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Joe and I arrived in Madrid this morning around 7:30 AM. We had a great flight. Not too crowded. Not too many ‘sickies.’
To catch a bus to Zafra you need to get yourself to Estación de Autobuses SUR. I had forgotten and left my notes at home, and so we went to the bus station on Aveneda de Americas instead. Oops. . . and then had to take the Metro to SUR.
There is also a train that goes from the airport to Atocha Stayion, and then to Zafra, but it was €44 each and we are on a budget.
We bought tickets for 22 euros on Avanza bus. The bus leaves here at 11:30. I believe there are a few other buses through the day.
We are weary and ready to sleep but still have a 5 hour bus trip. I think if I were to do this again I would spend one night here in Madrid and take the bus the next day to Zafra. Joe is saying we also should go first class next time from home. Ha ha Ha! Yeah. In my dreams.
We did see one very sick woman in the airport but other than that it seems to be business as usual. The weather was chilly when we got off the plane, but it was early morning. And I’m sure it will be probably much warmer when we get down south.
Buen camino, compañera!!! Great to hear from you, the bus trip to Zafra can be a real torture, good luck with that one! If you feel like stretching your legs, the albergue in Santos de Maimona is new, neat, splendid!
Me too. In fact I have to be careful to remember which Annie I'm reading about, because not all Annies are alike!I now have this visual image of a map of Spain with two Annies making their way slowly up to Santiago
What is that in centigrade? Must be pretty cold, 65 f used to be minimum for working conditions when I was teaching. Will catch up with your blog when i remember my password.Woke up this morning to 39 degrees.
Brrrrrrrrrr!!
Must be like, what, 2 degrees centigrade??What is that in centigrade? Must be pretty cold, 65 f used to be minimum for working conditions when I was teaching. Will catch up with your blog when i remember my password.
Off topic (and a bit pedantic) but go high enough and it often is.Yeah not sunny Hawaii for sure
Hi, Annie, sounds like a good day even though you are tired.Day 2 to Villafranca.
Today was our first real day of walking on the VDLP since we arrived in Zafra. When we left this morning the temperature was 36° F but luckily there was no wind. The track went over rolling hills and it was fairly flat, but boy, am I out of shape.
When I was a little girl, my grandfather was my primary caretaker and he was a farmer. I would ride next to him in the pick up truck, and as we would go down the hot summer roads there would be a mirage that look like water in the distance. He would tease me and say “Keep your eye on that water - we’re going to drive right through it!’
But then as we got closer to the water, it would disappear.
That’s just how I felt today coming into Villafranca. We would see it when we were at the top of One hill and it looked like it was only a kilometer away. Then we’d go down into a gully and back up to the top of another hill, and it didn’t look like we had gotten any closer.
It took us about 5 hours to walk it. The last two hours seemed like a week. My feet were screaming. The letrizole has stolen some of my stamina. But this is often how I feel the first day.
We stopped at the church in Maimones. The priest was in his office. He stamped our credentials and let us in to see the church. It was very pretty.
We are sleeping at Albergue de Carmen tonight. It is a beautiful little place but holy moly it is cold. There is no heat at all. I’m sleeping in my wool longjohns and my wool hat and I can see my breath.
Tomorrow we bus to Merida where we will be tourists for a couple of days.
Hi, Annie, sounds like a good day even though you are tired.
Just a little suggestion for your time in Merida as a tourist. You can get a combo ticket that costs very little more than the ticket to the theater. It does not include the museum, however. But anyway I would encourage you to get the combo ticket at a site other than the theater. Go first to the Alcazaba, for instance, buy the ticket there. That’s a very interesting place also.
When you get to the Roman theater you will then be able to walk right in without waiting in the ticket line, because you already have your ticket. I was there last February or March, I think it was, and even during that low season, this tip saved us probably a half an hour in line.
Enjoy!
Joe and I arrived in Madrid this morning around 7:30 AM. We had a great flight. Not too crowded. Not too
We bought tickets for 22 euros on Avanza bus. The bus leaves here at 11:30. I believe there are a few other buses through the day.
We are weary and ready to sleep but still have a 5 hour bus trip. I think if I were to do this again I would spend one night here in Madrid and take the bus the next day to Zafra. Joe is saying we also should go first class next time from home. Ha ha Ha! Yeah. In my dreams.
yes.@Anniesantiago : stopping in Caceres also?
yes.
