Posts

22 - 25 October

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We were supposed to walk out of Tui this morning, Tuesday, and walk to O Porrino. Unfortunately we had not long arrived in Tui on Monday and my slightly sore throat turned nasty leaving me with a fever and the shakes. The woman running the hostel brought me a big bowl of soup and I stayed in bed till morning. Steve went to the Farmacia and got paracetamol (1g tablets) and went out for dinner on his own. So Tuesday morning we caught the bus to O Porrino where we had a lovely apartment overlooking the town square. By Wednesday morning I was much better so we set out for Redondela at around 8.30 am. It was cold at first but once the sun came out it was a lovely walk of 17.6 kms. The cross at the top of the highest hill today, just 250 metres. After the second coffee stop I had a lot more energy and the walk went well. The way down into Redondela, a very steep descent but manageable. Arrived around 2.00p.m. stopped at a cafe for a beer, wine and lunch in the afternoon sun. Walked down to o...
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20 and 21 October

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 Our walk from Caminho to Vila Nova de Cerveira was not quite as we remembered it from 2019. We took the Ecovia path beside the Rio Minho where we could but it seems this is no longer marked with the Camino arrows and we were directed away from the river a few times. Quite confusing. Apparently the Camino is now through the mountains we were told by a local. This did not appeal so we found our way back to the Ecovia which brought us into Vila Nova de Cerveira after about 12 or 13 kms. The day was drizzly but not cold, around 19°, but an overcast sky does throw a different light on the walk. Looking across the Rio Minho to Spain. The Ecovia goes through this house. Not many out and about in VN Cerveira. The weather keeping people indoors. Note the public amphitheatre in background. Vila Nova de Cerveira is a pretty town and our accom at Pousada de Juventude was well priced at €40 for double room with bathroom incl breakfast. Another drizzly morning so decided to hang around in VN Ce...
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Saturday 19 October

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 Vila Praia de Ancora to Caminho, 10 kms Leaving Praia Ancora. No need for an early start as we have only a little over 8 kms to walk today. The weather was drizzly and a little windy but okay. Would never have thought before to take umbrellas on a Camino. They were a last minute addition to our packs and we have really appreciated them. With my yellow Blunt Brolly I have sunshine on a rainy day. Approaching Caminho. We enjoyed this town in 2019 and have booked at the same hostel, Arconovo. Today with the rain there are not many people about and the square is empty.  Hopefully will liven up as the day progresses. Check in is not until 2.30 but the cleaners let us in which means we have been able to take our packs off and relax on the sofas at reception. Will explore and have something to eat after check-in. Ate out at an Italian restaurant, a nice meal, good vinho tinto, followed by Lemon sorbet.
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Friday, 18 October

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 We caught the train from Campanha, Porto, to Vila Praia de Ancore arriving before 3 pm. A nice train trip, had a good conversation with a Danish couple just starting their first Camino and saw out the train window much of the way we walked in 2019 when we walked Porto to Santiago. We are taking our time and enjoying doing a bit more than last time in each place we stay. Our planned stops are on yesterday's post. Some of it is repeating the best bits from 2019 but the two planned days walking from Tui to Porrina, and Porrina to Redondela we did by bus and train in 2019. We were very jetlagged when we started from Porto back then and by Tui we were feeling exhausted. By walking them now our Portuguese Camino will be complete, almost. We won't have walked Coimbra to Porto but John Brierley's guidebook does not recommend that stretch because of all the road walking. Photos from today: The pool outside our room at Blue Ancora hotel in Vila Praia de Ancore. Lovely new hotel, rea...
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Wed, 16, 17 Oct

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Photos from Jardins da Quinta das Lagrimas, Coimbra, Wednesday 16th Entrance to the Fonte das Amores, the fountain of love. The pool at the fonte das Lagrimas, the fountain of tears. We filled in the morning, before our 12.45 pm train to Porto, by crossing the river and walking to the botanic gardens. Thursday 17th A sunny day in Porto. Pleased to be staying at the Poveira Hotel again. We have worked out our plan for our remaining days in Portugal/Spain: We have booked train tickets for tomorrow to Vila Praia de Ancora stay one night, walk to Caminho, then Vila Nova de Cerveira, Valenca/Tui, Porrina, Redondela, Pontevedra, then train to Santiago on Friday 25th for London flight on 26th. That's the plan, will see how we go. Could be some rainy days in there.🌞 Off to buy some new rain covers for our packs. A couple of photos from today: An afternoon drinks near the river. Had forgotten how high the bridges are across the River Duoro. This one has two levels, the top one for trains a...
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