Laura from Mansilla de las Mulas on the Olvidado

[peregrina2000]

Wow, how the Camino connects. I am sure that a lot of you remember Laura from the albergue municipal in Mansilla de las Mulas. She was one of those memorable hospitaleras who was always helpful and caring. I stayed there several times, and I remember once that she said to me (after I had been there four years earlier) — you’re Laura, right? I recognized you from your hat! (It was probably my white hair, but she was being polite Or maybe the fact that we have the same name).

Anyway, she is now on (more precisely, she is now close to) the Olvidado. She has a Casa Rural in Robledo de Omaña, La Casa Rural la Magia de las Nubes. See this thread for more info. She will come pick you up in Riello and take you back to the camino the next morning. I wouldn’t miss this if I am so lucky as to walk the Olvidado again.

I think that if Laura has moved away from the Francés, it’s a good sign for others to try the Olvidado!

 

[VNwalking]

I am sure that a lot of you remember Laura from the albergue municipal in Mansilla de las Mulas.

Here she is for anyone who needs a prompt.
Wonderful news for anyone wanting to walk the Olvidado - Laura's welcome was one of the best experiences on the Frances. I always wondered how she managed the work, year after year.

 

[mspath]

Like so many pilgrims I, too, wish Laura the best for her new endeavor and have very happy memories of meeting Laura and and staying in Mansilla during past years.

 

[Sara_Dhooma]

I stayed with her a few days ago. Laura is the best! She has some really funny stories from her years on the Camino. Plus the restaurant she works at in Riello has an incredible Menu!

 

[VNwalking]

@Sara_Dhooma, so I take it if you pull into Riello and have the menu del dia at the Restaurant, Laura can give you a ride afterwards? There are a couple of restaurants in Riello - do you remember which one it is?

 

[SusanH]

She gave us the “private room”!!!

 

[peregrina2000]

There are a couple of restaurants in Riello - do you remember which one it is?

You have much better map skills than I, but I only remember one bar/restaurante with a few steps up to get to its terraza in the front from the street. It’s the Villamor based on my memory and google maps.

 

[VNwalking]

There are two in Google Map, right next to each other but with different names. Same owner? Or? The second one is Villamor:

Bar Restaurante Villamor de Riello · Plaza Vicente Florez de Quinones, 15, 24127 Riello, León, Spain

★★★★☆ · Bar & grill

www.google.com

Bar-Restaurante El Rincón De Manolo · Plaza Flórez De Quiñones, 2, 24127 Riello, León, Spain

★★★★★ · Bar & grill

www.google.com

 

[MariaDunlop]

 

[MariaDunlop]

View attachment 131363

Laura! Helping some Pilgrims with their feet.

Wow, how the Camino connects. I am sure that a lot of you remember Laura from the albergue municipal in Mansilla de las Mulas. She was one of those memorable hospitaleras who was always helpful and caring. I stayed there several times, and I remember once that she said to me (after I had been there four years earlier) — you’re Laura, right? I recognized you from your hat! (It was probably my white hair, but she was being polite Or maybe the fact that we have the same name).

Anyway, she is now on (more precisely, she is now close to) the Olvidado. She has a Casa Rural in Robledo de Omaña, La Casa Rural la Magia de las Nubes. See this thread for more info. She will come pick you up in Riello and take you back to the camino the next morning. I wouldn’t miss this if I am so lucky as to walk the Olvidado again.

I think that if Laura has moved away from the Francés, it’s a good sign for others to try the Olvidado!

Why did she leave Mansilla de las Mulas? Is that municipal Albergue permanently closed? Enjoyed staying there 2018, 2019. Sad to see it closed 2021. Laura was so entertaining!!

 

[VNwalking]

Why did she leave Mansilla de las Mulas? Is that municipal Albergue permanently closed? [...] Sad to see it closed 2021. Laura was so entertaining!!

My questions too. Anyone know?

 

[trecile]

Laura! Helping some Pilgrims with their feet.

Why did she leave Mansilla de las Mulas? Is that municipal Albergue permanently closed? Enjoyed staying there 2018, 2019. Sad to see it closed 2021. Laura was so entertaining!!

