nalod
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances 2011, Finnesterre 2011,Le Puy to SJPDP 2011& 2012,Via de la Plata,Sambrasa 2012, Mozarabe 2013, Portugees 2013.PartNorde 2011, VDPL 2014,St-Guilhem 2014.Espalion-Roncesvalles 2014.Levante2015
Hello I may add to this post over the next few days. Just back, started in Valencia on April 16th got to Zamora on May 14th. Fast train to Ourense on Friday 15 th (morning) started walking straight from the train station in Ourence (no problems this time) arrived in Santiago Monday May 18th.
Overall impressions. Big Skies, hot, loads and loads of Poppies, wild-flowers, ants - never saw as many ants in my entire life. Hit a heatwave for about three days 36 degree in the shade but there was no shade.
Don't leave without Laurie's notes and the Amigos book, I had the English version, tore out pages from Zamora onwards and left the separate maps at home. Then on a daily basis tore out the pages for the day ahead put them in my shorts pocket along with a page of Laurie's notes.
No rain for my trip, got soaked once my an irrigation system. Never used my camel back. A one litre bottle plus half litre bottle fine. Pack weight 9.4 kg without food and water. Generally wherever I had breakfast filled my water bottles with cold water. Favourite breakfast tostadas con tomato with acedo and cafe con leche e 1.60 to 3.60. The best menu del dia's of any Camino I have been on. Not been able to eat till 9 or 8.30 at earliest was a bit of a nuisance, especially if you were staying in Albergue. Watching the Champions League in a Spanish Cafe is a joy to behold.
First few days out of Valencia very urban and industrial, surface very hard on legs and hips, do not do the stages as per amigos book. I broke the first day by staying in Silla, Pension Puerto e18. Take it very easy for the first four days I would have got shin splits if I didn't.
I did stay in the much criticised municipal Albergue in Higueruela, myself and my Danish walking companion found it fine, got the keys in Hostal Posada which was booked out, nice meal there. Looking at comments book in Albergue people were complaining about no toilet paper, any Pilgrim who has walked for more than one day should have toilet paper in a waterproof bag in their back pocket, spare me!!.
The Hostal that Laurie recommended in La Ronda is now closed, I stayed in Hotel Juanuto for 28.30 near the old Hostal but found out afterwards you can stay in local Bull Ring which my friend said was fine.
Careful leaving San Clemente, Laurie warns of bad marking for some reason that was not our problem. Loads of brilliant arrows. This is what happened to us. I stayed in The Albergue but my walking companion stayed in Milan 1. I meet him there in the moring we saw a yellow arrow near Milan 1 and followed it. The walk should have been San Clemente to Las Pedrones but we followed arrows which brought us to Alberca de Zancara which meant road walking to Las Pedrones an extra 8 to 10 km, we abandoned the arrows in Alberca de Zancara, two sides of a triangle instead of one. Did we accidentally go on the Surreste. Any expatiation anyone?
Not impressed with Arevalo. Hostal now e30, after I booked in and paid I asked about food, this was around 2 pm. There was a communion on, Restraunte fully booked they would not even serve me a plate at the bar, as possibly the only resident there I found their attitude terrible. The entire town dispensed with Menu Delario (e10) instead special menu e22-28. I eat better meals for 8 euro. Would not stay in this town again on Weekend. This was Sunday. The bar Victoria is excellent Pilgrim friendly but does not do full meals.
Many great acts of kindness along the way, one place which is fairly new is a must, it is in Toro ,Bar Restraunte La Coleginta, you will probably come across it on the way in. I would eat there again instead of the Pension Zamora I stayed in, which was ok. The Monastery of Sancti Spiritus look good but could not get anyone to answer the bell at 3.30 someone said to come back at 5, but I was too tired.
I had no problem from Toro to Zamora. Turned right at the quarry followed the arrows all the way. There is one blind arrow on a little concrete building, you will only see it if you turn left and go away from the river. I arrived in Zamora at the bridge from the opposite end to the Via de la Plata route.
I don't really speak Spanish, got a bit frustrated now and again(especially when I wanted to give out about something) but overall no problem.
Outstanding meal of any of the Camino I walked was the pilgrim Menu for 9.50 in Milan I in San Clemente.
Tried once to use the off line GPS thing I downloaded to my phone, found it a total waste of time could not even read the screen in the strong sun.
