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Hi everyone, my name is Anastasia and this Camino (starting from Madrid and heading towards Santiago and maybe a bit further if I can make it) is a part of my first ever solo travel experience. I am a little unprepared and was feeling really anxious about starting the Camino for about 2 weeks and I'm also getting a tiny bit lonely after not meeting any other pilgrims on my fist day, so I desided to write this thread instead to share my experiences here with you...I am planning only 1 day in advance and following a few blogs on this forum which I found very useful, thanks to all of you who share experiences here
Day 1. Madrid to Tres Cantos
So after arriving to Madrid and doing last minute shopping for Camino essentials I to set off on my first day of walking from the Church of Santiago and Saint John the Baptist around 12pm on Friday 22/09. It wasn't a particularly pleasant walk until I got out of the city centre and onto unpaved path. I met no pilgrims on the route, just heard a couple of "buen camino'es" from a couple of cyclists passing by. All the suggested hotels in Tres Cantos were booked out except for the most expensive one and I wasn't really prepared to pay 100Eur on my first day of the Camino, so I have called the local police the day before to arrange to stay at an ayuntamento/albergue there (10:30pm to 6am). I had one more call to the police when I was waiting at the Ayuntamento as I was afraid they have forgotten about me and then it was all settled shortly after. I had the whole room in the basement to myself and the town hall didn't appear to be haunted-that's a bonus -YessView attachment 36378
Yes! I might just get used to this luxury! And I'm starting to enjoy walking alone tooSounds like you are doing the deluxe-camino with lodging in private halls and with no snoring from fellow travelers.
Enjoy your camino, and remember if the solitude get to much you can always grab a bus/train to CF and continue your camino there.
Buen camino.
Hi, Anastasia,Day 2. Tres Cantos to Manzenares el Real (
I have started the day with vacating my "deluxe" lodgings at the Tres Cantos at 6am on Saturday morning and I was surprised to find a cafe open right next to the train station-bonus! At 7am, with still one hour left before sunrise, I have attempted to start walking, but soon realised that it would be rather hard to find the yellow arrows with a tourch-woops, so I had to retrace my steps back to the city.
As the sun rose, I found myself getting distracted by pretty sunrise, then by my phone and by my own thoughts...and every time I got distracted, I was loosing track of the yellow arrows and had to retrace my steps back...quite methaforic of life, isn't it!?
I have visited a local museum and tourist information centre in Colmenar Viejo (very nice little establishment) and have been told that I am the 4th pilgrims to have come by on the last 2 months (not a popular route, it makes sense now!). There were beautiful views to the mountains exiting Colmenar Viejo, but it was 3pm already and really-really hot (forecast said 25C but felt like 35C)! Slowly, but surely I have made it to Manzanares el Real, where I have arranged to meet with Rosa (http://www.rayyrosa.com). Their hospitality was amazing! Not only I had a nice room in their house (deluxe again!) but they also offered to wash my clothes and took me to see the Castillo de los Mendoza, which looked really pretty being lit up at night!
Mental note to myself: try not to walk at around 3pm-being the hottest part of the day!View attachment 36420
Yes, I know, their website is great! And they also taught me how to use Wililoc, so I was able to follow their trail to get to La Granja de San Ildefonso! And I know exactly how many kms I walked, it's greatHi, Anastasia,
I've walked this Camino 3 years ago and were able to sleep in private (cheap) accommodation i Manzanares as I believe back then Ray y Rosa didn't offer it. This year @timr slept in their house and all we heard about that were praises. Next time on Madrid I will sure make my stay there happen. If not for the accommodation itself than for their web page:
http://www.rayyrosa.com/loscaminos
which has one of the most complete map of the Camino routes.
Our @AZgirl was in Penaflor de Hornija just yesterday. She reported that she had a "bubble" of 5 peregrinos at the start but by Penaflor she was alone. Enjoying the albergue for her own though.
Whichever you prefer I wish you a very nice Camino!!!
Ultreia!
Thanks for the update. Am following your progress, in all sense of the word, with pleasure. Great photos. Buen camino, peregrina.Day 3. Manzanares el Real To Cercedilla (19km)
I have started to enjoy walking on my own by now. Even though it being a Sunday there were lots of cyclists speeding past me, it was still very peaceful.
This is an easy flat stage of the Camino with plenty of opportunities to stop for a snack/drink and refill water. I stopped for lunch on Navacerrada and called the municipal albergue from there (Polideportivo), but they did not pick up the phone, so I decided to book to stay for the night at Hostal Aribel Longinos. It is located near the centre of Cercedilla which had really nice private rooms and clean shared bathrooms.
Really nothing else to share except that I decided to split the next stage in two and stop st La Granja de San Ildefonso before coming to Segovila...Partly because I have blisters on every other toe now
View attachment 36443
It doesn't surprise me that nobody answered your call for albergue on Sunday. Even if it would be late afternoon ayuntamiento wouldn't respond. But if you have the phone number of the polideportivo than the janitor would answered. This albergue is in one of the first buildings on the left as you enter Cercedilla and is just that - polideportivo. The janitor is in the office right at the entrance and he sign you in and show you to your "room" on the first floor, which is a small gym with rubber mats. That's it. And in the evening when the ladies are training yoga, pilates etc. you are asked to leave the gym. Janitor forgot to tell me that and I spread my belongings all over the place. When I returned from the supermercado late afternoon I walked into a gym full of sweaty ladies of all ages. Quite an embarrassing moment for all. But when leaving polideportivo half an hour later they were laughing and winking at meDay 3. Manzanares el Real To Cercedilla (19km)
I have started to enjoy walking on my own by now. Even though it being a Sunday there were lots of cyclists speeding past me, it was still very peaceful.
