Arriving in Villafranca del Bierzo today

[David Tallan]

Starting my Camino tomorrow but happy to say hi to anyone who will be in Villafranca later today.

 

[mspath]

Good luck on your next camino.
Looking forward to reading/seeing your updates as you progress.

Stay safe, Carpe diem and, as always, Utreia!

 

[jungleboy]

Buen camino! What is your route/plan?

 

[wisepilgrim]

Also for anyone arriving to Villafranca, albergue LEO just reopened for the season!

 

[David Tallan]

Buen camino! What is your route/plan?

Walk to Casa Susi in Trabadelo tomorrow (taking the higher route via Pradela). An early start from Trabadelo to make it to Las Herrerías by 9:00 to ride horses up to O Cebreiro, then walk on to Hospital de Condesa. Then keep walking to Santiago (via Samos), arriving on the 17th. Maybe walk on to Finisterre. After that, see more of Spain before flying home on June 10. That's the extent of my plans.

 

[wisepilgrim]

Walk to Casa Susi in Trabadelo tomorrow (taking the higher route via Pradela). An early start from Trabadelo to make it to Las Herrerías by 9:00 to ride horses up to O Cebreiro, then walk on to Hospital de Condesa. Then keep walking to Santiago (via Samos), arriving on the 17th. Maybe walk on to Finisterre. After that, see more of Spain before flying home on June 10. That's the extent of my plans.

I just had a conversation with the owner of the Albergue up in Pradela. We got to talking about the arrows that have gone missing at the start of that route, they keep letting painted over. On top of that there is a local retired woman that lingers about warning of the dangers of wolves on the trail, or of hiking it alone as a solo female. It’s a wacky world.

Enjoy the views!

 

[David Tallan]

I just had a conversation with the owner of the Albergue up in Pradela. We got to talking about the arrows that have gone missing at the start of that route, they keep letting painted over. On top of that there is a local retired woman that lingers about warning of the dangers of wolves on the trail, or of hiking it alone as a solo female. It’s a wacky world.

Enjoy the views!

I will be using your app for the tracks. I noticed that some other apps don't seem to include it as an option.

 

[jalluisi]

Walk to Casa Susi in Trabadelo tomorrow (taking the higher route via Pradela). An early start from Trabadelo to make it to Las Herrerías by 9:00 to ride horses up to O Cebreiro, then walk on to Hospital de Condesa. Then keep walking to Santiago (via Samos), arriving on the 17th. Maybe walk on to Finisterre. After that, see more of Spain before flying home on June 10. That's the extent of my plans.

Sounds wonderful!!

 

[joramos]

Starting my Camino tomorrow but happy to say hi to anyone who will be in Villafranca later today.

Make sure to take a picture of the white house up on the hill on the left side, if you have not in the past. Buen Camino.

 

[David Tallan]

Make sure to take a picture of the white house up on the hill on the left side, if you have not in the past. Buen Camino.

Why? Is there something special about the house? Up which hill? On the left side facing which direction?

I'm confused but intrigued.

 

[Darleen Taylor]

When you get to Pieros, there is an alternate route that turns off to the right (near the top of the hill..very easy to miss) that takes you through the most beautiful countryside! There is a white house on the hillside on the left hand side (in the middle of a vineyard) that is just picture postcard pretty. I must have 50 pictures of it over my 3 camino on this route. I think this is the house referred to. If you don't take this turnoff, you are on pavement the whole way into Villafranca. Enjoy

 

[joramos]

Why? Is there something special about the house? Up which hill? On the left side facing which direction?

I'm confused but intrigued.

The white house sits atop a hill, framed by two mature trees, about half a kilometer away on the left side of the camino, past most of the vineyards, sort of downhill before start getting closer to the village/s and town. I heard that the house is the most photographed house along the camino. I had to backtrack a little to have a decent framing/composition of my photograph.

 

[David Tallan]

When you get to Pieros, there is an alternate route that turns off to the right (near the top of the hill..very easy to miss) that takes you through the most beautiful countryside! There is a white house on the hillside on the left hand side (in the middle of a vineyard) that is just picture postcard pretty. I must have 50 pictures of it over my 3 camino on this route. I think this is the house referred to. If you don't take this turnoff, you are on pavement the whole way into Villafranca. Enjoy

Ah, that will have to wait for my next Camino Frances. This one is starting in Villafranca.

 

[David Tallan]

Great to get together and chat with @MARSKA this evening. Tomorrow, on to Trabadelo and Casa Susi.

 

[Dem]

Make sure to take a picture of the white house up on the hill on the left side, if you have not in the past. Buen Camino.

This house?

 

[joramos]

Yes! Past pilgrims and camino guides regard it as the most photographed house along the camino.

 

[Darleen Taylor]

That is the one!!

 

[MARSKA]

Buen Camino Mr. David! Hope we run into each other again!

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

This house? View attachment 169784

Reminds me a lot of this one back home:

Google Image Result for https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/White_House_Te_Mata.jpg

Well ok the location/idea rather than the specific house....

 

[Bob Howard]

Why? Is there something special about the house? Up which hill? On the left side facing which direction?

I'm confused but intrigued.

I think he might be referring to the house on the hill amid the vineyards a couple kms before Villafranca del Bierzo.

 

[Bob Howard]

Oh, sorry. I thought Peterexpatkiwi was referring to this one, which to me is one the great Camino iconic scenes. I am also intrigued about where the sprawling big while house is.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

I am also intrigued about where the sprawling big while house is.

Havelock North, Hawkes Bay - New Zealand. (I did say back home !)
It's one of the most photographed houses in NZ, featuring on calendars, etc.

The setting of the house on the Camino, and the fact that it is so heavily photographed just instantly reminded me of the setting of this one. I grew up in the area, those hills were my home.... .

As an adult I've drunk a fair bit of the wine too!! Hawkes Bay is one of our top wine regions and I was fortunate at one stage to have a number of the top wineries as my clients!!