One thing about the Amigo guide book that drove me crazy was the way they have laid out historical information about the towns. You are in the middle of directions for navigating through the town. You are getting lost you have gone down the first two streets they have mentioned then a few paragraphs of history then another street. AlL directions should be grouped together. A separate little section on history etc.
As I said in beginning I may add to this over the next few days.
Also editing my photos and will have a special section on my website in 10 days or less.
Overall impressions. Big Skies, hot, loads and loads of Poppies, wild-flowers, ants - never saw as many ants in my entire life. Hit a heatwave for about three days 36 degree in the shade but there was no shade.
Don't leave without Laurie's notes and the Amigos book, I had the English version, tore out pages from Zamora onwards and left the separate maps at home. Then on a daily basis tore out the pages for the day ahead put them in my shorts pocket along with a page of Laurie's notes.
No rain for my trip, got soaked once my an irrigation system. Never used my camel back. A one litre bottle plus half litre bottle fine. Pack weight 9.4 kg without food and water. Generally wherever I had breakfast filled my water bottles with cold water. Favourite breakfast tostadas con tomato with acedo and cafe con leche e 1.60 to 3.60. The best menu del dia's of any Camino I have been on. Not been able to eat till 9 or 8.30 at earliest was a bit of a nuisance, especially if you were staying in Albergue. Watching the Champions League in a Spanish Cafe is a joy to behold.
First few days out of Valencia very urban and industrial, surface very hard on legs and hips, do not do the stages as per amigos book. I broke the first day by staying in Silla, Pension Puerto e18. Take it very easy for the first four days I would have got shin splits if I didn't.
I did stay in the much criticised municipal Albergue in Higueruela, myself and my Danish walking companion found it fine, got the keys in Hostal Posada which was booked out, nice meal there. Looking at comments book in Albergue people were complaining about no toilet paper, any Pilgrim who has walked for more than one day should have toilet paper in a waterproof bag in their back pocket, spare me!!.
The Hostal that Laurie recommended in La Ronda is now closed, I stayed in Hotel Juanuto for 28.30 near the old Hostal but found out afterwards you can stay in local Bull Ring which my friend said was fine.
Careful leaving San Clemente, Laurie warns of bad marking for some reason that was not our problem. Loads of brilliant arrows. This is what happened to us. I stayed in The Albergue but my walking companion stayed in Milan 1. I meet him there in the moring we saw a yellow arrow near Milan 1 and followed it. The walk should have been San Clemente to Las Pedrones but we followed arrows which brought us to Alberca de Zancara which meant road walking to Las Pedrones an extra 8 to 10 km, we abandoned the arrows in Alberca de Zancara, two sides of a triangle instead of one. Did we accidentally go on the Surreste. Any expatiation anyone?
Not impressed with Arevalo. Hostal now e30, after I booked in and paid I asked about food, this was around 2 pm. There was a communion on, Restraunte fully booked they would not even serve me a plate at the bar, as possibly the only resident there I found their attitude terrible. The entire town dispensed with Menu Delario (e10) instead special menu e22-28. I eat better meals for 8 euro. Would not stay in this town again on Weekend. This was Sunday. The bar Victoria is excellent Pilgrim friendly but does not do full meals.
Many great acts of kindness along the way, one place which is fairly new is a must, it is in Toro ,Bar Restraunte La Coleginta, you will probably come across it on the way in. I would eat there again instead of the Pension Zamora I stayed in, which was ok. The Monastery of Sancti Spiritus look good but could not get anyone to answer the bell at 3.30 someone said to come back at 5, but I was too tired.
I had no problem from Toro to Zamora. Turned right at the quarry followed the arrows all the way. There is one blind arrow on a little concrete building, you will only see it if you turn left and go away from the river. I arrived in Zamora at the bridge from the opposite end to the Via de la Plata route.
I don't really speak Spanish, got a bit frustrated now and again(especially when I wanted to give out about something) but overall no problem.
Outstanding meal of any of the Camino I walked was the pilgrim Menu for 9.50 in Milan I in San Clemente.
Tried once to use the off line GPS thing I downloaded to my phone, found it a total waste of time could not even read the screen in the strong sun.
One thing about the Amigo guide book that drove me crazy was the way they have laid out historical information about the towns. You are in the middle of directions for navigating through the town. You are getting lost you have gone down the first two streets they have mentioned then a few paragraphs of history then another street. AlL directions should be grouped together. A separate little section on history etc.
As I said in beginning I may add to this over the next few days.
Also editing my photos and will have a special section on my website in 10 days or less.
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