- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2018
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Hi
Do it..... it’s got everything. Camaraderie (if you choose it); open spaces to lose yourself if you prefer; history ; churches ; .......and...
I won’t go on... you’ll love it.
Even more going on if you are on it before and after Holy Week.
To reply to your post .. I’d need to write a book.
I can’t say I found it boring or gruelling. Of course you’ll encounter climbs and flat areas but overall (in spring - beautiful flowers . /poppies , lavender , bushes of rock roses ‘Jara’. A lot of off road through parktype land. Plenty of pig farms, horses , cows etc. Logistics: Sevilla is easy to get to from Madrid. It could be a logistical fete to get to the spanish ‘ Alburquerque.’ you mentioned was named after your Duke town in New Mexico of Albuquerque.. (note: recommend to others that NM - great place to visit- put it on the list if you’re visiting USA).
Water.. I can’t comment for walking in summer season but I had no problem over April/May 2019.
Always had plenty still in my bottles at end of day. Now this could also change if you are someone that walks extra extra long stages. Walking average days of 20-27 (occasionally I had a stage just over 30ks).. gives plenty of time to stop and re-fuel or picnic.
Have a look at the recent posts by @AJGuillaume
He has now got 2 posts (links) to a virtual camino of the Vdlp. So much research and info in this virtual camino to get you started.
Ps off topic. /did you eventually get to join the bike ride ? Was it the Silk Road ? from memory.
I hope you get to enjoy the Vdlp.
Buen camino
Annie
Not all the regions of the Kingdom of Castile were allowed to go to America. The Galicians from 1760.It doesn't surprise me to learn that the "original" Albuquerque is in Badajoz province in the Extremadura region. Many of the conquistadors came from that region.
I loved the feeling of falling into the hands of God on La Plata. The vibes of the route and the pilgrims that manage it have a unique balance all their own: stillness and exertion.I feel drawn to walking La Plata next time I'm able to do a Camino. I've heard from some people that they found it boring, grueling, ran into logistics re. finding water, places to stay, etc. But I've heard from others that it was their favorite Camino. I want to hear what you loved about it.
One reason this camino interests me, besides the Roman history along the way, is that it passes through the homelands of some of the Spanish conquistadores and families that settled in my part of North America; Albuquerque, New Mexico. In fact the town in Spain, "Alburquerque" is not far off the route and I would love to stop see where the namesake duke lived who was responsible for our town's name.
So tell me what made it special for you.
I met a young woman at our local Camino group that was going to do the VdlP for her first Camino. Unfortunately, I haven't seen her since she returned to find out how it went for her. She was a fluent Spanish speaker, so I'm sure that helped quite a bit.The VDLP is no one’s first Camino.
very interesting poster. To be looked at in full size. Tks Dave. J-L.By the way, this poster of all the main caminos (11 primary and 41 secondary) is available online and it's a work of art. (postersantiago.com) Buen Camino Jill. Dave.
View attachment 78112
I felt that I was walking through Spain.
You are correct that the identity of Spain is much more than the VDLP regions. I have gained a lot of understanding of that over recent years, but I still enjoyed walking through that somewhat stereotypical part. More of what I was trying to say was that I felt that I was walking through towns and regions of Spain, seeing remnants of history, while watching people go about their daily lives unaffected by me. On the Frances, for example, I always felt that I was on a pilgrim path and everything around me was affected by the pilgrims.I think that the concept of a Spain associated only to the identity signs of the VDLP regions now is being overcome.
The VDLP is no one’s first Camino.
Hi
Do it..... it’s got everything. Camaraderie (if you choose it); open spaces to lose yourself if you prefer; history ; churches ; .......and...
I won’t go on... you’ll love it.
Even more going on if you are on it before and after Holy Week.
To reply to your post .. I’d need to write a book.
I can’t say I found it boring or gruelling. Of course you’ll encounter climbs and flat areas but overall (in spring - beautiful flowers . /poppies , lavender , bushes of rock roses ‘Jara’. A lot of off road through parktype land. Plenty of pig farms, horses , cows etc. Logistics: Sevilla is easy to get to from Madrid. It could be a logistical fete to get to the spanish ‘ Alburquerque.’ you mentioned was named after your Duke town in New Mexico of Albuquerque.. (note: recommend to others that NM - great place to visit- put it on the list if you’re visiting USA).
