Starting in Porto on 18 May 2014....a few questions

[Barbara Vorster]

What is the weather like? What are the chances of rain?
Can and do we need to book the alberques / youth hostels in advance?
± daily expense?

 

[Camembert]

What is the weather like? What are the chances of rain?
Can and do we need to book the alberques / youth hostels in advance?
± daily expense?

Comes rain,comes shine ! You will be in the south west of Europe at the Atlantic coast and it is springtime .so take your raingear with you .good chance you have to use it.
Depending from where you start Lisbon or Porto. From Lisbon are some albergues on the way.
From Porto there are more.In Spain you will find them in every bigger place you pass.
Reservations are not needed to make.
Daily expenses depends on how your spendings are Food is cheaper in Portugal than in Spain.

Albergues in Portugal about 15€ Sometimes donativo like in São Pedro de Rates.
Are more expensive than in Spain ( about 5 to 10 €). At some places in Portugal you can sleep at the bombeiros volontarios, the volontairy firebrigades, most on the route from Lisbon to Porto.

Both in Portugal and Spain restaurants offer during weekdays a warm 3 way meal , called menu do dia(P) or menu del dia (S) for approx.10 €
Bom caminho

 

[Diogo92]

What is the weather like? What are the chances of rain?
Can and do we need to book the alberques / youth hostels in advance?
± daily expense?

Depending on the year, you can catch rain, or perfect weather. But be aware that in Galiza the weather it's very unpredictable.

Full list of Albergues in here: http://www.vialusitana.org/en/albergues_eng/

Although the prices sometimes can be more cheap in Portugal for the Day Menu or Menu Peregrino, I do not think that you can get the same thing offered on the price has in Spain. Usually in Portugal what you have is the Main Course + Drink + Cafe. On Spain you have Appetizers + Soup + Main Course + Bread + Dessert. Day menu in Portugal goes from 5 to 10€ in Portugal, and in Spain from 7,50 to 12,50€. But hey, it brings more things!

Food in portuguese restaurants it's cheaper, but it's not cheaper on the supermarkets. If you do community dinners has the ones that I made, you could end up dinning pasta with shrimps, bread, 2 cups of wine per person, and even buying breakfast for the other morning for 3,60€ per person (we where 8 on that night).

I hope that this helps you.

Best Regards
Diogo

 

[dustylee]

My friends & I are leaving Porto on the 19th, so perhaps we will cross paths. Buen Camino.

 

[Gailsie]

I will be leaving Porto on May 23rd and it is my first time on this route so I can't answer any of your questions. I will be walking slowly for the first few days so you will probably be well ahead of me. The Portuguese people are friendly and kind in my experience and the food is wonderful. I am looking forward to my camino

 

[JaimeB]

What is the weather like? What are the chances of rain?
Can and do we need to book the alberques / youth hostels in advance?
± daily expense?

Barbara, May weather in Northern Portugal and Galicia can be rainy and cool in the early morning and late afternoon. It is a good idea to carry a rain jacket and a rain cover for your backpack. Regarding albergues, all towns along the way between Porto and Santiago have comfortable and clean alpublic bergues to stay. May is not as busy so you should have no problem finding an albergue to stay everyday. In terms of cost, albergues do not cost more than 5€ and in most places you can eat the Peregrino Menu for about 9€ in Portugal and 9 - 11€ in Spain. Most albergues also have a kitchen so you buy your own food and cook and share a meal with friends. Pasta is one of the easiest and cheapest things to cook and helps you recover the energy spent during the day. Two years ago I did the Camino from Porto to Santiago on May 20, and my first stop was at Sao Pedro de Rates. I was new to the Camino so did not know what to expect. Fortunatelly, as soon as I arrived at the albergue in Sao Pedro de Rates I was offered a delicious pasta prepared by a group of german peregrinos. It was the best meal I ever had and gave me the opportunity to experience the spirit of sharing you find in El Camino. Good luck to you and BUEN CAMINO!!!

 

[Barbara Vorster]

Thanks so much for all your advice!! We have been looking forward to this day for such a long time, it took me almost a year to adapt to "normal" life after the Camino Frances...wonder what will happen this time.
Another question, the best route for the first day from Porto? It seems some people try and avoid the busy streets of Porto and then metro to Maia. What do you guys suggest? Ps. I love this forum

 

[Diogo92]

Thanks so much for all your advice!! We have been looking forward to this day for such a long time, it took me almost a year to adapt to "normal" life after the Camino Frances...wonder what will happen this time.
Another question, the best route for the first day from Porto? It seems some people try and avoid the busy streets of Porto and then metro to Maia. What do you guys suggest? Ps. I love this forum

Either Maia, Matosinhos, or Póvoa do Varzim.

If you go to Matosinhos, you will walk near the beach.

The problem it's not the Porto streets, it's the road walking and the industrial zone that you will find after you get out from Porto.

@Albertinho , come here mate!

 

[Dutch]

Just 4 more days and then i'll be in Porto

Still considering destination of day one: Vila do Conde (beach) or Vilarinho (inland)..... I'll know when i'm there, i hope

 

[Camembert]

Just 4 more days and then i'll be in Porto

Still considering destination of day one: Vila do Conde (beach) or Vilarinho (inland)..... I'll know when i'm there, i hope

Wise decision Vila do Conde

 

[Camembert]

Thanks so much for all your advice!! We have been looking forward to this day for such a long time, it took me almost a year to adapt to "normal" life after the Camino Frances...wonder what will happen this time.
Another question, the best route for the first day from Porto? It seems some people try and avoid the busy streets of Porto and then metro to Maia. What do you guys suggest? Ps. I love this forum

Take the metro to stop Mercado in Matosinhos and walk from there day one alongside the ocean. The best wY!

 

[Camembert]

Either Maia, Matosinhos, or Póvoa do Varzim.

If you go to Matosinhos, you will walk near the beach.

The problem it's not the Porto streets, it's the road walking and the industrial zone that you will find after you get out from Porto.

@Albertinho , come here mate!

we are on our way amigo!
As far as San Sebastian now in PaísBasque
All week it was terribly raining. Since we crossed the Pirineus at Bayonne Hendaye the sun is shining.

 

[Camembert]

we are on our way amigo!
As far as San Sebastian now in PaísBasque
All week it was terribly raining. Since we crossed the Pirineus at Bayonne Hendaye the sun is shining.

 

[Dutch]

Wise decision Vila do Conde

I probaly will

Save driving, Albertino!

 

[Diogo92]

View attachment 9405View attachment 9405

You are making me jealous!

 

[Camembert]

You are making me jealous!

Porque ? Viagar costa muito dinheiro

 

[Diogo92]

Porque ? Viagar costa muito dinheiro

Who cares, when you meet such lovely places and people?

 

[Camembert]

Who cares, when you meet such lovely places and people?

The only things we met were some arrows, pointing to Santiago so far and lots of rain but the weatherforecast is good. We are 300 kms away from Santiago now .