Kategorie: 2023 Camino Portugués

Today we walked almost 20 kilometers so it was relaxed. We ate our breakfast at the albergue and started walking while the sun rised. We saw a beautiful church and Laura walked most of the time with her backpack. Because of the Galician hills we always had to walk up and down but the landscape was really beautiful 🙂 And there was beautiful music because of a bagpipe player. We also found the smaller version/the younger sister of Johannas backpack 🙂 When we went shopping in Pontevedra in the first Aldi it felt a little bit like coming home because we bought Brezn! Now we are looking forward to the dinner and meeting other pilgrims we know already.

We walked from O Porriño to Cesantes. Today we saw the first waymarker with less than 100km distance to Santiago. We saw a very lovely cat which reminded us of our cat Sisi at home.

We wanted to get more money that we have not to sleep in the woods.. But the first ATM (Geldautomat) did not give us money… But we were very lucky that the next ATM gave us cash. Johanna walked again forward to the Cesantes to get our 3 beds… All of us are looking forward to the 3-course-menu in the albergue.

We walked through the beautiful castle Valença in the morning and there were no people. After that we crossed the border by walking over the river Rio Miño. So we were in Spain now one hour later… But it is now the timezone of Germany. For the first time Laura wore her backpack without pain. The chocolate and lemon ice for Laura and Johanna was really great.
And now we’re starving for…
FOOD!!!
(We are sitting in a bar and waiting… But completing our blog post)

We walked in Portugal close to the Spanish border to Valença. It was difficult for Laura yesterday to walk the hills up and down. Today it was rather flat, easier and shorter (about 18km). We liked the pilgrims menu very much in the evening. And there was a middle ages festival with a market. We sawfighting knights and Laura saw a bracelet of „healing stones“… And she talked so enthusiasticly with the young merchant that he gave Laura the bracelet as a gift.

Yesterday we saw two big ants with huge antennas.
Today we walked from Vila Praia de Ancora to Vila nova de cerveira. First we wanted to go by boat from Caminha to Spain… But there are not so many albergues and hostels on this route and Johanna and Martin walked this route last year … So we stayed in Portugal. As we have left the sea there are hills now and we have to walk up and down more often. We stay in the albergue Pilgrim’s Rest. It was created by Michael from Austria some years ago, who died from cancer 2017. His last will was the the albergue should be continued and so his friend Tom is now the owner. Michaela is the hospitalera / volunteer. It is the nicest albergue until now.

Today we walked from Vila nova de Anha to Vila Praia de Ancora. Today we lost our way one time… We found the way later again and one hour later we could not find Laura’s underwear.. We lost it probably there because it was on the outside of the backpack. At Vila Praia de Ancora there was in the hostel no room in the bedroom… So we are in our own room which is only a little more expensive. We met Maylin again… We watched the sunset together and talked until 22.00…. So again it is late for this blog.

Today we walked from Fão to Vila nova de Anha. We bought lovely sweets at a festival market… Laura had foot problems ( blister at the small toe at the right foot ) and the right shoe was too narrow. So we cut the shoe with our pocket knife that there is enough space for the toes. Afterwards everything was a little bit late… And now it it past 22:00 and it is time to go to bed.

Today we walked from Vila do Conde to Fão about 22km and then to the sea… All of us were swimming and it was less cold than last year. With the sunrise we had our breakfast in Póvoa de Varzim. Because of Lauras hip problems we shared carrying the second backpack. And the person with two backpacks walked faster and waited for the others. Behind the tower after Aguçadoura we had a beautiful view over the sea. Walking next to a Golf course was a little bit weird.

We were very glad because we found a place in an Albergue… This time in a caravan. We went to a restaurant and had Schnitzel and fish… The waiter worked with passion and we met Brigitte from Esslingen.

Today we walked from Matosinhos to Vila do Conde about 24km. For Laura this was the longest walk in her life. We walked next to the sea and the temperature there is convenient because it is colder with the wind. Johanna had to wear 2 backpacks because of Laura’s hip problems. We crossed a fishing village where were a lot of seafood traps. In the albergue there were no beds left so we are going to sleep in the mattress camp.

We met a very nice German teacher and talked about interesting stuff like the German school system (Laura wants to become a teacher) and we forgot the time… So our dinner is a little late.

We stood up at 5:15 and Beate brought us by car to the airport. Our flight was at 8:30 and after 2 and a half hours we were at Porto at the airport. We went to the cathedral and so our first Camino arrow. And so the pilgrimage began. From the tower we had a wonderful view of Porto.

Then we went next to the river Douro to the sea. And from there to the north to Matosinhos. Laura felt her hip so that Johanna took two backpacks for some time. After a shower, handwashing of the clothes and a powernap we went to a francesinas-restaurant ( toast with much cheese and very much meat).