Water.. I can’t comment for walking in summer season but I had no problem over April/May 2019.
Always had plenty still in my bottles at end of day. Now this could also change if you are someone that walks extra extra long stages. Walking average days of 20-27 (occasionally I had a stage just over 30ks).. gives plenty of time to stop and re-fuel or picnic.
Have a look at the recent posts by @AJGuillaume
He has now got 2 posts (links) to a virtual camino of the Vdlp. So much research and info in this virtual camino to get you started.
Ps off topic. /did you eventually get to join the bike ride ? Was it the Silk Road ? from memory.
I hope you get to enjoy the Vdlp.
Buen camino
Annie
I loved the semi isolation of towns. It’s a route with less numbers of pilgrims so amenities aren’t what you see on the busier caminos. For example there were a few instances where cafes in the town I was staying in didn’t open until mid morning which is far too late to get going.I feel drawn to walking La Plata next time I'm able to do a Camino. I've heard from some people that they found it boring, grueling, ran into logistics re. finding water, places to stay, etc. But I've heard from others that it was their favorite Camino. I want to hear what you loved about it.
One reason this camino interests me, besides the Roman history along the way, is that it passes through the homelands of some of the Spanish conquistadores and families that settled in my part of North America; Albuquerque, New Mexico. In fact the town in Spain, "Alburquerque" is not far off the route and I would love to stop see where the namesake duke lived who was responsible for our town's name.
So tell me what made it special for you.
Hola, JillGat from southern NM!I feel drawn to walking La Plata next time I'm able to do a Camino. I've heard from some people that they found it boring, grueling, ran into logistics re. finding water, places to stay, etc. But I've heard from others that it was their favorite Camino. I want to hear what you loved about it.
One reason this camino interests me, besides the Roman history along the way, is that it passes through the homelands of some of the Spanish conquistadores and families that settled in my part of North America; Albuquerque, New Mexico. In fact the town in Spain, "Alburquerque" is not far off the route and I would love to stop see where the namesake duke lived who was responsible for our town's name.
So tell me what made it special for you.
I agree totally, Mick. Whispering Ted, also from Oz and a veteran of 11 CaminosI have walked 8 or more caminos and the Vdlp is my favourite and the first one I would do again.
If you have not visited Andelucia before allow a few days either before or after the walk.
To enjoy it you must start in early spring as it can be unbearably hot ... the walking and the accommodation!
Why is it my favourite?
... it's 1100km, I love long walks
... less road walking than other caminos
... the Roman history and ruins
... the Moorish influence is southern Spain
... not nearly as crowded, the Spanish are not fed up with too many tourist pilgrims
... some great new hostels and plenty of private accommodation if that's your preference
... better food than the mass feeding on the Frances
... some great scenery e.g snow covered nearly mountains
... I could go on...
DO IT!!
Mick from Oz
The VdlP was my first because I wanted to follow the Roman road and it did not disappoint. The people, the history, the food, the scenery, the joy. The hard moments taught me a lot about myself and the 5 years since have been very different to what I think they would have been. And the beauty of the VdlP in summer...all golden. @Mel Camino your second camino will be different. I did the Levante and Invierno next with my partner in late winter/early Spring which is as different as you can get from doing it solo in June/July. Being on the Camino is special no matter which route you are on.
@murraydv I love that poster. Unfortunately they don't send to Australia
The VdlP was my first because I wanted to follow the Roman road and it did not disappoint. The people, the history, the food, the scenery, the joy. The hard moments taught me a lot about myself and the 5 years since have been very different to what I think they would have been. And the beauty of the VdlP in summer...all golden. @Mel Camino your second camino will be different. I did the Levante and Invierno next with my partner in late winter/early Spring which is as different as you can get from doing it solo in June/July. Being on the Camino is special no matter which route you are on.
