Day 2. Orito-Elda 21.0
In real life, whether I had stopped in Orito or not, I would be heading for Sax today. But since the Villajoyosa variant meets the way we're walking at Villena, I'm planning with stages we're walking with that in mind. From Sax, Villena's only 13.7 km, but 22.7 km from Elda-Petrer.
Here's our weather for the day, courtesy of the windy app:
We won't have to start early to beat the heat, but we pass through both Monforte del Cid (3.76 kms) and Novelda (7.7 kms), both of which offer ample opportunities for first and second breakfast. If you've walked the Lana before, and have a recommendation for a good place for breakfast (first or second), please feel free to sing out!
Both are biggish places with plenty of accomodation options, as well. As has already been mentioned, MdC is the end of the first stage as listed by the amigos.
MdC:
Hotel Avenida, apparently very expensive. Telephone 965626333.
Novelda:
Kevin's guide describes the albergue as "first class:" Avenida Constitución 96, near the entrance to the town. Call Paco Serra one day before on 629668829 or 965600842. Five Euros
There are beautiful beds, kitchen, washing machine, dryer and your own living room! The old albergue here no longer exists. Tienda on the corner near the building, restaurants 100 metres further down.
Also:
- Hostal Suiza, Calle Tirso de Molina 50. 965601996
- Hostal Residencia Pasaje, Emilio Castelar, 43, 03660 Novelda (30€)
BP has promised us more moonscape, but after Novelda, the Camino bends more the northerly direction, and begins to follow a riverbank toward Elda — which should provide some relief.
The stage is not without interesting things to see. At 11.5 kilometers, there is a turn off on a path that goes up to the
Castillo de la Mola and the
Santuario la Magdalena.
The latter was built about a hundred years ago in the style of Gaudi looks quite impressive. My OSMand app tells me there is a restaurant up there, too. Perhaps a nice place for a leasurely stop.
Our destination, Elda, is also a biggish place — actually a twin town of Elda-Petrer. My map shows in abundance of places to eat and stay, and I will leave it to others to fill in the blanks there.
It has some deep history, and an arcaepoogical site that looks super interesting:
Visita la entrada para saber más.
turismo.elda.es
And...if you have a liking for quirky Spanish museums, you're in luck - here's one right up our pilgrim alley (courtesy of Wikipedia):
Elda is known for its
footwear industry, in particular for women's shoes. Tourist sites include
the Footwear Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the
Torre del Homenaje del castillo (a tower dating from the 12th century),
Castelar Square, Count of
Coloma Palace, the Town Hall and the church of
Santa Ana. It also celebrates the important festival of
Moros y Cristianos
Happy walking to us all — see you at breakfast in Monforte!