Starting the Camino Madrid

[Anton Muhlbock]

Anyone starting the Camino Madrid on April the 6th ???

 

[mla1]

I’m starting next week! I hope you have a good walk.
Buen camino!

 

[Anton Muhlbock]

I’m starting next week! I hope you have a good walk.
Buen camino!

Thanks yes hope you have a good walk too

 

[Stripey Socks]

I start on 19 May. Buen camino

 

[Walkingboy]

I start my Camino Madrid on the 12th April so will be a few days behind you.

 

[J2j]

Anyone starting the Camino Madrid on April the 6th ???

I started on April 3rd and it’s great. Starting in early April seems perfect as vegetation is green, plenty of water in the creeks, wildflowers blooming, nesting birds singing up a storm…lovin’ every minute thus far.

 

[Anniesantiago]

One of my favorites and a beautiful time of year to begin!
Buen Camino!

 

[DOver]

Start the Madrid on May 3rd. Buen Camino

I start on 19 May. Buen camino

Hey, Fellow Aussie. Do you have a Guide book for the Madrid. I have two... if we can find a way to get it to you before you travel. I'm just North of Brisbane

 

[Stripey Socks]

Start the Madrid on May 3rd. Buen Camino

Hey, Fellow Aussie. Do you have a Guide book for the Madrid. I have two... if we can find a way to get it to you before you travel. I'm just North of Brisbane

Oh, that would be amazing. I will try to message you. Thanks a million

 

[Anton Muhlbock]

I started on April 3rd and it’s great. Starting in early April seems perfect as vegetation is green, plenty of water in the creeks, wildflowers blooming, nesting birds singing up a storm…lovin’ every minute thus far.

Great we walked to Tres Cantos so far second day today we love it

 

[Stripey Socks]

Great we walked to Tres Cantos so far second day today we love it

How did you find the exit from Madrid? Was it well marked? Thanks

 

[Anton Muhlbock]

How did you find the exit from Madrid? Was it well marked? Thanks

No marking was poor we used Google map to Tres cantos and we eventually got the the yellow arrows and all was good

 

[Stripey Socks]

No marking was poor we used Google map to Tres cantos and we eventually got the the yellow arrows and all was good

Great - Thanks. I thought as much.

 

[J2j]

Great we walked to Tres Cantos so far second day today we love it

Leaving the cityscape of Madrid into the countryside leading into Tres Cantos was a favorite day. I am currently in Segovia siteseeing.

 

[J2j]

Great - Thanks. I thought as much.

Agreed the markings for leaving Madrid are poor and I used Komoot in the city but once you get to the tennis center the trail is well marked and I have had no need for my mapping app since.

 

[Walkingboy]

Leaving Madrid on 12 April so not far behind you.

 

[mla1]

No marking was poor we used Google map to Tres cantos and we eventually got the the yellow arrows and all was good

The marking doesn’t really get going until you are outside the city. I downloaded Mapy.cz and its map has a track for the Camino. Super useful! I was glad I had it. Started today!

 

[MikeJS]

I’m walking this route in Sept. Can you please tell me where are you staying in Tres Cantos? In the Acogida en la Parroquia or Hostal Tres Cantos? How was it and did you book beforehand?

​

 

[Anton Muhlbock]

We stayed at a hotel la Jardin

 

[MikeJS]

We stayed at a hotel la Jardin

Too pricey for my tastes!

 

[mla1]

I also stayed at the hotel - last night. Tonight in Manzanares I’m at the hostel la pedriza. Highly recommended.

 

[henrythedog]

I’m walking this route in Sept. Can you please tell me where are you staying in Tres Cantos? In the Acogida en la Parroquia or Hostal Tres Cantos? How was it and did you book beforehand?

​

Only option when I walked in February three years ago was the Jardín. Overpriced for what it is; but Tres Cantos is a purpose built tech location, well connected to Madrid by train. If I did it again I’d shuttle back and forth to Madrid on the train.

 

[Stripey Socks]

I’m walking this route in Sept. Can you please tell me where are you staying in Tres Cantos? In the Acogida en la Parroquia or Hostal Tres Cantos? How was it and did you book beforehand?

​

I have booked at the Parroquia. I understand it is very basic and no showers, but I am on a budget too. I just sent them an email.

 

[MikeJS]

I also stayed at the hotel - last night. Tonight in Manzanares I’m at the hostel la pedriza. Highly recommended.

I thought 'the place to stay ‘ there was at Rayyrosa!

 

[peregrina2000]

I thought 'the place to stay ‘ there was at Rayyrosa!

ML reported somewhere that Ray and Rosa had a family issue come up, so she had to find an alternative. It’s good to know this is an affordable and acceptable option, because things got very expensive in Manzanares when the albergue up on the top of the rock closed. Now that was a glorious albergue, but the church somehow wiggled out of their commitment to let pilgrims stay there in exchange for accepting public money for renovations. But I digress….

