- Time of past OR future Camino
- Too many and too often!
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Bradypus how was the albergue in Asturianos? I'm walking in April and am thinking of stopping thereI am walking the northern end of the VDLP at the moment. In the past few days I have discovered a couple of places where the Gronze website's statement that an albergue is open all year proved untrue. The first was in Montamarta where a notice on the albergue door said closed until spring. Today the municipal albergue in Mombuey was closed - no contact information on the door, no answer at the house named by Gronze as the keyholder. A private albergue close by was also closed but its owner at least tried but failed to contact the municipal hospitalero for me. So I carried on walking to Asturianos - an extra and unwelcome 17km arriving shortly after sunset. For those who are considering a winter walk on the VDLP it may be worthwhile to confirm in advance that your next night's stop is actually available. Online information is clearly not always accurate.
Hi Pierre great post. Do you have a list of the albergues were you are staying? Im walking in AprilBest albergue so far: municipal at Guillena (spacious, kitchen, friendly hospitaleros at bar next door), municipal at Alamadén de la Plata (Nieve is the kindest of hospitaleros, good bathrooms and kitchen), private at El Real de la Jara (but only one bathroom), parish hostel at Monasterio (beautiful place, the priest in charge is always there cleaning!), El Zaguan in Fuente do Cantos (lovely Antonio's - father and son, beautiful place), Albergue Extrenatura in Villafranca de Los Barros: lovely place, Jose Maria is wonderful. Albergues to avoid (IMO): Alcuéscar Slaves of Mary (grim, rules, unfriendly, cold, no kitchen, if you arrive after 6pm: no dinner; food hard to find in town, difficult to find access to albergue - I waited an hour in darkness ringing bells and looking for someone to help, and then was told off by hospitallero for arriving late). Zafra: lovely Amigos albergue but a really unpleasant hospitalerra - hopefully she is not there for long).
It was open and gave me a friendly welcome. Very simple place - beds, toilet and showers with no other facilities. Being right next to the bar helped. What more do I need?Bradypus how was the albergue in Asturianos? I'm walking in April and am thinking of stopping there
My type of albergueIt was open and gave me a friendly welcome. Very simple place - beds, toilet and showers with no other facilities. Being right next to the bar helped. What more do I need?
It really is a lovely albergue - thanks to him, but you are right! I think he needs a busier parish!Bradypus how was the albergue in Asturianos? I'm walking in April and am thinking of stopping there
Best albergue so far: municipal at Guillena (spacious, kitchen, friendly hospitaleros at bar next door), municipal at Alamadén de la Plata (Nieve is the kindest of hospitaleros, good bathrooms and kitchen), private at El Real de la Jara (but only one bathroom), parish hostel at Monasterio (beautiful place, the priest in charge is always there cleaning!), El Zaguan in Fuente do Cantos (lovely Antonio's - father and son, beautiful place), Albergue Extrenatura in Villafranca de Los Barros: lovely place, Jose Maria is wonderful. Albergues to avoid (IMO): Alcuéscar Slaves of Mary (grim, rules, unfriendly, cold, no kitchen, if you arrive after 6pm: no dinner; food hard to find in town, difficult to find access to albergue - I waited an hour in darkness ringing bells and looking for someone to help, and then was told off by hospitallero for arriving late). Zafra: lovely Amigos albergue but a really unpleasant hospitalerra - hopefully she is not there for long).
I think they may change regularly as I guess they are volunteers, because a friend was there 2 months ago, at that stage it was a man who met new arrivals in his underwear!Hi, I totally agree about the alcuescar albergue. I’ve stayed there twice now and on both occasions the fundamentals of Christianity were completely absent. Regarding the lady at zafra, she was more than polite and helpful towards me. I was there about 27/12. I’m assuming, it’s the same lady. Cheers,wild.
I'll let you know,Hi Pierre great post. Do you have a list of the albergues were you are staying? Im walking in April
The Van Gogh albergue is owned by the local association, not a private individual, although Antonio is the man in charge. Other members of the association pop in to give a hand now and then, including a Norwegian who has been living in Spain for years and years. Antonio does have a bedroom at the back of the albergue. When I was there he was getting help from a lady who was doing this for the first time. She was a little nervous, but lovely. She had come from whereever her home is, miles away, leaving husband back at home, to volunteer for a couple of weeks.I think the man is the owner and the lady I met, is his girlfriend. They were living in the albergue, when I was there. He’s an exceptionaly nice man. He’s the same guy who was there, on my first visit two years ago. His girlfriend, at times works abroad. Cheers,wild
How much water did you find 8 km after Santiponte when crossing the stream, on the left route, - or did you use the alternative route to Guillena ?I walked from Sevilla to Santiago at this time two years agoand also meet closed dors, but with a little help from the locals I always found a place to sleep. Sometimes I took a taxi to get there. I walk no more than 30 km a day, mostly 20 - 25 km. I do not speak spanish, just some few words.
Buen Camino!
I walked it 2 weeks ago. I did not use the alternative route. I was able to walk around the water. No wet feet.How much water did you find 8 km after Santiponte when crossing the stream, on the left route, - or did you use the alternative route to Guillena ?
Thanks,I walked it 2 weeks ago. I did not use the alternative route. I was able to walk around the water. No wet feet.
I had an outstandingly good meal in the dining room at the back of Los Emigrantes, in April 2017. It was good enough that I remember it clearly. The proprietors were friendly and helpful. I stayed in the municipal albergue.The meal at Emigrantes was also no better than any other menu
It was a biggish puddle, can't remember which way!Thanks,
Did you go west or east to cross??
Sad then that it's changed so much.I had an outstandingly good meal in the dining room at the back of Los Emigrantes, in April 2017. It was good enough that I remember it clearly. The proprietors were friendly and helpful. I stayed in the municipal albergue.
Or, that you arrived on bad day.Sad then that it's changed so much.
Or, that you arrived on bad day.
Stivander: The stream after Santiponte goes up and down very quickly depending on the amount of rain in the last few days. I walked this stretch on March 1, 2017. It was almost totally dry. Just two weeks before it had been 6 feet deep, and just two weeks later it was flooded again. I was very lucky. My advice is to watch the rainfall amounts for the several days before you leave Seville, this will be your best way to know whether to take the highway detour or not. Buen Camino!How much water did you find 8 km after Santiponte when crossing the stream, on the left route, - or did you use the alternative route to Guillena ?
The water level at the time you passed , I mean !?
The guy who has the key for the municipal albergue in Mombuey is deaf.Today the municipal albergue in Mombuey was closed - no contact information on the door, no answer at the house named by Gronze as the keyholder. A private albergue close by was also closed but its owner at least tried but failed to contact the municipal hospitalero for me.
Warning in Galisteo, for those using Kelly's guide. He describes Bar Los Emigrantes in Galisteo as "a welcoming place and does good food (€8) which pilgrims rave about"
Completely agree, Bar Los Imigrantes has gone downhill to a shocking degree.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?