For Good Measure

Tuesday 15 October. Crochet and lace blankets and tablecloths used to artistic effect to add colour and filtered light to one of Coimbra's streets. Coimbra is famous for its university founded in 1290. Note the black capes the students are wearing over formal black attire. I asked a group of students whether this is how the students usually dress. They explained only on special occasions, today's occasion being to protest at the University authorities 'manifestation of a new direction for the university '.  There was much chanting and singing in the protest. It seems the students want to keep to traditional values, hence those protesting dressed in the traditional formal attire to show their opposition to the changes. Unusual to see such well dressed protesters. Coming down the hill from the university. Candy store with life sized banana lollies. Hmmm.

Conimbriga to Coimbra, the last day of this walk. 14 kms walked We left Conimbriga at 8.15 after some fruit and yoghurt at the albergue and a coffee at the cafe in the town. Leaving Conimbriga  Garden ornaments, a bit different At the same house. Our mid morning coffee stop. After this we were looking for somewhere to eat our cheese rolls we had made ourselves in the albergue kitchen this morning. We found an empty bus shelter and sat there in the shade. A woman came out of a nearby house and shouted that we were at the wrong bus stop for Santiago and we should cross the street. We gave her a friendly wave with our cheese rolls. As usually happens, 200 metres further on was a park with picnic tables. Interesting tiled house. Buildings decorated with tiles are very big in Portugal dating back to the Moors influence. We were planning a final stop at cafe Araujo before the descent into Coimbra. The cafe was closed, padlocked, Monday I suppose. As we began to walk downhill a bus stoppe...

Rabacal to Conimbriga, 13.9 kms  A short walk today so have taken our time. Met up with Dorit twice on the way, she left the albergue not long before us but stopped for a break in the first small town. Lots of hunters out in this wooded area on Sunday morning. A bit concerning hearing shots fired so close to the Camino path and to the towns. Dorit is going on further than us today but we may see her in Coimbra. Also two women from the Netherlands that we have seen walking over the last few days and exchanged a few words with, stopped for a chat this morning. They walk a similar speed to us so we have kept passing each other. They are younger than us but one has an arthritic knee which slows her on the down hills - same as me.😊 We agreed the Camino walking helps our knee pain - afterwards! We had saved some of our breakfast from our albergue which became our picnic lunch. Made two stops, one for coffee at the Museum cafe at the Roman ruins, one for a cold drink just before our albe...

Ansiāo to Rabacal, 21 kms Another nice walk, the terrain more up and down. Stopped at the crossroads around 10.30 for a drink and to use the facilities. Then on to Alvorge at 12.30. Bought some bread rolls, a wheel of Misterio do Pico cheese, 2 plums, a persimmon and 2 bananas for a picnic lunch. The afternoon walk to Rabacal took us 3 hrs for the 10 kms so arrived at albergue Bonito at 4 pm. Dorit from Israel greeted us on arrival, nice to see her again. Chris, Lydia and Aloysius are also staying here. Leaving Ansiāo this morning. A tribute to the traditional costume makers. A strange bug on the wall behind us at our lunch stop. (Looks like an African mask) Not far to go. Sunset from the terrace off our room. Hope this means a fine day tomorrow. Today was fine but very humid after Friday's rain. Temperature between 17° and 24. Similar temps tomorrow.