 

[peregrino_tom]

I’m walking this route in Sept. Can you please tell me where are you staying in Tres Cantos? In the Acogida en la Parroquia or Hostal Tres Cantos? How was it and did you book beforehand?

I stayed at the Acogida Parroquial Santa Teresa de Jesus. My positive review is on Gronze. There's a washroom, but no shower.
I managed to confirm by phone that I was coming, about 4 days in advance. Antonio was the guy running the church office. He's in and out all day so pot luck when you get through on the phone - just keep on trying. From about 5pm the premises got really busy in preparation for the evening mass (a much younger and more family-oriented congregation than you often find on the camino). So I would try earlier in the day.
It's a wonderful modern church in what my untrained eye would describe as a Latin American style! There are shops and restaurants about 5-10 mins walk up the hill at the top of Calle de la Iglesia. This includes on the right at the junction the Cafeteria San Bernabé (open early) where they provide those over-size croissantes that set you up for a good day's walk.
For Manzanares, the whole Rayyrosa procedure, where you arrange to get picked up and taken to an unpublished location is not my kind of thing at all. So I was happy to stay at La Pedriza. The place gets overrun at weekends and on public holidays with weekend trippers up from Madrid, but I quite liked that. It's run as a family business with food being served all day. I was well looked after despite it being really busy. If you book on their own website you get a free breakfast.

 

[J2j]

I stayed at the Acogida Parroquial Santa Teresa de Jesus. My positive review is on Gronze. There's a washroom, but no shower.
I managed to confirm by phone that I was coming, about 4 days in advance. Antonio was the guy running the church office. He's in and out all day so pot luck when you get through on the phone - just keep on trying. From about 5pm the premises got really busy in preparation for the evening mass (a much younger and more family-oriented congregation than you often find on the camino). So I would try earlier in the day.
It's a wonderful modern church in what my untrained eye would describe as a Latin American style! There are shops and restaurants about 5-10 mins walk up the hill at the top of Calle de la Iglesia. This includes on the right at the junction the Cafeteria San Bernabé (open early) where they provide those over-size croissantes that set you up for a good day's walk.
For Manzanares, the whole Rayyrosa procedure, where you arrange to get picked up and taken to an unpublished location is not my kind of thing at all. So I was happy to stay at La Pedriza. The place gets overrun at weekends and on public holidays with weekend trippers up from Madrid, but I quite liked that. It's run as a family business with food being served all day. I was well looked after despite it being really busy. If you book on their own website you get a free breakfast.

I stayed at the VP Tres Cantos which turned out to be a screaming bargain…best beds on my Camino de Madrid.

 

[Benita Serfontein]

Too pricey for my tastes!

Hi Mike
I booked a private room with breakfast on AirBnB for a fairly decent price. I think it was around €18.

 

[JackT]

 

[JackT]

I arrived around 3pm in Madrid, saw on Google the church of Santiago opens from 6 or 7 when I finally found the church the notice says they open only 11-1pm everyday, so tmr I will need to go again to get my pilgrim passport and 1st stamp and start the Camino Madrid much later than I expected

 

[mla1]

I arrived around 3pm in Madrid, saw on Google the church of Santiago opens from 6 or 7 when I finally found the church the notice says they open only 11-1pm everyday, so tmr I will need to go again to get my pilgrim passport and 1st stamp and start the Camino Madrid much later than I expected

Hi Jack --- is that sign from the right church? Here is a sign, of church opening times. I took the photo in April at the church where I picked up my credencial:



Buen camino!
ml

 

[Laurie Sanantone]

Sorry @JackT, I think @mla1 is correct, that looks like the wrong church. The Royal Church of St. James and St. John the Baptist is in a different part of town (Calle Santiago 24) than Our Lady of Montserrat. I picked up my credential on a Friday after evening mass.

I arrived around 3pm in Madrid, saw on Google the church of Santiago opens from 6 or 7 when I finally found the church the notice says they open only 11-1pm everyday, so tmr I will need to go again to get my pilgrim passport and 1st stamp and start the Camino Madrid much later than I expected

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I arrived around 3pm in Madrid, saw on Google the church of Santiago opens from 6 or 7 when I finally found the church the notice says they open only 11-1pm everyday, so tmr I will need to go again to get my pilgrim passport and 1st stamp and start the Camino Madrid much later than I expected

Here is a Google Maps reference for the church
Royal Church of Saint James and Saint John the Baptist
915 48 08 24

Royal Church of Saint James and Saint John the Baptist · Calle de Santiago, 24, 28013 Madrid, Spain

★★★★★ · Catholic church

maps.app.goo.gl

Even with this, I found it confusing to find the church three days ago because from street level it doesn't look like a church.

