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I’d love to carry Wes’ pack, but given that I arrive back in NZ on November 2 my family might consider it too early to abandon them again!
I am on the VdlP right now.
From Madrid to Seville by train, has various prices, the promotional one for tourist is not expensive, check Loco2.com for ticket info and booking, easier than Renfe.
From Seville train station to Town is walkable, or taking a bus, then walk or taxi.
Triana backpacker is so so, a hostel with lots of backpackers, I was the only pilgrim there that night. So noise level really depends.
Olivia de Placencia was 6km off the camino, from Kelly's book you can find its phone number. When you get close to it, a few stages back, you will see info posted at the Albergues too. I have found it on Google map, as well, with ratings. I did Hotel Asturias.
I did see advertisement for luggage transport, from stages to stages, not organized by one company, rather locally. Have not tried or asked about it to check it out.
I am doing a life report at this moment for VDLP. You can check it out. Sorry not sure about the temperature in Nov. this year. In the past, when I was at Seville during Christmas, it was not cold at all during day time, sunny, very nice.
I am on the VdlP right now.
From Madrid to Seville by train, has various prices, the promotional one for tourist is not expensive, check Loco2.com for ticket info and booking, easier than Renfe.
From Seville train station to Town is walkable, or taking a bus, then walk or taxi.
Triana backpacker is so so, a hostel with lots of backpackers, I was the only pilgrim there that night. So noise level really depends.
Olivia de Placencia was 6km off the camino, from Kelly's book you can find its phone number. When you get close to it, a few stages back, you will see info posted at the Albergues too. I have found it on Google map, as well, with ratings. I did Hotel Asturias.
I did see advertisement for luggage transport, from stages to stages, not organized by one company, rather locally. Have not tried or asked about it to check it out.
I am doing a life report at this moment for VDLP. You can check it out. Sorry not sure about the temperature in Nov. this year. In the past, when I was at Seville during Christmas, it was not cold at all during day time, sunny, very nice.
Hi, ritaj,
You can find Isabelle's map on this thread: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...lking-schedule-for-the-via-de-la-plata.17077/ (post no. 78)
But it is post no. 8 here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/galisteo-arco-de-caparra.7625/
Essentially what it does is give you two very nice totally off-road days, but it does involve backtracking, which some people do not like to do. I did it several years ago, and I liked it because when I got to the arch, the museum/center was open and I also had time to walk around the larger excavation projects. The next day, heading back to the Arch from Oliva de Plasencia, I arrived there early before anything was open but since I had already visited it the day before, that was fine. This year I walked again and went from Carcaboso to Aldeanueva, and it was very doable for me in my late 60s, but I would not want to do that at age 83.
We were hosts in Zamora last fall for 15 days (the last half of September). We did not see anyone who was having their backpack shipped ahead. I've walked the Via twice, and I think that on many days it would be possible to find a "taxi" for the backpack (it might be the brother-in-law of the bartender in the local bar). My concern is that I am also nearly certain that there would be days where you could not find anyone available do such a shuttle. There are not very many pilgrims along this route by November, some albergues will be closed. Some towns have very limited alternatives.
I took the high speed train from Madrid to Seville and loved it. A city bus from the airport to the old part of town and walked to a small hotel near the cathedral in Seville.
I admire your dreams, and would love to hear about your journey! Buen Camino.
Your concern is exactly mine -- that there would be days when it would not be possible. Maybe we need a donkey. And thanks for the information on the high speed train.
I did notice there were taxi signs in many of the albergues so I think your chances of using taxis for bag transport would be fine. My brother-in-law had severe blisters on his feet by the time we arrived in Zamora so arranged taxis at each albergue he stayed in for 5 days till his feet healed. The hospitaleros usually did this for him.
There is an advertisement I saw at the Albergue in Rionegro de Puente this morning about luggage transport. The picture I took did not load. It listed 3 sections, Merida to Salamanca, Salamanca to Zamora, and Granja to Santiago.
