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Vinsman

My Adventures Walking the Camino de Santiago

Travel

Feb 18 2018

February 18 2018 Day 3

Last night was my first night back in an Albergue. I had such a great time talking to the Hospitaleros and just relaxing. What I did not remember was that there is typically no heat at night in the dormitories. Not that that was a shock as I was well aware but I can tell you Spain at this time of the year gets cold. Fortunately, there were blankets and I had my sleeping bag. Note to self, Spain in late fall, early spring and winter is COLD.

Today, has been a beautiful day. Cool and crisp with blue sky everywhere. It was about 45 degrees this morning warming to about 60 this afternoon. This is Sacramento weather and I walk in it every morning. I generate enough heat to be just fine.

The path today took me through vineyards and olive groves. Everything is still dormant, although you can see life starting to come back. I am not sure if it is normal but it seems rather dry. Most of the fields are freshly plowed and all of the pruning has been done. The farmers are ready for the season to begin.

There are a few different types of markers along the way today. First, of course there is the traditional yellow arrow, but there are also granite pillars with markings on them pointing out the way. The trail is well marked but sometimes it is a challenge getting though the towns as the take you every which way so you get to see it all. Of course there is always to obligatory walk past the main church. The wise pilgrim app has been very helpful in showing me the way to the Camino. It has a map feature that pinpoints your location and a big red line representing the Camino. Kudos to Wise Pilgrim.

So, there are 3 albergues in Villafranca de los Barrios, which is were I am staying today. After reading a blog I choose to stay at Casa Carmen. So, I walked past the first albergue Los Caballeros and on to Casa Carmen. As you can guess Casa Carmen is closed. No sign or note just not open. Fortunately, a lady coming to visit her mother asked me if the albergue was open or if I had the phone number, which I did. I had called but there was no answer. She was so kind and asked the neighbor what was up. Then neighbor told her it was closed so she gave me a ride back to Los Caballeros. A camino angel for sure.

The reason why I choose not to stay her originally was that the blogger described the beds as 3 high. Sounded a little funky to me so I moved on. Well they are in fact 3 high but, the third level has it’s own floor. It’s a metal grate floor but a floor none the less. It is actually a nice albergue with great hot showers and the beds that are kind of pods.

I have seen a few of this type of bed on the Frances and the Norte. The good news is that there is a shelf with an outlet in the bed above the pillow, which is very convenient.

Lunch today was a bit extravagant Croquetas de Jamón and Lamb chops (chuletas de cordero).

I am a little bummed that I arrived too late to attend Mass. Add that to my list of many sins. Hopefully I will be able to go tomorrow.

The rest of my day is simply relaxing and taking in the sites of this town.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Calle de las Caballeras,Villafranca de Los Barros,Spain

Written by TheVinsman · Categorized: Travel

Feb 17 2018

February 17 2018 Day 2 Zafra

Well, my day started out uneventful. I caught my train at 10 am and arrived in Zafra at about 4:30. Needless to say it was a long train ride.

Once I arrived I headed directly to the same albergue that I stayed in before I came home. Albergue de Perigrinos Vincent Van Gogh. When I checked in I was greeted by an awesome Hospitalera Ana Mari. As she was checking my credential I told her that I had stayed in April of 2015 and sure enough she found my original registration. We chatted about grandkids and the fact that her daughter and son in law and most importantly her grandkids lived in New Mexico. They have been there for 1.5 years and will not be home for 3.5 more.

Since I had the pick of the beds I have a nice bed with an outlet close to everything with now worries of noise in the middle of the night.

Out I went to see the town. Zafra is quite beautiful. I made sure that I had a sense of where the camino is for tomorrow. Had a chance to go into the church. Bought some groceries and even stopped at the convent and bought some sweets. Man those nuns can bake.

When I got back to the albergue the other Hospitalero Antonio was there. We got to talking and I found out that APOC had given this albergue a 6k grant to add more bathrooms and upgrade the water heater. It looks amazing. In 2015 my only complaint about the albergue was it only had a single bathroom for all of the pilgrims. That is now fixed and it is beautiful.

I have posted tons of pictures on my vinsman facebook page.

All in all a great day. Tomorrow the walking begins. I am saying a little prayer that there will be at least a few other pilgrims along the way. I am a people person.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Calle de Andrés Pro,Zafra,Spain

Written by TheVinsman · Categorized: Travel

Feb 16 2018

February 17 2018 Day 1

In the last 24 HRs. I have traveled from home to Madrid, Spain. My flights were uneventful fortunately. I traveled from Sacramento, to Atlanta, to Paris, and finally to Madrid. I was able to get a late flight from Sacramento so my flight from Atlanta to Paris did not leave Atlanta until 11pm Atlanta time or about 8pm my body time. My wife would tell you that it was a very civilized time. What I liked about it is that I was able to sleep almost the entire flight to Paris. So I arrived in Madrid somewhat rested and woke up this morning at my regular time ready to go.

I have problems uploading photos to my blog from my phone for some reason these days so I have decided to post photos on my Vinsman Facebook page.

Today I travel by train to Zafra, which is the place I stopped in 2015. Tomorrow I start walking.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Calle de Murcia,Madrid,Spain

Written by TheVinsman · Categorized: Travel

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