I circled the block looking for a church like building and finally spotted a robed figure going through a door, had a close look and there it was.

I got there just before they closed at 13:00 and rushed a little and tripped on the stone step up into the back room where they issue the credentials. This had me announce my entry with a stir.

I then got the third degree from the guy that was free. Don't forget your passport!

 

[JackT]

Here is a Google Maps reference for the church
Royal Church of Saint James and Saint John the Baptist
915 48 08 24

Royal Church of Saint James and Saint John the Baptist · Calle de Santiago, 24, 28013 Madrid, Spain

★★★★★ · Catholic church

maps.app.goo.gl

Even with this, I found it confusing to find the church three days ago because from street level it doesn't look like a church.

I circled the block looking for a church like building and finally spotted a robed figure going through a door, had a close look and there it was.

I got there just before they closed at 13:00 and rushed a little and tripped on the stone step up into the back room where they issue the credentials. This had me announce my entry with a stir.

I then got the third degree from the guy that was free. Don't forget your passport!

I googled wrong I think, I googled inglésia De Santiago and send me off to a convent

 

[JackT]

Found it this morning, very confusing, was also trying to look for a spire that’s usually on top of a church

 

[JackT]

I stayed at the Acogida Parroquial Santa Teresa de Jesus. My positive review is on Gronze. There's a washroom, but no shower.
I managed to confirm by phone that I was coming, about 4 days in advance. Antonio was the guy running the church office. He's in and out all day so pot luck when you get through on the phone - just keep on trying. From about 5pm the premises got really busy in preparation for the evening mass (a much younger and more family-oriented congregation than you often find on the camino). So I would try earlier in the day.
It's a wonderful modern church in what my untrained eye would describe as a Latin American style! There are shops and restaurants about 5-10 mins walk up the hill at the top of Calle de la Iglesia. This includes on the right at the junction the Cafeteria San Bernabé (open early) where they provide those over-size croissantes that set you up for a good day's walk.
For Manzanares, the whole Rayyrosa procedure, where you arrange to get picked up and taken to an unpublished location is not my kind of thing at all. So I was happy to stay at La Pedriza. The place gets overrun at weekends and on public holidays with weekend trippers up from Madrid, but I quite liked that. It's run as a family business with food being served all day. I was well looked after despite it being really busy. If you book on their own website you get a free breakfast.

I’m staying in Alcobendas for my first night, weekend, everything in Tres Cantos if either booked up or very pricey, tmr get to Tres Cantos and walk to Manzanares where I prebooked to be safe at Hostel La Pedriza

 

[David Tallan]

I will be shortly behind you. I'll be staying in Tres Cantos at the Misión Emmanuel, which I believe is a donativo.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

You will overtake me as I am much slower than expected this time around. I met Jack last night, nice guy.

 

[MikeJS]

Just had a quick read through these posts and I am not sure which is the correct church for the start of Camino Madrid. Can someone please confirm?

 

[SabsP]

Just had a quick read through these posts and I am not sure which is the correct church for the start of Camino Madrid. Can someone please confirm?

La iglesia de Santiago y San Juan Bautista.

Real Iglesia Parroquial de Santiago y San Juan Bautista

Real Iglesia Parroquial de Santiago y San Juan Bautista - Horario de misas, bautizos, comuniones y bodas. Cultura e historia de Madrid

www.santiagoysanjuan.org

Obtención de credencial para recorrer el Camino de Santiago - Ayuntamiento de Madrid

Obtención de credencial para recorrer el Camino de Santiago - Ayuntamiento de Madrid

www.madrid.es

 

[David Tallan]

La iglesia de Santiago y San Juan Bautista.

Real Iglesia Parroquial de Santiago y San Juan Bautista

Real Iglesia Parroquial de Santiago y San Juan Bautista - Horario de misas, bautizos, comuniones y bodas. Cultura e historia de Madrid

www.santiagoysanjuan.org

Obtención de credencial para recorrer el Camino de Santiago - Ayuntamiento de Madrid

Obtención de credencial para recorrer el Camino de Santiago - Ayuntamiento de Madrid

www.madrid.es

If you arrive during a service, like I did, and stay for the service instead of heading straight to the back, the priest calls up pilgrims and does a very nice pilgrims blessing. A great way to start your Camino! At least, he did on Monday when I visited and found a service underway. There was another pilgrim and I who went up and received the blessing. Two others missed it because they had already gone to the back to get credencials and stamps.

 

[JackT]

You will overtake me as I am much slower than expected this time around. I met Jack last night, nice guy.

Hey D, I’m staying at the Municipal albergue in Los Huertos, Albergue Virgin tonight then move onto another municipal albergue after Santa Maria. Buen camino

You will overtake me as I am much slower than expected this time around. I met Jack last night, nice guy.

hey