Pierre Julian
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances, Ingles, VdP, San Salvador, Aragonese & Northern. Sections of Portuguese & Mozarabic.
I have been putting together some memories of the VdlP which I walked earlier in the year. I've spent a fair bit of time on this, and thought I might as well share them for the benefit of others who may be planning to walk in January. I'll add the rest in instalments over the next few days.
- Getting a credencial in Seville was not easy especially as we arrived on a weekend, and Spanish opening/closing times are hard to negotiate. The Cathedral staff (security guard?) didn't seem to know about availability of credencials, but were happy to get me a cathedral stamp. Again, getting into the cathedral without paying is not easy, I think we went into the public chapel part of it early morning for the stamp.
- We ended up getting our credencial from Hotel Simon. It was a pretty shabby version though (and I've got many credencias) as one whole side had a map of the Camino de France, which was useless for the VdlP, and the side for stamping was not big enough for a Camino of this length (plus I like getting lots of stamps).
- The helpful people at the Merida Albergue further on, sell cheaply the official Credencial. I'm guessing most people would need at least 2 crecencials for such a long journey.
- We stayed in Seville at Casa Palacio Don Pedro C/Gerona 24, which was a very reasonable price, very friendly and central, highly recommended (a much more friendly place than staff at Casa Simon when we went there to buy the credencial).
- We stayed the first night at Santiponce, so as to not overdo the first day, and to see the Roman ruins and monastery, all of which were wonderful. I reckon not to be missed.
- The Hotel Anfiteatro Romano at Santiponce was excellent, reasonably priced, opposite the entrance to the ruins and had good meals. Lots of bars and restaurants in that town.
- Guillena: the Municipal Hostel was great, good kitchen, the bar next door gave us a great lunch and was very friendly. We got quite lost trying to find it though. I'm guessing most people use the private albergue - as you go past it on arrival into town, which is a shame - my friend and I were the only ones at the Municipal, while about 6 others were in the private.
- Castilblanco: the municipal albergue was closed in late January. Lots of walking around the town looking for somewhere to stay. The Casa Salvadora on the Avenida España was excellent, quite a few private rooms, very clean and comfortable, very friendly, cheap.