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  1. M

    Connecting the Camino Portuguese to Finisterre, bypassing Santiago

    In the spirit of being persnickety, I'm pretty sure I walked the Camino Ignaciano from Azpeitia in the Basque Country to Manresa outside of Barcelona two years ago. I even have a certificate to prove it in my "put these in my coffin for the bonfire" file. I may be committing heresy on this...
  2. M

    Unburdening Point on the Portuguese?

    Okay, you have me curious. After telling the story of what you did with your stone on the Portuguese Camino, are you really saying that if you were walking the Camino Frances, you might have just "simply toss[ed] the stone on a pile at Cruz de Ferro"? Or were you implying that anyone else...
  3. M

    Unburdening Point on the Portuguese?

    There is no particular place that is a direct equivalent to the wonderfully moving Cruz de Ferro but I found many places along the Caminho Portuguese that would be appropriate to leave a small stone from home. You will see lots of small cairns and crosses but I am certain that you will also...
  4. M

    Should I learn Portuguese or Spanish

    I also found that speaking just a few phrases in Portuguese was sufficient. Learn "please", "thank you", "good morning", "it's raining cats and dogs", etc and it will be appreciated. If you are finding Spanish a challenge to learn, I would think adding Portuguese into the process won't be any...
  5. M

    Crossing point of no return for the Portuguese, but where to start?

    In September 2014, my wife and I walked from Lisbon to Santiago so my comments may be outdated but... I certainly found the trail marking poor to moderately okay from Lisbon to Porto. After Porto it was almost the same as on the Camino Francis. There were definitely fewer pilgrims before Porto...
  6. M

    Is the camino portuegese well signed

    It's been two years since I walked from Lisbon so things may have changed but I found it quite challenging to "just follow the arrows" south of Porto. The first arrow is on the steps of the Cathedral. I recall finding the second one a few kilometres away. The guidebook will be useful there. I...
  7. M

    Two questions

    I do not recall seeing any showers in Lisbon train station and I would be surprised if there were any. That's not a definitive answer but the best I can provide after being in the station a couple of times. I'd be happy to be wrong. Also, I'd deal with the clothing from Porto on a weekday...
  8. M

    Camino Portugues Cost

    It all depends on the route you take and how many times you get lost but I figured 394km Lisbon to Porto and 264km from Porto to Santiago. I walked via the coastal route only the first day and a half out of Porto (Porto > Vila do Conde > Barcelos). FYI, I walked the first part in 15 days (plus...
  9. M

    Camino Portugues Cost

    It depends on what you want. Both of those stretches are stunning, IMHO, and provide fantastic experiences. Lisbon to Porto has incredible historical towns (Lisbon, Santarem, Tomar, Coimbra, Sao Joao, etc.) as well as lovely smaller places. I greatly enjoyed the walking there although it was...
  10. M

    Solo female on Camino Portugal

    I found it relatively easy to follow arrows out of Lisbon but, as is often the case, it is a bit harder when in large cities. The ability to follow a map will easily get you to your first stop although you may be on a parallel path to the yellow arrows. If you want to make life really easy, use...
  11. M

    Camino Portuguese

    While I do suggest to my friends that they walk the Camino Frances before walking a Portuguese route, I can't for a second understand why really needed to be an experienced pilgrim and there is no way that you would need to speak Portuguese. Obviously, language abilities will enhance your...
  12. M

    Camino Portugese from Lisbon: How challenging is it?

    My wife and I chose to spend most of our nights in pensions / B&Bs / casa rurals / cheap hotels where the usual cost was about 40€ per night. In one or two places we stopped, we had to spend as much as 70€ but we could have planned to avoid those places if needed. Porto definitely needs...
  13. M

    Camino Portugese from Lisbon: How challenging is it?

    I had some trouble with the signage at places between Lisbon & Porto last year but it's not that bad in most places. Also, I would not ever consider that section as "largely through industrial areas". I remember only a very few short bits in industrial areas unless you count farm land as...
  14. M

    Walking from Porto on Sunday

    I enjoyed the walk from the Cathedral to Matosinhos. It is, however, a long walk from the Cathedral to Vila do Conde but entirely doable if you are used to such mileage. If you want to, that can still be done as a two day stage with a stop in Matosinhos which would allow for lots of time for...
  15. M

    Walking from Porto on Sunday

    FYI, last year about this time, I walked from Porto to Vila do Conde and saw exactly two pilgrims that day during the walk. In VdC, we met a few more who walked portions with us the next day. By Barcelos, we had a whole gang walking together (or at least in the vicinity) and sharing meals &...
  16. M

    The shell?

    I certainly followed arrows out of Lisbon. It may not be the best marked section of any Camino but I followed them all the way to Santiago de Compostela.
  17. M

    The shell?

    Boy! Watching you two in this all out, no holds barred, cyber argument isn't near as much fun as other folk in other threads. What are your opinions about "real pilgrims" going to bull fights just after taxi-ing into town from the mosque with 20kg backpacks? :p
  18. M

    The shell?

    There is certainly some logic to the thinking that the scallop shell was only obtained in Santiago but I am not sure there are historical records that supports that, is there? I also wonder why in 1603, Sir Walter Raleigh writes: GIVE me my scallop-shell of quiet, My staff of faith to walk...
  19. M

    Be prepared at Rabacal hostel

    Good luck following the trail tomorrow. It was a tough one last year. I hope the markings have improved but keep an eye out for signs to Zambujal after Rabacal, even if you don't see arrows.
  20. M

    Camino Portuguese Blog

    I am greatly enjoying your blog. The narrative and photos are bringing back good (and sometimes hard) memories of our Caminho exactly this time last year. One thing I can tell you to put your mind to rest on a little thing though - the aqueduct that you passed on the way into Coimbra was not...

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