This is an easy flat stage of the Camino with plenty of opportunities to stop for a snack/drink and refill water. I stopped for lunch on Navacerrada and called the municipal albergue from there (Polideportivo), but they did not pick up the phone, so I decided to book to stay for the night at Hostal Aribel Longinos. It is located near the centre of Cercedilla which had really nice private rooms and clean shared bathrooms.
Really nothing else to share except that I decided to split the next stage in two and stop st La Granja de San Ildefonso before coming to Segovila...Partly because I have blisters on every other toe now
View attachment 36443
Haha, this is great. Pity I didn't get there, as I might have joined the ladies. I have been trying to do my own version of yoga/Pilates stretches to aid my sore musclesIt doesn't surprise me that nobody answered your call for albergue on Sunday. Even if it would be late afternoon ayuntamiento wouldn't respond. But if you have the phone number of the polideportivo than the janitor would answered. This albergue is in one of the first buildings on the left as you enter Cercedilla and is just that - polideportivo. The janitor is in the office right at the entrance and he sign you in and show you to your "room" on the first floor, which is a small gym with rubber mats. That's it. And in the evening when the ladies are training yoga, pilates etc. you are asked to leave the gym. Janitor forgot to tell me that and I spread my belongings all over the place. When I returned from the supermercado late afternoon I walked into a gym full of sweaty ladies of all ages. Quite an embarrassing moment for all. But when leaving polideportivo half an hour later they were laughing and winking at me
Hey, Anastasia,Day 4&5. Cercedilla-La Granja de San Ildefonso (26.8km)-Segovila(12.8km)
I have been told that this might be the toughest stage of CdM, because of elevation and distance, so I decided to split it and spend more time in Segovia. It was a perfect day for walking from Cercedilla, Plenty of shade to shelter oneself from the sun, clear skies and beautiful views all around. Upon exiting La Granja, I started following the green dots and metal sights "Via XXIV" for "la Calzada Romana" up to the highest point of the mountain (Puerto de la Fuenfría) as advised in the tourist information travel booth.
I really-really enjoyed the walk. My thoughts were calm up until one encounter. I met two middle aged male walkers and after telling them that I was walking alone they recommended that I should be carrying a pepper spray with me for self defence...I mean, this was really thoughtful of them, but it made me worry. Maybe I am being careless and not taking enough precaution?! Everything I read about the Camino so far has made it sound as if it was quite safe, but maybe you can never be too careful ...If anyone has any thoughts in this I would appreciate your feedback.
On the brighter note, I have finally met some fellow pilgrims (a group of 5, WoW). They have arrived in Hostal Camino de Lis shortly after me. They shared a nice meal of pasta with me and I was glad for the possibility of having someone else to walk with in the coming stages.View attachment 36481
On the way to Segovila I have diviated from the group and went by the route mapped on rayyrosa website. According to my new friends the direct way took 10kms, while I walked a bit more but it was very picturesque across the dam and next to a little river.
The day in Segovia was really nice, but hardly a break, as I was running around visiting museums and looking at the sights...View attachment 36482
Tomorrow the plan is for all 6 of us to walk to Añe and stay in an albergue there. The only thing is that being so excited about Segovia's attractions, I have missed the supermarket closing time, so I have snacks, but no real food for tomorrow...should hopefully work something out on the way
Thank you so much for the advise KinkyOne!
So you are saying that there IS a shop in Ane??? That's a news!!! I can hardly believe that. And if it was closed usually in such small places they open if you ring a bell. Are you sure?...So upon arriving to Añe and finding that the shop is yet again closed(we were told that he bar is only open on weekends), we were considering on continuing to the next town, but decided against it as it was really tiring to walk in the heat. We knocked on a door with "refugio" sign and got the keys for the albergue. The place was clean with a shower and little electric stove. You should be prepared and come with your own food for dinner! Upon asking some locals whether we can buy anything to eat, we were given some tomatoes and bread Very nice of them!...
Well, I might be mistaken, but they said that on weekends you can buy food somewhere in Añe...perhaps more like a market, I'm not sureSo you are saying that there IS a shop in Ane??? That's a news!!! I can hardly believe that. And if it was closed usually in such small places they open if you ring a bell. Are you sure?
Same happened to me when asking about the bar and a nice lady next door gave me some bread and wine for a bargain.
Ultreia!
And also, it looked like everyone in Añe took a sobriety vows, as no one had any wine when we asked if we could perhaps buy some wine from them...Urelia, you might have found the very last drinking person in AñeSo you are saying that there IS a shop in Ane??? That's a news!!! I can hardly believe that. And if it was closed usually in such small places they open if you ring a bell. Are you sure?
Same happened to me when asking about the bar and a nice lady next door gave me some bread and wine for a bargain.
Ultreia!
??? That's very strangeAnd also, it looked like everyone in Añe took a sobriety vows, as no one had any wine when we asked if we could perhaps buy some wine from them...Urelia, you might have found the very last drinking person in Añe
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