Under each section, it has stages that covers. email address:
servicioscaminosanabres@gmail.com
phone # 674 56 98 70
Here are a few links to check for baggage transport. If you don't read Spanish, try opening them in Chrome for an auto-translation.
https://www.facebook.com/Transporte-De-Mochilas-Via-De-La-Plata-935698363149087/
https://www.pilbeo.com/backpack-tra...a;jsessionid=13C561A75DD04C99B75C8DC66AD88FF4
http://www.cubodelvino.es/turismo_ver.asp?Id=159923988336
I did notice there were taxi signs in many of the albergues so I think your chances of using taxis for bag transport would be fine. My brother-in-law had severe blisters on his feet by the time we arrived in Zamora so arranged taxis at each albergue he stayed in for 5 days till his feet healed. The hospitaleros usually did this for him.
This is good advice. I walked from Seville to Santiago in the spring and know someone who taxied her pack almost every day. There were some days she carried her pack, but I think it was personal choice and not because she had to (though I didn't ask).
A couple other notes: I took the train from Madrid to Seville with no problems. I love trains so it's always preferred if the distance isn't too long. I also walked from the train station to where I was staying, which was an Airbnb near the Triana bridge. Just another option if you'd like to avoid the risk of too much noise the night before starting your walk.
Buen camino!
The trains in Spain are comfortable and very on time/reliable. Pay attention: If you are above 60 years of age, you are entitled to a 25% (!) discount on all trains. When you buy your first ticket, you also ask for the Tarjeta Dorada: It will cost 6 Euros/person, but will entitle you to a 25% discount on all train travels in spain for a full year from date of purchase.
The VdlP is a fantastic Camino. I envy you. Pay attention on the way, to the Roman theatre etc. in Merida (and lots of other historic stuff):
https://www.google.no/search?q=theatre+merida&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=gR3xDhl1QvEqlM%3A%2CvrY7EwpcFkSYvM%2C_&usg=__yyv8un2zhtaA-Mk0ZtbRihuX4gQ=&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi3tK2PjbHcAhVDOJoKHUt7CNMQ9QEIQDAC#imgrc=gR3xDhl1QvEqlM:
I really don't think you'll have a problem. And if worse comes to worst, you can take a bus or taxi ahead to drop your bag, take the bus/taxi back to the starting point and then walk. What takes 4-5 hours to walk often takes only 15-20 minutes by bus (a painful truth, but a truth nonetheless). And if you're staying in a hostel, sometimes they will be willing to pick up the bag for you. I had this fortune one day when I was sick.Now that's good news! We are prepared to spend time working this out along the way and we know we will pay handsomely for the transport. But we spend so little on the Camino (always has cost us less than it costs us to live at home), taking on this additional expense seems like a small adjustment for our aging. Mundicamino Travel emailed us that they transport from A Gudina to Santiago. So the last 10-11 days are taken care of. Only about 52 stages to work out now...
I really don't think you'll have a problem. And if worse comes to worst, you can take a bus or taxi ahead to drop your bag, take the bus/taxi back to the starting point and then walk. What takes 4-5 hours to walk often takes only 15-20 minutes by bus (a painful truth, but a truth nonetheless). And if you're staying in a hostel, sometimes they will be willing to pick up the bag for you. I had this fortune one day when I was sick.
Buen camino!
I hadn't thought of that option -- I'd hate to have to do it but that's good to know we could do that, as long as we could find a but or taxi!
Supposing you are ending the Via de la Plata in Astorga (where it's supposed to end, officially), you will join the Camino Frances there and you may use the rather recent rucksack transportation service from Spain's Correos (the national post office) : albergue to hotel to wherever you are staying (check the drop-down menu in the booking page). For most major caminos, but not Via de la Plata. In October and November, I must have crossed a total of 10 peregrinos in some 40 albergues. But then, I wasn't really looking for them either...
Correos details here. From Astorga to Santiago it's 44€.
You could also choose to join the CF in Leon (from where Correos charges 52€ to SDC). When I did the Via de la Plata, I switched to the Sanabres Camino (which starts 35 km north of Zamora) in Granja de Moreruela and went through unforgettable places such as Puebla de Sanabria and Ourense. From there, Correos offers its service. And it does also for the extension to Muxia and Fisterra. Worth looking into. I used their services 4-5 times (to send stuff ahead to Poste Restante in SDC) and was always satisfied.