@murraydv I love that poster. Unfortunately they don't send to Australia
A lovely summation of your journey John.I've only walked the first half of the VDLP but have walked the CP and CF. The VDLP is unique, lonely, beautiful, contemplative, and scary at times. But it was the best. I was lucky enough to walk during the late Spring so all the wildflowers were in bloom. The food runs from pretty good to terrible but that's life, isn't it. What I also enjoyed was the people I met. Walking the VDLP is not for those that want to party. The days can be long and you can get dog tired. But you meet similar minded people just enjoying being alive. It's not painful, not grueling. There are enough taxis and buses and trains available if you need them to either take a break or let yourself repair. You don't get bragging rights when you walk the VDLP, you just get confidence and serenity.
Having walked the Frances three times I then went to the Vdlp. I was planning to go there for the third time this fall starting from Grenada. But it would seem that is not to happen until next year which perhaps is the way it was always meant to be as it would be my 75th birthday gift to myself.
I would recommend doing the Frances first. The longer occasional days and solitude are not physically difficult but if you haven’t walked long distances before I think they could be a mental challenge. Having said that I love it, the landscape and the people all equal a marvellous journey of peace.
Travel lightly and please be well
For me it would be the cowsA lovely summation of your journey John.
May I ask what you meant by 'scary at times'?
I feel for you @Albertagirl ...just awful having to always look over your shoulder, not linger, be on constant alert, etc. How did you shake him off in the end? Skip ahead by bus, take on a longer stage or just 'natural attrition'?...some difficult interactions with other pilgrims, one of whom followed me from Salamanca for hundreds of kilometres, trying to extract more cash from me, after I helped him out, and two pilgrims who declared their favour for this beggar over me, although I don't think they ever gave him a cent. The whole experience was protracted and unpleasant.
As for how I shook him off, I stayed for two nights at Casa Camino In Riego del Camino, with the three young women who were managing it at that time. One of them had noticed, when we went out the first morning, that he was lurking outside their gate waiting for me to go out. I just continued on with her, ignoring him. But I had told them about him and they refused his request to stay there the next night, saying they were closed. I was actually their last guest. So they advised me not to go to Granja de Moreruela but to continue on the same side of the main highway and join up with the Sanabres later. This seemed likely to work, as he had told me he was going to Benaventa on the Astorga route to pick up some money sent by his family. But of course he lied. In the next village, I saw him coming out of a home and he followed me. I went into a bar, and when he called out my name and tried to follow me, I slammed the door in his face. I saw him again trying to stay with the monks at Oseira, who had heard my story and rejected him. But we did not speak, The last time was in Santiago, where I saw him sitting in the chapel of the Pilgrim Office. I am now inclined, for safety reasons, to refuse financial aid to self-proclaimed pilgrims who appear to be hobos. But I have since spent time and made a couple of donations, to a homeless woman walking south along the camino for the winter, who was very reluctant to accept anything from me. So I guess it's been ladies "yes" and gents "no" from this incident on.I feel for you @Albertagirl ...just awful having to always look over your shoulder, not linger, be on constant alert, etc. How did you shake him off in the end? Skip ahead by bus, take on a longer stage or just 'natural attrition'?
I admire you haven't allowed that dreadful situation to cloud your overall experience; you realised it was separate to the trail itself...good for you!
Unfortunately it's clocking up another notch for 'no good deed goes unpunished'...& you'll probably be, understandably, less likely to extend a helping hand in the future.
I wish all good things for you on future trails.
