Where would you like to see a new Albergue (VdlP)?

[LTfit]

So as not to hijack Yallah's post regarding the Francés, I would like to ask the same question regarding the VdlP: for those of you who have walked this Camino, where would you like to see a new albergue (either due to distance between 2 stages or lack of adequate lodging)?

Arriving in Fuenterroble and Don Blas' albergue perroquial was for me a highlight after staying in many characterless, pick-up-a-key and find a bed/hospitalero-less municipals.

Leaving aside the obvious difficulty of running and maintaining an albergue along this route financially, where is one needed?

Off for a Sunday walk!
Cheers,
LT

 

[Luka]

Well, haven't walked yet, but trying to plan my camino. I find the hardest part between Galisteo and Aldeanueva. There doesn't seem te be much there at average walking distance (20-30 kms). I am now thinking about staying in Oliva de Plasencia, about 6 kms away from the route.

 

[alansykes]

I'd say we were pretty well served on the VdlP. That stretch from Carcaboso to Aldeanueva del Camino is a long one, but it's so beautiful going through those oak woods with the gentle sound of the tinkling of cow bells and the eagles overhead as one approaches the arch, that I could wish it went on even longer. And I'm told the place at Oliva de Plasencia is very nice if you don't want to do a 40km day.

Other places where the day was a bit longer than I liked were Alcuescar to Cáceres, but Valdesalor looked a bit of a dump and Cáceres is so magnificent even arriving tired at dusk that it would have been foolish not to make the little bit of extra effort to spend the night there.

Casar de Cáceres to Grimaldo was a bit of a long one too - there was a closed down hotel at the Puerto de los Castaños 3-5km short of Grimaldo which I would probably have stayed in had it been open - but the albergue in Grimaldo was nice (as were the people and the food in the bar next door), and the next day on to Carcaboso would have just been that much longer. One problem I had on that day was lack of water (ironically, as much of the day is spent within sight of one of the largest bodies of fresh water in Europe), as I detoured Cañaveral, so I ran out (the only time in 35 days), but you could probably top up at Alcantara albergue now (it was closed when I went past).

 

[KinkyOne]

Great! Very personal and usefull posts.

Thanks!

 

[Saint Mike II]

I actually staid in the albergue at Valdesalor - it has 14 beds (7 bunks x 2); a very well equipped kitchen - cooker, micro wave and washing machine. There is a reasonable sized eating room. One drawback was that there was only one bathroom - for both shower and toilet. We paid around E6. Unless you are there on a Sunday night there are a couple of choices for food and drinks. Trying to walk from Casar de Caceres to Grimaldo (43 km) in one day is a big task. The albergue at Alconetar is very good - showers, washing machine available and a great view of the reservior. But does have a limited choice for evening meals unless you bring your own.
Hopefully more pilgrims will contribute to this section - its a good forum topic. 8)

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, LTfit,

Posts on another thread made me think of this -- how about an albergue in Campobecerros?

 

[sulu]

I actually staid in the albergue at Valdesalor - it has 14 beds (7 bunks x 2); a very well equipped kitchen - cooker, micro wave and washing machine. There is a reasonable sized eating room. One drawback was that there was only one bathroom - for both shower and toilet. We paid around E6. Unless you are there on a Sunday night there are a couple of choices for food and drinks. Trying to walk from Casar de Caceres to Grimaldo (43 km) in one day is a big task. The albergue at Alconetar is very good - showers, washing machine available and a great view of the reservior. But does have a limited choice for evening meals unless you bring your own.

I'm glad they have managed to open the Albergue in Valdesalor, when I walked that stretch, last year, it was reported that there was an Albergue in Valdesalor but that they could not afford to open it. I slept in the changing rooms at the footbal pitch, on a pile of excercise mats! Any port in a storm
Alcantara was beautiful, though it worked out a bit expensive, though that could have been the bottle of wine
I found the stretches OK but I reckon that depends on which Albergues are open. I just hope they manage to keep open the ones in existence.
Sue

 

[LTfit]

Hi guys and thanks for the replies. I am working at the moment as a hospitalera in the Albergue Dominico Laffi in El Burgo Ranero on the Frances but will keep my eyes open when I set off from Zamora on the 15th.
Laurie: will email you before I leave re yours.

Cheers,
LT