Finally it's good to know there are a few daily trains which run along the Sanabres from Madrid to Santiago. You can get on board in Zamora, Sanabria and Ourense.
Weather forecast in November ´18:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/es/seville/306733/november-weather/306733
weather as it was in nov ´17:
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/spain/sevilla/historic?month=11&year=2017
Weather forecast in November ´18:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/es/seville/306733/november-weather/306733
weather as it was in nov ´17:
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/spain/sevilla/historic?month=11&year=2017
@ritajI'm a little puzzled about a weather forecast for November 2018 -- am I misunderstanding the first site? If it is possible to predict weather 3 months from now, that's a whole lot of rain indicated. Are the last week of October and first two weeks of November typically pretty rainy as a rule?
@ritaj
I walked the VdlP last October/November and had very little rain. I don't know about a three month's ahead forecast. Maybe it turns rainy later in November, as I started in early October and was done by then. It was very hot until late October, so I think that you are wise to start later, provided you find accommodation. I have two comments: 1. Where to stay in Sevilla: I recommend Hotel Simon, a few minutes walk from the Cathedral, quiet, a reasonable price for pilgrims, and you can get your credenciales there. 2. I found the first day's walk very hot and enervating, so when the hospitalera at the private albergue Luz del Camino in Guillena suggested that I get my bag transported the next day and offered to arrange it for me, I took her up on her offer: I cannot remember the cost, but it seemed reasonable and worth every cent. The next day, in Castilblanco de los Arroyos, one of the pilgrims was arranging a taxi for about half of the pilgrims, who preferred to travel the 16 km on-road first section of the challenging walk to Almaden de la Plata by taxi. I wanted to walk the whole route, but I arranged to have my bag transported with the taxi. After that, I walked the whole route with my bag, so I cannot give any further information about bag transport. However, I believe that a previous post by Anemone del Camino about her walk on the VdlP mentions that she took a local bus out of Sevilla to Italica the first morning, so that might be a possibility, and would enable you to see the Roman ruins at Italica, which are on the route from Sevilla to Guillena, without overdoing it on your first day. Enjoy your planning and Buen Camino.
As a "bunch" they could make taxi arrangements at a per-person cost that might be reasonable. There isn't the same luggage express as on the Frances.One bunch had big suitcases that got picked up and dropped off every day.
@ritajAll good suggestions to add to my notes! But when I go on line to check out prices for staying at the Hotel Simon, I don't find prices designed for pilgrims and what I do see is beyond our budget by a lot. Is there a way to find the lower prices? Gerald Kelly mentions 40 Euros for a single but the prices I'm seeing are more than 3 times that.
But it's great to see that at least our first few days will probably have pack transport options. We've never taxied any part of our caminos in the past and both of us are very reluctant to take those first 16 k by taxi from Castilblanco de los Arroyos. Nevertheless, 29 k is daunting. We'll have to think a lot about that.
@ritaj
If you wish to enquire about the pilgrim rate at Hotel Simon, you can send them an email at: info@hotelsimonsevilla.com . The trick is to not use any of the booking apps but just email them directly. My room was small and basic, for one, but clean and with a private bathroom and a reasonable price. I stayed there for two nights before beginning my VdlP and spent the day in between seeing the city and walking over to the cathedral to get the first stamp for my credencial. If you do not want to purchase their breakfast, you may get meals at a lower price elsewhere in the neighbourhood. Just be specific in your email about what you want. Good luck.
I am on the VdlP right now.
From Madrid to Seville by train, has various prices, the promotional one for tourist is not expensive, check Loco2.com for ticket info and booking, easier than Renfe.
From Seville train station to Town is walkable, or taking a bus, then walk or taxi.
Triana backpacker is so so, a hostel with lots of backpackers, I was the only pilgrim there that night. So noise level really depends.
Olivia de Placencia was 6km off the camino, from Kelly's book you can find its phone number. When you get close to it, a few stages back, you will see info posted at the Albergues too. I have found it on Google map, as well, with ratings. I did Hotel Asturias.
I did see advertisement for luggage transport, from stages to stages, not organized by one company, rather locally. Have not tried or asked about it to check it out.
I am doing a life report at this moment for VDLP. You can check it out. Sorry not sure about the temperature in Nov. this year. In the past, when I was at Seville during Christmas, it was not cold at all during day time, sunny, very nice.
