Nambroca-Las Nieves-Toledo

[george.g]

Caution, this is a published route on Mundicamino and is shown as an option on GPS tracks, be aware that for a couple of kms it goes alongside a very busy freeway no footpath, not sure its legal, you can just about stay on the safe side of the barrier, was worried the police would come along and hit me with a fine!
Regards
George

 

[sulu]

Caution, this is a published route on Mundicamino and is shown as an option on GPS tracks, be aware that for a couple of kms it goes alongside a very busy freeway no footpath, not sure its legal, you can just about stay on the safe side of the barrier, was worried the police would come along and hit me with a fine!
Regards
George

Thanks for that warning. It does seem very strange, I wouldn't have thought it was legal either. It is certainly one of those places where a reflective jacket would be required.
The next time I see a Guardia Civil I'll ask what the law is. Usually the camino gets diverted when they build a new motorway.
Buen camino,
Sue

 

[george.g]

Hi Sulu,
Now I'm in at San Servando and sorted, had time to look at on Google Earth, not exactly sure if its a motorway but it looks like one, its marked A42 Autovia del Toledo. Picked that route as it seemed nice and direct. Still no harm done.
You go through centre cloverleaf and exit left at next exit.
Regards
George

 

[peregrina2000]

We took the route indicated in the guidebook, and though it was long, and a bit tedious at times, the entrance into Toledo is one of the most spectacular points of any Camino I´ve ever walked. George, did you wind up coming in this way:



IMO, the views for that last km or so along the river looking over at Toledo, totally made up for the slog we had endured to get there. buen camino, Laurie

 

[alansykes]

My guide to the Levante recommends going from Nambroca via Burgillos de Toledo and Cobisa, rather than by Las Nieves. And it sounds like that's the one Laurie took. So looking forward to seeing that view of Toledo for the first time, ideally later this year. Laurie must have been standing only a few 100 yards from where el Greco was when he painted this pic (currently in the Met, but I hope heading out to Toledo for the 400th anniversary exhibition later this year, which means I must make sure to get there not on on Monday when everything will be shut up). Hope I get Laurie-style fluffy clouds when I arrive, rather than el Greco's apocalyptic ones.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, Alan,
I remember seeing that painting in the Metropolitan right before heading to Spain for my junior year abroad, oh so many decades ago.

I actually did spend a rest day in Toledo on a Monday and though many things were open, the El Greco art museum was closed. One thing I'd highly recommend, though, is the 8 euro pulsera turística that gives you admission to a group of amazing sites, former mosque, synagogues, etc. Every one of the sites was well worth a visit, http://www.toledomonumental.com/sinagoga-santa-maria-blanca/tu-visita/pulsera-turistica/ , with the least interesting (for me) being the 16th century Jesuit church (but it had a stunning view).




So I´m thinking you will need more than one day in Toledo!

 

[sulu]

Thanks for the clarification Laurie.
It seems that it's just Mundicamino who recommend walking up a motorway, I don't reckon much to Mundicamino anyway. It would certainly worry me to have to walk along the side of an autovia. I'll go with the long walk and the beautiful view.
I was going to check with the Guardia Civil if it is legal but the only officer I saw was the one who stopped me, then I was so grateful just to be waved on again I didn't fancy tempting providence by carrying on a conversation.
George, I hope the rest of your camino is less anxiety making.
Buen camino, Sue

 

[LTfit]

Lovely pictures Laurie!
I have been so busy with work that I have not even started to plan my Levante Camino- actually Leaving in 2 months. As I have about 3 weeks to do Valencia-Toledo I am sure that I will have two days to visit the city. The last time I was there I was 16!

 

[george.g]

Hi Laurie,
No just to rub salt onto the wounds, no special views of Toledo until you get into YH San Servando.
They were reluctant to let me stay without a YH card, but luckily their machine was broken so they couldn't processes one. After a bit of chat and pleading they let me in, all's well that ends well.
This is some Camin

 

[peregrina2000]

Sorry, George, I didn't mean to gloat. I was actually just curious to see if the route ever joined up with the one described in the guide.

And if you like mountains, those two days before Avila are stunning!

BTW, for anyone else going to Toledo, we stayed in the relatively new Albergue Los Pascuales. Clean, bad breakfast included in the price, great central location a block or so from the cathedral. https://www.alberguelospascuales.com

Tell us more, George, I'd love to hear how things go for you. Laurie

 

[andy.d]

I took the same route as Laurie, following the Spanish guide. Couldn't work out quite why it was going the way it did until I plodded over the top of the last hill and got the El Greco view of the city.
(I also bumped into someone who was a world expert on St Anselm in Burgillos de Toledo when I stopped for a drink, but that's another story). I stayed in La Posado de Zocodover in Toledo, which I would recommend. Toledo is definitely worth pausing in - although I'm a big fan of rest days whenever possible.