There are many precautions we must take as solo female walkers...but we don't let it stop us nor we will be afraid. Your story shows how many people came to your aid in one way or another...& thankfully that is the norm rather than the exception.As for how I shook him off, I stayed for two nights at Casa Camino In Riego del Camino, with the three young women who were managing it at that time. One of them had noticed, when we went out the first morning, that he was lurking outside their gate waiting for me to go out. I just continued on with her, ignoring him. But I had told them about him and they refused his request to stay there the next night, saying they were closed. I was actually their last guest. So they advised me not to go to Granja de Moreruela but to continue on the same side of the main highway and join up with the Sanabres later. This seemed likely to work, as he had told me he was going to Benaventa on the Astorga route to pick up some money sent by his family. But of course he lied. In the next village, I saw him coming out of a home and he followed me. I went into a bar, and when he called out my name and tried to follow me, I slammed the door in his face. I saw him again trying to stay with the monks at Oseira, who had heard my story and rejected him. But we did not speak, The last time was in Santiago, where I saw him sitting in the chapel of the Pilgrim Office. I am now inclined, for safety reasons, to refuse financial aid to self-proclaimed pilgrims who appear to be hobos. But I have since spent time and made a couple of donations, to a homeless woman walking south along the camino for the winter, who was very reluctant to accept anything from me. So I guess it's been ladies "yes" and gents "no" from this incident on.
In 2017, VDLP was my first Camino.The VDLP is no one’s first Camino.
I have not walked from Seville, but here are a few data pointsHow does the Mozarabe from Cordoba to Merida compare to La Plata from Sevilla to Merida?
Hi @JillGatFrom Raggy's description, the Mozárabe from Córdoba sounds very interesting.
Hi @JillGat
I’m sure most if not all, of the routes are very interesting and beautiful in their own way ., but have you yet walked the plata ? Would you be prepared to miss Sevilla to Mérida? So special I think.
IMHO I would cover the section Córdoba to Mérida when walking the Mozárabe from possibly further afield?
Good luck choosing - all part of the excitement/pleasure.
Buen camino
Annie
And by the way, a great albergue on this route could still use some help.
Ayuda al Albergue de Fuenterroble de Salvatierra, organized by Shabel BA
“ He ordenado a mis ángeles que te guarden en el camino” con esa frase trad… Shabel BA needs your support for Ayuda al Albergue de Fuenterroble de Salvatierrawww.gofundme.com
Aidan,Hi Jill,
You will simply have to do it and then make your own mind up. No two people will feel exactly the same about it. For darn sure it is different from the Frances which I found to be more receptive to the needs of the pilgrims. Frequently when walking the VdlP I would get to the place I intended to stay and of course it was siesta time and everything was shut, so be sure and have some food with you. However there are some wonderful sights. I have attached my all time favourite photo from my Caminos. I nearly missed it as it was behind me as I was walking out of Merida just before sunrise. Just Magic!!!
Aidan
Yes, and the end of the cobblestones!I still remember the relief crossing the river to Tui after having walked from Porto on the Camino Portugues - suddenly all the Camino habits picked up over the years worked, after the puzzling differences of language and practices in Portugal.
I agree with most: the VdLP is a wonderful experience
And by the way, a great albergue on this route could still use some help.
Ayuda al Albergue de Fuenterroble de Salvatierra, organized by Shabel BA
“ He ordenado a mis ángeles que te guarden en el camino” con esa frase trad… Shabel BA needs your support for Ayuda al Albergue de Fuenterroble de Salvatierrawww.gofundme.com
For me it would be the cowsHundreds (actually probably thousands) of them!
It is about 4895 of 5700. Though it does say they have already been able to fix their hot waterDo you know whether this gofundme has yet reached its target ?
@jungleboyVery interesting to read about everyone’s experiences in this thread (but sorry to hear about yours, @Albertagirl).
My question is: if you walked the Mozárabe to Mérida and then continued on the VdlP, would you miss out on a lot of good stuff on the VdlP by not doing the stages from Seville-Mérida? (Missing Seville itself would not be a factor as I have already been there several times.)
I think you should start in Sevilla. 20 kms ahead is Italica, well worth seeing.Very interesting to read about everyone’s experiences in this thread (but sorry to hear about yours, @Albertagirl).
My question is: if you walked the Mozárabe to Mérida and then continued on the VdlP, would you miss out on a lot of good stuff on the VdlP by not doing the stages from Seville-Mérida? (Missing Seville itself would not be a factor as I have already been there several times.)
I think you should start in Sevilla. 20 kms ahead is Italica, well worth seeing.
As for Merida, it is a Roman treasure throve. In ancient times, it was a pensioner town for Roman soldiers. It is incredible.