Me too!!Today we bussed to Merida and boy-howdy are we happy! My poor shins are screaming. We are staying at Las Abadías, where I stayed in 2013. I love this little Hostal. We paid a total of $95 for 3 nights. That’s only about $32 a night for a twin room. Clean with a BATHTUB!!! Breakfast delivered to your room for 3 Euros. We walked quite a bit today and saw the beautiful aqueduct with all the storks nesting. We also went to the Museum which was free on Sunday. For tomorrow we bought a ticket for ALL the sites for 7,50 euros (pensionistas.). It is good for days. We had our obligatory donned kabob for lunch and it’s laundry day. Tomorrow we will see the Roman Theater, Sta. Eulalia, the Alcazaba, the Temple of Diana and more so I’m resting up tonight! I’ll post photos later on my blog. I love Merida!
Me too!!
I was supposed to do the CF from mid-April, but due to the current virus situation, I have changed plans: Flying into Madrid on April 16 (as already booked 2 months ago) but instead of going to Pamplona, will take a train to Merida next day. As you do, I will spend 2 days touristing in Merida before going VdlP again. I don't like the thought of staying in crowded albergues on CF this year, so it will be another VdlP for me... Do you see many pilgrims walking now?
Buen Camino!
Annie, your story and description of your walk sounded familiar to me, so I checked my notes of my walk to Villafranca on April 25, 2018:Day 2 to Villafranca.
Today was our first real day of walking on the VDLP since we arrived in Zafra. When we left this morning the temperature was 36° F but luckily there was no wind. The track went over rolling hills and it was fairly flat, but boy, am I out of shape.
When I was a little girl, my grandfather was my primary caretaker and he was a farmer. I would ride next to him in the pick up truck, and as we would go down the hot summer roads there would be a mirage that look like water in the distance. He would tease me and say “Keep your eye on that water - we’re going to drive right through it!’
But then as we got closer to the water, it would disappear.
That’s just how I felt today coming into Villafranca. We would see it when we were at the top of One hill and it looked like it was only a kilometer away. Then we’d go down into a gully and back up to the top of another hill, and it didn’t look like we had gotten any closer.
It took us about 5 hours to walk it. The last two hours seemed like a week. My feet were screaming. The letrizole has stolen some of my stamina. But this is often how I feel the first day.
We stopped at the church in Maimones. The priest was in his office. He stamped our credentials and let us in to see the church. It was very pretty.
We are sleeping at Albergue de Carmen tonight. It is a beautiful little place but holy moly it is cold. There is no heat at all. I’m sleeping in my wool longjohns and my wool hat and I can see my breath.
Tomorrow we bus to Merida where we will be tourists for a couple of days.
AnnieThe test will be when we go to Aljucin. Only 10 beds.
Nice plates! Will you be carrying all four spoons or donating two at the first albergue?
After the post from Ivar and the mods this morning, and after a long night of thinking, Joe and I decided to throw in the towel and head home. Seeing a flock of vultures last night sealed the deal.. A sign from God maybe.
We caught a taxi to Cáceres and a bus to Madrid. My son got us one of the few remaining flights to LAX in the morning at 9. Hopefully it will not cancel.
The airlines are price gouging. Over $2000 for a one way to lax unless you really look. We managed to get out for $580 each and are grateful.
The airport is empty. Most desks are closed unless for current flights. We managed to check in at a kiosk that was supposedly closed. We tried anyone and it worked.
We added up the savings in lodging and it’s pretty much a wash so we aren’t out too much except for the experience. This is my 3D attempt at the VDLP so maybe it’s my last on this route. Lol.
For those staying, may God watch over you and keep you safe. We will follow you from home and hopefully see some of you next spring 2021.
Buen Camino all!
Annie
Hi Annie,After the post from Ivar and the mods this morning, and after a long night of thinking, Joe and I decided to throw in the towel and head home. Seeing a flock of vultures last night sealed the deal.. A sign from God maybe.
We caught a taxi to Cáceres and a bus to Madrid. My son got us one of the few remaining flights to LAX in the morning at 9. Hopefully it will not cancel.
The airlines are price gouging. Over $2000 for a one way to lax unless you really look. We managed to get out for $580 each and are grateful.
The airport is empty. Most desks are closed unless for current flights. We managed to check in at a kiosk that was supposedly closed. We tried anyone and it worked.
We added up the savings in lodging and it’s pretty much a wash so we aren’t out too much except for the experience. This is my 3D attempt at the VDLP so maybe it’s my last on this route. Lol.
For those staying, may God watch over you and keep you safe. We will follow you from home and hopefully see some of you next spring 2021.
Buen Camino all!
Annie
This has been an adventure of a different kind!We're fine. Just landed in Miami . CDC is checking 20 of us at a time. Then we have to make our connection to LAX. Flight was not too full. Exhausted after no sleep for over 24 hours but happy to be back in USA for now on familiar ground.
My aunt used Essiac tea 20 yrs ago ... said it tasted awful, hopefully it is better now. Good luck with the list.
Is there a way to remove the ‘live from the camino’ designation? @peregrina2000?
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