesting buildings and monuments from the outside. James Michener has a list in Iberia that would keep me busy for a day- all on my phone which is currently working.
This happened to me in Vienna in the days when I eurrailpassed through six countries in a fortnight.It appears that the joke is still on me. I saw a sign referring to the purchase of a pulsero turistico at the entrance to a Jesuit church in central Toledo and went to the woman at the window to request one. She advised against the purchase unless I would be in Toledo for several days, since all the displays would be closed Monday and Tuesday for descansar. Maybe I shall just walk around tomorrow and see some of the interesting buildings and monuments from the outside. James Michener has a list in Iberia that would keep me busy for a day- all on my phone which is currently working.
I think she was wrong. The standard rate that is often mentioned here on the forum and elsewhere is about €1 per kilometer. For a personal service with no opportunity for a return fare, the total distance of 34 km would suggest that €30 is a fair rate.Mascaraque... to Ajofrin. She suggested a fare of €5 or €10. He insisted on €30.
Oh bad luck!!Maybe I shall just walk around tomorrow and see some of the interesting buildings and monuments from the outside
A pity but meant to be, and not all that bad really.It appears that the joke is still on me. I saw a sign referring to the purchase of a pulsero turistico at the entrance to a Jesuit church in central Toledo and went to the woman at the window to request one. She advised against the purchase unless I would be in Toledo for several days, since all the displays would be closed Monday and Tuesday for descansar. Maybe I shall just walk around tomorrow and see some of the interesting buildings and monuments from the outside. James Michener has a list in Iberia that would keep me busy for a day- all on my phone which is currently working.
What I have been thinking since is the vulnerability of a man who offers a private service to the people of his own community. His vehicle is not officially a taxi, nor marked as such. But much of the time those who need a ride here or there will rely on him and they will be the majority of his business. With bus service cut during the pandemic (so I was told) this could be a challenge for both parties, with outsiders his best chance for a profitable day.I think she was wrong. The standard rate that is often mentioned here on the forum and elsewhere is about €1 per kilometer. For a personal service with no opportunity for a return fare, the total distance of 34 km would suggest that €30 is a fair rate.
Plugged it into a wall socket and waited.Good to hear that you are comfortably in Toledo now. What did you do to your phone to make it work now?
I don't really know what happened. It took me a long time to find the route from Mora, because I was confused by the different tracks which seemed to have appeared since I last looked at it. There were yellow tracks which I didn't recognize.
Finally I sorted it out. Go north on the route to Toledo. On the north edge of town there's a large Día Max store straight ahead. Go left before the store, following a sign which points towards Villaminaya, the halfway point on the way to Ajofrin.
I followed this route as best I could, with very few references to my phone, which wasn't holding a charge well: under one highway overpass and over a second.
I seemed to be following the route of Don Quixote, which had frequent markers.
A glance at my phone showed that the direction arrow seemed to be floating in the middle of nowhere. Eventually I walked into a town which, to my amazement, proved to be Mascaraque.
Today, on to Toledo. I have checked and the route is both obvious and marked- yellow arrows.
Good morning, @Albertagirl. I hope you'll find you've had complete success!Today's walk should show what success I had.
It appears that the joke is still on me. I saw a sign referring to the purchase of a pulsero turistico at the entrance to a Jesuit church in central Toledo and went to the woman at the window to request one. She advised against the purchase unless I would be in Toledo for several days, since all the displays would be closed Monday and Tuesday for descansar. Maybe I shall just walk around tomorrow and see some of the interesting buildings and monuments from the outside. James Michener has a list in Iberia that would keep me busy for a day- all on my phone which is currently working.
My phone is working better. After I took it to a phone store in Torrijos then to an Orange store for the monthly renewal payment, then back to the phone store, it now works better than before. I let it charge overnight. Both phone and charger were fully charged in the morning and the phone stayed at 100% all morning (currently at 99%) . The Chinese boys in the first store replaced both the phone battery and the connection cord. Both now seem to be working as designed. I hope that this may continue. Wish me luck.
Finding no accommodation in Escalona and an inexpensive place in Almorox just off the camino route, I decided to take a bus here (very hot for distance walking) and skip back onto the camino early tomorrow. This should put me at San Martin de Valdeiglesias by late tomorrow. I would sure appreciate some cooler weather. The route is climbing into the hills, but still getting hotter. I have not yet started looking for a bed for tomorrow night. I just keep on keeping on,
Albertagirl
Almorox is on the Levante, just 23 kms from San Martín. Looks like you managed to both find a place to sleep and shorten what would otherwise be a 31 km stage tomorrow, from Escalona to San Martín. Glad things are working out. I hope you get your wish for cooler weather. Buen camino, LaurieFinding no accommodation in Escalona and an inexpensive place in Almorox just off the camino route, I decided to take a bus here (very hot for distance walking) and skip back onto the camino early tomorrow.
Finding no accommodation in Escalona
In San Martín de Valdeiglesias, we stayed at Hostal El Pilar, and I just got a WhatsApp confirming that they are open and have a price of €20 for peregrinos.San Martin de Valdeiglesias.
You could try one of these bungalows?
44€
This one is in the centre of town and has an offer for 29 € for pilgrims!
Hi, Albertagirl,My system for organizing my many contacts seems to have collapsed into an arbitrary alphabetical order- everyplace called a hostal is now under "hostal" and then there are the "hotels":
No need to reset. In fact don't.Any bright ideas?
You can choose how to sort your contacts, like alphabetically by first or last name. Just go to Settings > Contacts and choose from the following:
- Sort Order: Sort your contacts alphabetically by first or last name.
- Display Order: Show contacts' first names before or after last names.
- Short Name: Choose how your contact's name appears in apps like Mail, Messages, Phone, and more.
It does. I tried it just now on my Samsung and it worked fine.If that makes sense.
@peregrina2000I am assuming the Escalona albergue is closed, is that what you found @Albertagirl? I remember it was a bit out of town, in the school complex, kind of in a garage like building, but had showers, beds, and all you needed.
Wishing you a continued buen camino.
This sounds like a good way to reset. It would have been very difficult to find accommodations in the stages beyond San Martín this weekend anyway.I am about to set off for La Plácida in Escalona as soon as I can sort out details of the walk.
I stayed in Posada Bemi and I am booked to stay there again tomorrow night. It is a very quiet place and the manager is rather sullen in temperament. But the price is right.Hi, Albertagirl,
I am not sure exactly where this collapse happened, but if it’s your phone contacts, I am pretty sure that you can still search for a contact using words other than the first word in the alphabetical list. What I mean by that is that if I am looking for the number for a contact that I entered as “Hostal el Pilar San Martín”, if I type in Pilar or Martin or even San as a search term, it will bring up that entry. So I think the search function isn’t hampered by the listing order of your contacts. If that makes sense.
Where are you staying tonight? Hope you had a good day today, I think that the terrain is starting to change and hopefully you had some nice forest walks.
Tomorrow starts the Puente del Pilar, the long four day weekend that ends on Oct. 12 next Tuesday. I think accommodations will be very hard to come by, so some advance planning is a good idea. Let us know if you need help.
And p.s. What was the name of the place you stayed in Almorox? The Valencia amigos guide lists two — Posada Bemi and Casa Rural Royal Almorox.
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