Of course, you will miss what you will miss, no matter which part you choose. If you have time to walk from Almeria or Malaga, I'd say that joining the VDLP at Merida would still get the best of the route.My question is: if you walked the Mozárabe to Mérida and then continued on the VdlP, would you miss out on a lot of good stuff on the VdlP by not doing the stages from Seville-Mérida?
I am not much into crowds and tend to hit the grocery to buy food each day (used to to cook my dinner in the albergue kitchen but as I now understand, kitchens are closed!), so wonder if you mean that groceries are not available and if I were to walk VdlP I would need to plan to eat out.I loved it, it is very different from the Camino Frances and is not for the person who wants to have a choice of cafes every five km and to walk only fifteen km stages. There are some long stages, there are less people, and less infrastrucure but in many ways it gets you closer to real Spain.
A difficult question because you’ve been to a few places on this section already @jungleboy ;My question is: if you walked the Mozárabe to Mérida and then continued on the VdlP, would you miss out on a lot of good stuff on the VdlP by not doing the stages from Seville-Mérida? (Missing Seville itself would not be a factor as I have already been there several times.)
My question is: if you walked the Mozárabe to Mérida and then continued on the VdlP, would you miss out on a lot of good stuff on the VdlP by not doing the stages from Seville-Mérida?
Oh heck, the last thing I need right now is another Camino on my wish list ........
A difficult question because you’ve been to a few places on this section already @jungleboy ;
But ........... I loved this section ; possibly being Semana Santa 2019 added to the wonder. Many of the smaller villages had their parade at night.
I love to connect with the whole route - and to leave this section out would feel (to me) like walking the Norte and leaving out the first half.
It will depend on the time you have available and your personal research. You live closer now and I’m sure your decision will be the right one for you.
Buen camino
Annie
Sorry, you cannot plan another camino while you are walking one, it’s just not fair to those of us who are homebound.
But I would say that as between the Mozárabe from Almería to Mérida and the Vdlp from Sevilla to Mérida, the Mozárabe has the advantage of being a lot longer, having some pretty mountain walking (with glorious almond groves in spring), Córdoba and Granada (but you may have been there too). Guadix is a nice town, and the many castles of Moclín, Alcaudete, Alcalá el Real, Medellín, and probably a few I’ve forgotten are really nice. If it’s either/or, I’d go for Mozárabe. And you still get the best of the dehesa after Mérida. But I do love the whole Vdlp, you can’t go wrong either way.
My question is: if you walked the Mozárabe to Mérida and then continued on the VdlP, would you miss out on a lot of good stuff on the VdlP by not doing the stages from Seville-Mérida? (Missing Seville itself would not be a factor as I have already been there several times.)
@jungleboyI agree in general on doing whole routes, I just don’t know if that’s important enough to warrant taking transport from Mérida to Seville and adding nine-ish more stages to what would already be a pretty epic camino!
The way we are thinking about it at the moment, it wouldn’t be either/or, it would definitely be the Mozárabe and then it’s whether to take transport down to Seville and restart there or not.
What time of year did you walk?My best memory of Via de la Plata was ( honestly ) the day it was over,
the worst albergues of any camino,crowded and dirty, disgusting showers,
the heat, it was never under 40C, even at night ,
I was very happy when it was over.... yikes
It was my first Camino but I was the only one. I chose this Camino because the Frances seemed to crowded to me. I liked the VdlP because of the landscapes, and the beautiful cities like Sevilla, Merida, Salamanca, Zamora and OurenseI’m not sure if it was my favorite Camino, but it was by far the most interesting—for all of the reasons above. i walked from Seville to Astorga last spring. The scenery, wildflowers, Roman ruins, cities, livestock (baby livestock), The VDLP is no one’s first Camino. While there are fewer pilgrims, there are, nevertheless, lots of stories per pilgrim.
I guess it just depends on whether you want to think of it as walking two caminos or one. If the former, go back to Sevilla..