Hi, Zoula,How do I find your blog Youren? I am planning doing VdlP in April 2019 and would appreciate updates on making longer sections much shorter, if it is possible. Thanks!
You can always find a taxi, just ask at the local cafe. I saw plenty of people ONLY taking taxis but that was after Cea, prob. the Sanabrés by then....I hadn't thought of that option -- I'd hate to have to do it but that's good to know we could do that, as long as we could find a but or taxi!
Hi, Zoula,
Youren posted regularly on this thread, so I assume that is what she is referring to. https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-vdlp-starting-from-seville-on-6-20-18.56312/
It's a great blog, very detailed and helpful!
You will love the Vdlp, especially in April, at least if the wildflowers are anything like what they were this May!
I am on the VdlP right now.
From Madrid to Seville by train, has various prices, the promotional one for tourist is not expensive, check Loco2.com for ticket info and booking, easier than Renfe.
From Seville train station to Town is walkable, or taking a bus, then walk or taxi.
Triana backpacker is so so, a hostel with lots of backpackers, I was the only pilgrim there that night. So noise level really depends.
Olivia de Placencia was 6km off the camino, from Kelly's book you can find its phone number. When you get close to it, a few stages back, you will see info posted at the Albergues too. I have found it on Google map, as well, with ratings. I did Hotel Asturias.
I did see advertisement for luggage transport, from stages to stages, not organized by one company, rather locally. Have not tried or asked about it to check it out.
I am doing a life report at this moment for VDLP. You can check it out. Sorry not sure about the temperature in Nov. this year. In the past, when I was at Seville during Christmas, it was not cold at all during day time, sunny, very nice.
No, it is not possible to accurately predict anything, you can only give an analogy of what other years have been.I'm a little puzzled about a weather forecast for November 2018 -- am I misunderstanding the first site? If it is possible to predict weather 3 months from now, that's a whole lot of rain indicated. Are the last week of October and first two weeks of November typically pretty rainy as a rule?
I am doing research If its possible for me and my sister to walk the vdlp starting april in Sevilla. We can’t do the few big stretches so If you find anything to soorten that (and backpack transport) please let is knowHow do I find your blog Youren? I am planning doing VdlP in April 2019 and would appreciate updates on making longer sections much shorter, if it is possible. Thanks!
Hola Ritaj,We are planning to walk the VdlP this November and have some questions:
Flying from Boston we will land in Madrid. Should we continue on to Seville or plan to take a train if that would save considerable money?
And what would be the best way to get from the Seville airport or train station into town. We will be staying either at the Triana Backpackers (such varied reports on noise, no noise!) or some other recommended place.
I noted a reference in a past posting about "Isabelle's very wise off-road route to Oliva de Placencia" but have been unable to find it. Can someone describe that route?
What are the temperatures in Seville in the beginning of November?
If Wes joins me (he will be 83 in November) he will need to transport his pack. After the Primitivo in May this year he has realized that it would be better for him in every way to not carry the full backpack. We know there are no transport companies on the VdlP and neither of us want to take taxis ourselves to shorten the stages. Would it be possible to hire someone/a taxi to transport the a bag each day? We are prepared to take on this added expense in order to make it possible for Wes to walk this camino.
Many thanks in advance for any help you can give!
Thanks for the description of your (wonderful) camino. I love hearing from everyone about their experiences.Hola Ritaj,
I finished the VDLP this past October, and it was a great experience. I also flew into Madrid and then took the train to Seville. I am not sure about the price difference, I took the train mainly so I can see the country side. when I got to the train station in Seville, I took a taxi to the hostel I stayed at (which was only a few minutes from the Cathedral y start point). That being said, many people stayed at Triana and I think it also works out ok.
I started walking from Seville in late September, so the temperatures were still quite high, even up into Extremadura; so I suppose it would be cooler in Andalucia y Extremadura in November. When I got to Castilla y Leon y Galicia, the weather changed dramatically to colder y wetter, so be prepared for that; however up-north, the scenery seemed to get much nicer.
I am not sure about backpack transporte, but a taxi might be a good backup option.
Buen Camino y Ultreia,
Dominick
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