Maybe she wanted a change of scenery?

 

[bay hills hiker]

Laura is amazing! The night I stayed in Mancilla de las Mulas in 2016 she started an international sing-along in the courtyard after dinner that was one of the most memorable, magical nights of my Camino. First she and her mother sang for everyone in Spanish. Then she encouraged everyone else to take turns singing for the group in their native tongue. Some of the songs were funny, some were achingly beautiful, all were fantastic. It went on like that until suddenly it was after 10 and we had to blow out the candles in the courtyard and head for our bunks. I’ve always been grateful to Laura for that experience and if she sees this I wish her well in her new endeavor!!

 

[Hilary Van Norstrand]

Wow, how the Camino connects. I am sure that a lot of you remember Laura from the albergue municipal in Mansilla de las Mulas. She was one of those memorable hospitaleras who was always helpful and caring. I stayed there several times, and I remember once that she said to me (after I had been there four years earlier) — you’re Laura, right? I recognized you from your hat! (It was probably my white hair, but she was being polite Or maybe the fact that we have the same name).

Anyway, she is now on (more precisely, she is now close to) the Olvidado. She has a Casa Rural in Robledo de Omaña, La Casa Rural la Magia de las Nubes. See this thread for more info. She will come pick you up in Riello and take you back to the camino the next morning. I wouldn’t miss this if I am so lucky as to walk the Olvidado again.

I think that if Laura has moved away from the Francés, it’s a good sign for others to try the Olvidado!

Wow, I am so sad I’m going to miss Laura on the CF in September and October. She and her Albergue was one of my favorite nights on the Camino. She fixed up my horrendous blisters and helped us to schedule massages. Please explain, which route is the Olvidado.? I don’t know this one.

 

[VNwalking]

Please explain, which route is the Olvidado.? I don’t know this one.

Camino Viejo | Camino de Santiago | Gronze.com

El Camino Olvidado a Santiago o Camino de la Montaña o Camino Viejo es una ancestral ruta jacobea que desde Pamplona y Bilbao avanza por el norte del Camino Francés hasta unirse a éste en Cacabelos. El camino está hoy en día en fase de recuperación y son pocos aún los peregrinos que lo han...

www.gronze.com

If you need more information there is a subforum here to search. And Google is your friend.

 

[Sitkapilgrim]

There are two in Google Map, right next to each other but with different names. Same owner? Or? The second one is Villamor:

Bar Restaurante Villamor de Riello · Plaza Vicente Florez de Quinones, 15, 24127 Riello, León, Spain

★★★★☆ · Bar & grill

www.google.com

Bar-Restaurante El Rincón De Manolo · Plaza Flórez De Quiñones, 2, 24127 Riello, León, Spain

★★★★★ · Bar & grill

www.google.com

To clarify - Hospitalera Laura works at the Bar Restaurante Villamor de Riello. I’m meeting her there tomorrow to get my ride to her Casa Rural La Magia de las Nubes..

 

[VNwalking]

Please tell her we remember her kindness!

 

[Sitkapilgrim]

Please tell her we remember her kindness!

I passed on your greetings and reminded her of the many pilgrims she has welcomed and helped over many years on the Camino Frances. I showed her this thread and she was touched. She clearly misses being a full-time Hospitalera, so I hope many pilgrims walking the Olvidado will seek her out and stay with her, Ana and their five cats. The cats are guaranteed to keep your feet warm, and Ana’s and Laura’s warmth and kindness will spur you on over the next few days.

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

I stayed there a few days ago. I hadn't seen this thread so I knew nothing about Laura's backstory. I grabbed their pensión outside Riello only because I learned about in @Omicko's list with accommodation on the Olvidado. I highly recommend La Magía de las Nubes! Laura and Ana were so welcoming and gave me everything I needed. Bed, meal (at their place, not at the restaurant) in the evening and breakfast in the morning for 20 euros, if anyone is interested in the price. I don't know what to add to what has been said above. It is one of the best and most memorable places I stayed in on the Olvidado (I hope to be in Villafranca del Bierzo tomorrow.) As someone wrote above: their kindness and hospitality gave me a boost of energy that stayed with me for a long time..!