The VdlP was my first camino, and my second, and where my (possibly unhealthy) addiction to spending 6-10 weeks every autumn walking across Spain was born. It had been a few years since I'd last walked any of the southern sections, but when I arrived in Zafra on the Plata after walking the Camino del Sur last October it felt like coming home. Other caminos I've walked have been more spectacular, or historic, or dramatic, but the Plata really has everything, from Celtiberian, Roman, Visigothic and mediaeval roads, bridges, churches and temples, through glorious landscapes, tasty wines, cheeses, breads, pimientos and jamóns. It's a lot busier than when I first walked it, but the aromatic winding dehesa between Mérida and Cáceres is still for me the essence of the camino.The VDLP is no one’s first Camino.
Mine too, with similar results.The VdlP was my first camino…..
Hi! No, I had a couple of life interruptions and then Covid hit, so La Plata is still on my wish list. Re. Alburquerque, my plan had been to take a taxi or public transport there from Caceres. Alburquerque is a very small pueblo and on Google Maps, I think it would be fun to see. Another thought was to fly into Badajoz, which looks like a very interesting place, and visit Alburquerque before starting my walk. While walking the Camino Frances a few years ago, I met a Spanish man at a rest stop whose last name was Alburquerque! And while walking the Portugues, I saw a street named Albuquerque, misspelled just how we do it! Do you still live in ABQ?Jill, I stumbled across this thread now 2 1/2 years later. Did you go on the VdlP, and if so did you get to Alburquerque? The reason I ask is that my wife and I are also from Albuquerque, NM and I happened to be researching the namesake city in Spain and learned that it isn't too far from the VdlP, which we plan to walk this fall.
If you went, how far away from the VdlP is Alburquerque? Did you walk or take some sort of public transport? Was it worth a visit? Thanks for any input!
Separately, for anyone else on this thread, we are tentatively planning to walk the Via Serrana (at Jungle Boy's suggestion - thank you!) to Sevilla, and then on up the VdlP, leaving from La Linea during the second week of September. My question for anyone who has walked the VdlP in the fall - it is going to be unbearably hot for the first few weeks? Are we fools? We had planned to walk it in the Spring but the timing for our personal plans just didn't coincide with a Spring piligrimage.
Same here Jenny. There is something about the VDLP that makes it my favourite .I have walked it three times now and everything you said in describing it is so true also just the right amount of likeminded pilgrims to meet up with here and there. I think I was a couple of days ahead of you but heard about you.Hi Jill - have just seen that the Plata remains on your wish list.
How I loved it. There’s a quiet joy every day walking through the stunning landscapes and hardly ever seeing another person. I found that it’s as though time was in complete rhythm with my footsteps - that everything else in the world was outside of what I was experiencing in that moment - sometimes the feeling was so strong it made me cry with utter happiness. It was something I never felt on the CF or the VF.
I too walked in Spring - last year in fact. The wildflowers that posters above wrote about were in abundance and everything, everything was beautiful. Here’s an example -
View attachment 141510
Buen Camino for your next camino, whichever one this may be -
Cheers from Oz -
Jenny
I heard about you too, Heather! It’s such a shame our paths didn’t cross. We would have had much fantastic conversation on those magical paths had we walked together.Same here Jenny. There is something about the VDLP that makes it my favourite .I have walked it three times now and everything you said in describing it is so true also just the right amount of likeminded pilgrims to meet up with here and there. I think I was a couple of days ahead of you but heard about you.
Heather
Thanks for the update. We do still live in in ABQ. We may have seen the same street in Portugal - I think in Porto on the way towards Casa de Serralves.Hi! No, I had a couple of life interruptions and then Covid hit, so La Plata is still on my wish list. Re. Alburquerque, my plan had been to take a taxi or public transport there from Caceres. Alburquerque is a very small pueblo and on Google Maps, I think it would be fun to see. Another thought was to fly into Badajoz, which looks like a very interesting place, and visit Alburquerque before starting my walk. While walking the Camino Frances a few years ago, I met a Spanish man at a rest stop whose last name was Alburquerque! And while walking the Portugues, I saw a street named Albuquerque, misspelled just how we do it! Do you still live in ABQ?
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