Today was the first day on the Camino. We walked about 12km on the Camino, and another 4+ kilometers looking for a hostel before resigning to taking the Metro back to downtown Lisbon and a room at the Mercure Hotel near Praca de Espanha Station.
We went to 3 hostels (the first with a helpful car ride from a local) trying to find accomodation. I called and spoke to 3 hotels by cell phone before we collectively threw-in the towel. The Mercure hotel placed us in a position even further from the start than our stay last night at the "This Is Lisbon" Hostel.
Aside from resigning to taking the Metro back into Lisbon and staying at a 181e / night hotel, it was a great weather day in the low 70s and cloudy. The Camino in the urban area is well marked and easy to follow for the most part.
At the Mercure Hotel I was able to get in touch with the Alpriate Albergue up The Way from our last point on the Camino. The lady I spoke with educated me about Albergues and explained that the are none in Lisbon... only hostels. Hers is (the first?) Albergue along The Way. They have 10 beds and open for check-in at 2pm. She indicated none of the Albergues along The Way take reservations and the only way to get 3 of the 10 beds was to be there early. She said she would help us find other accomodations if her Albergue is full. She said there are many pilgrims hiking the Camino right now (although we saw none all day long). Apparently the majority of pilgrims begin their walk outside of Lisbon... now we know why...
No comments:
Post a Comment