I'm enjoying following you all

Andy

 

[george.g]

Hi Laurie,
Things are going fine, except my pants seemed to have discovered gravity.
Accommodation in Torrijos as per the book called in at policia local next town hall, got stamp, phone call was made, "please wait outside you will be collected" 5 minutes later escort to albergue.
Escalona, made mistake, town hall for stamp, was given map to albergue and was told that there was somebody there, trudged there to find locked bit of tooing and froing eventually got key from police.
Moral of story get stamp, find police, get key!
One of the notable features of this Camino is every one wants to know what you are doing, and wants to help its really heart warming.
Regards
George

 

[filly]

Sorry, George, I didn't mean to gloat. I was actually just curious to see if the route ever joined up with the one described in the guide.

And if you like mountains, those two days before Avila are stunning!

BTW, for anyone else going to Toledo, we stayed in the relatively new Albergue Los Pascuales. Clean, bad breakfast included in the price, great central location a block or so from the cathedral. https://www.alberguelospascuales.com

Tell us more, George, I'd love to hear how things go for you. Laurie

Hello Peregrina,

Love your photos! Wished there was a listing of your stops and places you stayed at or did you just follow the Amigos guide. I leave in a month but I must admit that I have a slight amount of trepidation.. a camino acquaintance from the VdlP gave up after two days! Would you recommend a day at least in Valencia? and is the exit from Valencia grim as the entry in Leon was.. Any encourageent and info for the early days would be much appreciated!

Philip

 

[andy.d]

Philip,

this might be getting out of date, but my stages and places I stayed in 2009 are here:

http://pilgrimpace.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/stages/

there will also be blog posts around there reflecting on it. Valencia is worth seeing. The route out of it is not, to my memory, too bad. Enjoy it - it's a real epic

Andy

 

[peregrina2000]

Hello Peregrina,

Love your photos! Wished there was a listing of your stops and places you stayed at or did you just follow the Amigos guide. I leave in a month but I must admit that I have a slight amount of trepidation.. a camino acquaintance from the VdlP gave up after two days! Would you recommend a day at least in Valencia? and is the exit from Valencia grim as the entry in Leon was.. Any encourageent and info for the early days would be much appreciated!

Philip

Hi, Philip, I actually did post my stages on an attachment to this post: http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/my-stages-on-the-levante.19142/

And my blog is linked below my signature on this post as well.

This camino is not for everyone, but I loved it -- longer stages, wide open spaces, tons of castles, lots of great architecture in small towns, decent pilgrim infrastructure (albergues in half of the stages or more).

The departure from Valencia isn't grim insofar as scenery -- some nice suburbs, lots of fruit orchards, but the problem is the asphalt. The first four days are essentially all pavement. Once that's done, the walking is great, with infrequent road walking. I think the numbers are increasing, so I'd say your odds of meeting others are pretty good.

I spent some time in Valencia, a day at least is good. There are some pretty amazing Calatrava structures, all near each other in or along an old river bed. The historic core is well preserved and maintained, good food, what more can you ask for?

Let us know how your Levante goes! Buen camino, Laurie

 

[george.g]

Don't worry about the exits of town, their soon behind you, couldn't be any worse than the way out of Alicante, cemetery, very poor immigrant district, derelict factories, etc etc walk fast and in 10 minutes its behind you.
San Martin, Hostal Pilar, 20E, Clean, only tapas available, signed on way into town.
San Bartolome, Hostal El Patio, 25E, Clean, food available, owner seems to know pilgrims, check in later, here's your key go and shower.
This Camino is everything I hoped it would be and more, but it can be a little difficult in places, a little Spanish is essential, navigation skills help, don't expect to meet other perigrinos.
Pack a size smaller pants
Regards
George

 

[peregrina2000]

So, George, was it a glorious walk? San Martín to San Bartalomé ranks right up there with the best days of the Salvador, Norte, or any other camino, at least for me. The Hostal El Patio has had a 5 euro price increase since last June -- my notes say I paid only 20.

Are you going to spend some extra time in Ávila? Buen camino, Laurie

 

[filly]

So, George, was it a glorious walk? San Martín to San Bartalomé ranks right up there with the best days of the Salvador, Norte, or any other camino, at least for me. The Hostal El Patio has had a 5 euro price increase since last June -- my notes say I paid only 20.

Are you going to spend some extra time in Ávila? Buen camino, Laurie

Hello Laurie,

Do try your link as I cannot get the information you maitain is there!!! Four days of tarmac is not a great start. I may just bus out of Valencia if the weather is bad... Thanks Philip

 

[peregrina2000]

Hello Laurie,

Do try your link as I cannot get the information you maitain is there!!! Four days of tarmac is not a great start. I may just bus out of Valencia if the weather is bad... Thanks Philip

Hi, Philip, The document with all of the stages and information is at the bottom of the first post, it is an attachment in word.

And if you are going to skip over some of the earlier stages, I'd suggest the commuter train line, the Cercanias. There is a line direct from Valencia all along the camino to as far as Moixent. You can see a list of stops on the RENFE Cercanias website. I used it to break up the first day to Algemesi into two stages. On Day 1, I walked the 12 km to Silla, then hopped on the train back to Valencia and spent the rest of the day there. Then on Day 2, back on Cercanias to Silla, which made the walk to Algemesi very easy. Buen camino, laurie

 

[filly]

Thanks Laurie - found at last with some difficulty as I am not an expert. For anyone else it is located indeed in a Word document attachment, below the Laurie Buen Camino sign off. I do appreciate your encouragement as well as your solutions. regards!